Social media becomes battleground of images, claim and counterclaim

Away from the rain and sun, a second war on the Occupy Central campaign is playing out on a very different battlefield - social media.

And more often than not, postings of videos and pictures that claim to show civil disobedience in action trigger lengthy debate on their authenticity, as quickly as they attract likes.

One example was a clip showing a middle-aged man with his back to police lines on Sunday, apparently calling for calm seconds after protesters pushing against the barricades back off from a round of pepper spray.

A police officer taps the man on his arm - and then sprays him in the face.

The clip has been cited by protest supporters as proof of police using unnecessary force against a peaceful protester, and was shared quickly on the Facebook pages of Occupy supporters.

But another video taken at the same location that day emerged online later, showing something quite different. The same man is seen charging at the police line and pushing with fellow protesters against the barricades officers were manning.