At a glance

• Claim: There is a media blackout on anti-lockdown protests worldwide.
• Rating: FALSE
• The facts: Anti-lockdown protests from all over the world are reported on by mainstream media.
• Why we fact-checked this: The video has over 3,600 views, 180 reactions, and 420 comments on Facebook as of writing.

Complete details

A video posted on Sunday, November 28, on the Facebook page “Ugnayan Social Media Platform” falsely claims that there is a worldwide media blackout on anti-lockdown protests. It features social media personality Lynn Agno, who is known for spreading false information about COVID-19.

The video’s caption has a line that says: “Dokumentong inalis sa Internet dahil ayaw nilang malaman nyo ang totoo at marami pang importanteng updates”. (Documents removed from the internet because they do not want you to know the truth and other important updates.)

At the 05:33 timestamp of the video, Agno says the line, “Mayroong nag-participate na 150 countries including cities. Ang media po blackout, blackout po. Hundred fifty countries, including mga cities kasi sa isang country minsan may tatlo, may apat na rally. And dami po. At ang nakakalungkot po ay totally blackout po ang media.” 

(One hundred fifty countries including cities [participated in the rally]. There was a media blackout. A hundred fifty countries, including cities because sometimes there are three, four rallies in a country. There are so many [rallies]. And what is saddening is that there was a media blackout.)

The video has over 3,600 views, 180 reactions, and 420 comments on Facebook as of writing.

This claim is false. 

Media companies covered anti-lockdown protests that happened in different parts of the world.

A Google advanced search shows that major news outlets such as CNN, BBC, NBC, and DW reported on the series of protests that happened throughout Europe and in New Zealand. Thousands of protesters gathered in cities such as Vienna in the Czech Republic, Wellington in New Zealand, Brussels in Belgium, and The Hague in The Netherlands from November 20 to November 22.

The protesters gathered as governments throughout Europe tightened restrictions to curb surging COVID-19 infections, implementing mandatory vaccinations and national lockdowns. The continent was struggling to contain a surge caused by the Delta variant and became the COVID-19 epicenter again. 

As of November 29, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recorded approximately 2.5 million new cases throughout the continent.

The World Health Organization warned that 700,000 more people could die of COVID-19 in Europe by March 2022 if the current surge continues. – Lorenz Dantes Pasion/Rappler.com

Lorenz Dantes Pasion is a Rappler intern. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s internship program here.

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