On August 5 2020, a popular Imgur post appeared to show a headline reporting that not one baby in Canada had been named “Karen” since November 13 2019: Well that was unexpected and quite hilarious. Name choice dropped due to a meme. On I
Publication: Fact Checks
Truth or Fiction?→ Were the Explosions in Beirut ‘Atomic’?
Disinformation and unprompted speculation soon followed a pair of explosions that rocked Beirut, Lebanon on August 4 2020 — though at least one user quickly deleted his tweets on the incident amid criticism. Reporter Chris Palmer posted footag
Truth or Fiction?→ First Day of School in Paulding County, Georgia
On August 4 2020, a purported photograph of the first day of school in Paulding County, Georgia circulated on social media — showing a densely crowded school hallway and only a few students wearing masks: The same image was shared t
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘If You Elect Joe Biden, There Will Be No Hand Sanitizer; I Have Spoken to the Hand Sanitizer People…’
On August 4 2020, the Facebook page “Being Liberal” shared a screenshot of a tweet purportedly quoting United States President Donald Trump on hand sanitizer and a potential Joe Biden administration: Donald Trump today: "If you ele
Truth or Fiction?→ After ‘Defunding,’ Did Minneapolis Police Advise Residents to Give up Their Phones, Wallets, and Purses to Criminals?
On August 1 2020, Daily Caller writer Kyle Hooten shared the following screenshot claiming that a defunded Third Precinct in Minneapolis instructed residents to simply hand valuables over to criminals due to an uptick in crime: Minneapolis City Gove
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘OK, Who Had Nuclear Cannibal Ants for August?’
On August 2 2020, a Facebook user shared the following anxiety-provoking Twitter screenshot with the following commentary: Okay, who has nuclear cannibal ants for August? The screenshot showed an August 2 2020 tweet by @NinjaEconomics: One million
Truth or Fiction?→ Does This Image Depict an ‘Antifa Rioter’ Named Brian Who ‘Hit a Woman’ in Front of a ‘Real Man’?
On July 6 2020, Facebook user John Sargent shared the following image, which he claimed showed an “antifa street rioter” named Brian — heavily implying that “Brian’s” injuries were from receiving a righteous beatdow
Truth or Fiction?→ Was a Colorado Man Arrested and Charged With Accidentally Shooting Fellow Protesters?
On July 31 2020, a Facebook user shared the following image and a status update claiming that a protester in Denver had accidentally shot fellow protesters in Denver: The Facebook user wrote: Protesters illegally blocked traffic on an interstate in
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Pennsylvania Lawmaker Release a Statement Mocking the State Health Secretary?
A Pennsylvania state lawmaker came under criticism for attempting to compare the transgender community to people refusing to follow guidelines against spreading the COVID-19 pandemic. A statement from State Rep. Russ Diamond allegedly standing up for
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘New Zealand Rugby Game Today as We Have No COVID Cases’
On July 26 2020, a post to Reddit’s r/Damnthatsinteresting purportedly showed images from a rugby game in New Zealand on the same day, in a stadium full of fans — because the country has successfully suppressed COVID-19: New Zea
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Trump Tweet That the ‘Suburban Lifestyle Dream’ Won’t be ‘Hurt by Low-Income Housing’?
On July 29 2020, screenshots of two tweets attributed to United States President Donald Trump appeared on Facebook, in which he purportedly addressed “people living their Suburban Dream Lifestyle” on the matter of “low income housin
Truth or Fiction?→ Donald Trump: ‘Nobody Likes Me’
On July 29 2020, an apparent CNN screen capture featuring a chyron quoting United States President Donald Trump as saying “nobody likes me” circulated on sites like Reddit: Does this count? from facepalm
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Elon Musk Tweet ‘We Will Coup Whoever We Want, Deal With It’?
On July 29 2020, comedian Lee Camp shared the following image, which quoted Elon Musk as saying the United States would “coup whoever we want,” and to “deal with it”: Across an image of Musk, text read: My name is Elon Musk.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the United States Postal Service Urge Mail-In Voters to Request Envelopes by October 20th?
Amid increasing concern over the United States Postal Service’s efficiency leading up to the 2020 U.S. elections, a CBS News host’s tweet warned voters seeking to take part by mail. “USPS says you should give mail in ballots at least
Truth or Fiction?→ Are Uniformed Private Contractors Patrolling Portland and Snatching Protesters?
On July 25 2020, a rumor spread on Facebook that that individuals patrolling Portland in military uniform (sometimes snatching people off the street) were private contractors, and that they were working for a company called “Black River”:
Truth or Fiction?→ Was This Photograph Taken at a Protest in Portland?
A Black photojournalist’s work recirculated online in July 2020, though without credit to him and sometimes eliding the context of his original photograph. Freelancer Crush Rush first took the photograph on May 31 2020 during protests against po
Truth or Fiction?→ Pedophile’s Decapitated Corpse Not Found on Judge’s Doorstep After Bail Hearing
On July 26 2020, what appeared to be a shocking local news story (headline: “Pedophile’s Decapitated Corpse Found On Judge’s Doorstep After Bail Hearing In Ocala, Florida”) began circulating on Facebook and Twitter: It's times li
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Tom Brady Say ‘If Anyone on My Team Kneels, I Quit’?
On July 23 2020, a Facebook link to an article claiming that American football player Tom Brady threatened to quit playing if anyone on his team was to kneel began circulating: Clicking through to the link led to the following content: Tom B
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Pepper-Spraying Medical Supplies a War Crime?
Footage posted by a journalist covering the ongoing protests against police brutality brought back to light an apparent loophole exploited by law enforcement. As part of his coverage on July 22 2020, Portland-area reporter Sergio Olmos posted footage
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the Media Ignore a Pro-Police March Across the Brooklyn Bridge in July 2020?
In July 2020, a photograph of a purported “defend the police,” “pro-police,” or “back the blue” march across the Brooklyn Bridge began circulating — alongside claims that “even Fox News” refused t
Truth or Fiction?→ Do Amish People Not Get Coronavirus Because They Don’t Have Television?
In July 2020, a number of Facebook memes circulated riffing on the same theme — that Amish people in the United States were not developing COVID-19, because they “don’t have television sets.” Variations We observed this claim s
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘A Strip of Medical Tape on Top of Your Mask Will Keep Your Glasses from Fogging Up for Hours’
On July 17 2020, a Facebook user shared a very popular tip for people who wear glasses and face masks — advising them that introducing a strip of medical tape at the top of the mask would prevent glasses from fogging up for hours: In the photog
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Coin Shortage? Where Did They All Go in Four Months?’
Despite being identified as disinformation, a Facebook post making light of a shortage of available coins around the United States continued to spread in July 2020. The post, which was published in a Kansas-based conservative group on July 16 2020, ha
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Ivanka Trump Accuse Dr. Anthony Fauci of Trying to Make Her Father Look Incompetent?
In mid-July 2020 a link circulated on social media, appearing to be an article reporting that Ivanka Trump had accused Dr. Anthony Fauci of trying to make her father, United States President Donald Trump, “look incompetent”: Ivanka Says
Truth or Fiction?→ The Trump Campaign’s ‘Public Safety vs. Chaos and Violence’ Ad
Beginning July 21 2020, two similar paid Facebook advertisements were shared by the official “Donald J. Trump” Facebook page, promising “public safety” over “chaos and violence”: Although the text for the advertis
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Reporter Call Kayleigh McEnany a ‘Lying Bitch’?
An exchange between White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany and a reporter for Al-Jazeera led to allegations that the reporter muttered an epithet. Right-wing social media users accused reporter Kimberly Halkett of calling McEnany a “lying
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘It’s Just a Mask, It’s Just a Vaccine’ [Covid Fanfics]
On July 14 2020, Facebook user Ryan Thames shared the following post, along with a claim that temporary behavior intended to curb the rates of a respiratory-borne virus during a pandemic, such as recommending the widespread use of face masks to cut ba
Truth or Fiction?→ Is This Sgt. Rubino of the New Haven Police Department Using Excessive Force During June 2020 Protests?
In June 2020, the following image appeared in a Facebook post, alongside a status update saying that the was a Sgt. Rubino of the New Haven Police Department: Text accompanying the image referenced the May 2020 death of George Floyd, linking the inc
Truth or Fiction?→ Is this Durex Coronavirus Ad Real?
Chances are you’ve seen some version of this purported Durex advertisement in heavy circulation at some point during the COVID-19 pandemic, featuring and comparing a face mask with a condom: The screenshot above included commentary from a s
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Rep. John Lewis Cosplay as Himself at San Diego Comic-Con?
As memories of and remembrances for Rep. John Lewis proliferated online following his death on July 17 2020, his public appearances at California’s biggest pop-culture event were brought back to the public’s attention. Activist Bridget Tod
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘State of Illinois Definition of a COVID-19 Death’
In July 2020, social media users continued spinning a remark by a top health official in Illinois to claim that death tolls attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic have been inflated around the United States — and to attempt to sow doubt around the
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Stop What You Are Doing Google Who Invented Blow Up Dolls Right Now’
On July 16 2020 the Facebook page Memes Republic commanded its followers stop whatever they were doing and “Google who invented blow up dolls” immediately: The post rapidly racked up shares, nearing 60,000 in under 24 hours. So what hap
Truth or Fiction?→ Did a Florida Congressional Candidate Tweet That White Women Join Black Lives Matter ‘to Fornicate With Black Men’?
On July 16 2020, purported screenshots of a tweet by Florida congressional candidate KW Miller began circulating; in them, Miller appeared to assert that white women “join Black Lives Matter” with the sole intent of “fornicating with
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Mask of the Beast’
A Facebook post attempting to falsely link protection against COVID-19 to Satanism continued to spread on the platform in July 2020 — while also providing a look into how disinformation is laundered across social media platforms. The post by Ana
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Dr. Fauci Say “I Don’t Know How to Explain to You That You Should Care for Other People”?
In mid-July 2020, various iterations of the quote “I don’t know how to explain to you that you should care about other people” circulated, but all were attributed to Dr. Anthony Fauci: When Fauci said: “I Don't Know How To E
Truth or Fiction?→ Is the 2005 Film ‘V for Vendetta’ About a Virus — and Set in 2020?
On June 21 2020, the Facebook page “Cosmic Enlightenment” shared the following meme, which claimed that the 2005 film V for Vendetta was about the use of a virus to control populations — and that it was set in the year 2020: &nbs
Truth or Fiction?→ Is Kroger’s ‘Change Shortage’ Fee Being Applied to Credit and Debit Transactions?
On July 14 2020, a Facebook user shared the following screenshot, showing a Kroger receipt, a “change shortage” fee, and a post about how the customer purportedly paid with a credit card or debit card (making the already questionable fee e
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Might Get One of These for the Garden’ Video
On July 9 2020, the Facebook page “Stanton Warriors” shared the following difficult-to-describe video (“might get one of these for the garden”), showing what appeared to be a lone, seated woman getting thrown around by a mechan
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Barack Obama Take Hydroxychloroquine in 2008?
A right-wing radio host and Fox News personality attempted to gin up more conspiracy theories about former United States President Barack Obama by misrepresenting what he claimed was a prescription given to Obama. Mark Levin posted a photograph on Twi
Truth or Fiction?→ The #FreeBritney Movement, Explained
In July 10 2020, a Facebook post appeared about the #FreeBritney movement (evidently aimed at liberating Britney Spears), becoming hugely popular within just a few days: The Text of the Post The post — which was lengthy and full of de