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Article History

Received: 4 September 2024

Accepted: 5 December 2024

First Online: 10 December 2024

Declarations

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: This study utilized publicly available secondary data and did not involve direct human participant interaction. Therefore, formal ethical approval was not required. All data used in this analysis were previously collected and are available in the public domain, with personally identifiable information removed. As stated in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards, the subjects were anonymous, and all precautions were taken to protect the privacy of research subjects and the confidentiality of their personal information. To initiate our case study analyses, we curated a comprehensive dataset comprising relevant secondary sources such as reliable mainstream news sources with verified police responses. These sources were systematically selected based on their relevance to the research objectives and the specific case studies under investigation. This study upheld the highest ethical standards by protecting privacy, respecting intellectual property, and maintaining objectivity. Data were handled responsibly with integrity and transparency, while complying with all institutional policies. The aim was to combat the negative impact of misinformation through socially responsible research.

: The authors declare no competing interests.