How to Verify a Viral Video or Audio Clip: Five Context Checks

Check a viral video’s source, date, place and edits before sharing; a genuine clip can still be shown in the wrong context.

Adapted from a guide first written for Quebec readers: passages specific to Quebec were removed. Rules in your province may differ.

Start with the facts that change the answer

First, state the exact claim the post makes. Look for the earliest available upload, search distinctive frames or phrases, and compare visible locations, weather, signs and uniforms with the claimed date and place. Listen for edits around the quoted words. Then check whether a named primary source, credible newsroom or independent fact-checker has corroborated the same event. A lack of results does not prove a clip is false.

Document your next step

Save the original post URL and note what changed between copies, but do not repost sensitive or intimate material to investigate it. AI detectors and metadata tools can be wrong, especially after platforms recompress a file. If the claim could affect someone’s safety or reputation, pause before sharing and consult the source organization or a qualified fact-checking service.

Canadian Centre for Cyber Security: identify misinformation and deepfakes

Read the French guide →

Sources and limits

Source: Canadian Centre for Cyber Security: identify misinformation and deepfakes. Verification tools provide clues, not certainty; check context and primary sources rather than relying on a detector or a single repost.

General information based on federal and national rules; provincial rules may differ. Confirm with the official body before acting.