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SEE: Twitter reacts after the man behind SA's 'Black Twitter CIC' account is exposed

There was a mixed bag of reactions on social media after an in-depth News24 investigation revealed the identity of the man behind the @AdvBarryRoux Twitter account.

The investigation unearthed information linking Csho "Shepard" Chilala, 27, a Zambian blogger from the small town of Monze, southwest of Lusaka, to the 500 000-follower parody account, known for Sunday "exposés" – or as his loyal followers like to call it, "dropping files".

READ - EXPOSED: Barry who? The Zambian man behind SA's 'Black Twitter CIC'

The self-proclaimed "Black Twitter CIC", going by Man's Not Barry Roux on the social media platform, came out in strong denial of the investigation's results, claiming it had rehashed information from two years ago.

The account itself wields some degree of influence among South Africans on Twitter, and has been known to make allegations without proof and post information that was consequently disproved.

As part of a series of ongoing investigations into fake news, News24 journalist Jean le Roux identified Chilala through several of his social media accounts, including his Instagram, Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook profiles. He was also identified using videos uploaded to Twitter's Periscope platform years before he became famous.

Some commended Le Roux's work, with social media law specialist Emma Sadleir weighing in with, "Don't ever think you're anonymous on the internet…"

The in-depth investigation, with the methodology explained step-by-step, still was not enough for some on Twitter though, and provided fertile ground for Man's Not Barry Roux" to deflect and sow further doubt.

On Friday afternoon #HandsOffBarryRoux was trending on the social media site. 

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