Elevate your local knowledge
Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!
Merkel: False rape claim shows need for fake news wariness
BERLIN – Chancellor Angela Merkel says a rapidly debunked story that a German soldier serving as part of a NATO mission in Lithuania raped a teenage girl shows the need to be vigilant about fake news.
Following talks with Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis in Berlin, Merkel was asked about the rape claim, which was made last week in an anonymous email to a Lithuanian lawmaker and media outlets, and quickly investigated and found to be fake.
Merkel says “for us it was important that it could be quickly cleared up.”
Lithuanian authorities have suggested Russia may have invented the claim to discredit the new NATO force on its borders.
Merkel didn’t speculate, but said “it shows we need to remain very vigilant about the possibility of false reports.”
News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Join the Conversation!
Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
