A TikTok video shared on Threads claims to show drones in Texas and Oregon.
Verdict: False
The claim is false. The video, shared to both TikTok and YouTube in 2022, shows drones spraying disinfectant in the air in Beijing.
Fact Check:
The Federal Aviation Administration has banned drones in multiple parts of New Jersey, including Evesham and Bayonne, until Jan. 17, according to ABC News. The government may use “deadly force” against recreational drones if they are an “imminent security threat,” a Notice to Airmen stated, the outlet reported.
The TikTok video shared via Threads claims to show drones in Texas and Oregon.
“So the drones aren’t just in [New Jersey]. There’s reports in [Texas] and Oregon as well. Now I’m hearing that they’re spraying stuff. Any labs out there feel like grabbing a sample with SUMMA air sampling canisters?” text that appears on the video reads. In the video, drones with red and green lights can be seen spraying an unknown substance into the air.
The claim is false. The original video was shared on TikTok in November 2022 and shows drones spraying an unknown substance in the air in China. The video has garnered over 2,000 likes at the time of writing. Likewise, the same video was shared on YouTube in 2022. Text that appears on the YouTube video indicates the drones sprayed disinfectant in the air in Beijing.
@foryotiktokpage Drones spraying who knows what down on the streets in China 🇨🇳#chinaprotest ♬ original sound – Curryfishball – TOmjErryaffiliategeng
In addition, Check Your Fact did not find the video referenced in any credible news reports about recent drone sightings in the U.S. Actually, the opposite is true. On Dec. 18, Lead Stories debunked the claim, indicating the video was from China in 2022. (RELATED: Does This Video Show Man Taking Down One Of The Recently Sighted Drones?)
Drones have been spotted in multiple states, including New Jersey and Ohio near military bases, Newsweek reported. Drones have also been seen abroad near U.S. military bases in Germany, according to the outlet.