Mitt Romney and the few other Republican lawmakers who have spoken out against Trump lately have become the targets of disinformation on social media. False Facebook posts and tweets about federal and local lawmakers who broke the party line have been
Search Results (5514) for: spread
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Democrats Spent $40,000,000 of YOUR Tax Dollars Trying to Impeach Trump’ Posts
On October 28 2019, a Facebook user shared the following status update (archived here), claiming that Democrats spent $40,000,000 in an attempt to impeach United States President Donald Trump: White text against a purple smoke background ass
PolitiFact→ Fiona Hill and conspiracy theories about Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know
Fiona Hill used her testimony in the House impeachment hearings to heap contempt on conspiracy theories and those who spread them, specifically the incorrect notion that Ukraine meddled in the 2016 U.S. election. Hill served as the National Security Co
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘$60 Women’s Self-Defense Kit Sold by a Black-Owned Business’ Facebook Post
A popular November 17 2019 Facebook post purportedly shows a women’s self-defense kit in the style of a makeup bag, and the collection of stylish items was described as being sold by a black-owned business: Its image showed iridescent brass kn
Truth or Fiction?→ UK’s Conservative Party’s Communications Team Briefly Rebrands to Mislead Public
As a December 12 2019 general election looms over the UK and the rhetoric around its third election since 2015 grows ever louder, distractions and political stunts have hit a fever pitch, injecting misinformation and outright disinformation into its p
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Your Page is at Risk of Being Unpublished’ Facebook Warning
On November 19 2019, a number of Facebook page administrators received messages from the social media platform bearing the warning: “Your page is at risk of being unpublished” for various actions. One poster on Reddit’s r/facebook on
Snopes→ Was Will Smith ‘Diagnosed With a Life-Threatening Disease’?
A YouTube channel used a clickbait headline to spread misinformation about the actor.
Snopes→ Is ‘Juice-Jacking’ via Public USB Ports a Real Security Threat?
While "juice-jacking" is technically possible, the criminal practice doesn't appear to be widespread.
Truth or Fiction?→ Allegations Swirl Around Pete Buttigieg’s ‘Douglass Plan’
Democratic Party presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg and his campaign have come under criticism after Black leaders in South Carolina questioned their inclusion in a statement promoting his plan to address racial inequality should he be elected. The
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Students Today Depend on Paper Too Much, Don’t Know How to Write on a Slate’ 1815 Quote
In November 2015, Facebook page “The Credible Hulk” shared the following screenshot purportedly showing a lament from an 1815 school principal’s publication suggesting the students of the day had grown too dependent on paper, and la
Climate Feedback→ New York Times op-ed claiming scientists underestimated climate change lacks supporting evidence
SCIENTISTS’ FEEDBACK SUMMARY This op-ed by author Eugene Linden, published under the headline “How Scientists Got Climate Change So Wrong”, argues that climate scientists have long underestimated climate change. The article discuss
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘The Little White Envelope for the Man Who Hated Christmas’ Posts
In November 2019, a nearly year-old “Maui 24/7” post titled “THE LITTLE WHITE ENVELOPE” (alternately: “the Man Who Hated Christmas”) circulated virally on social media: Text attached to an image told a heartstri
Snopes→ Is ‘Fart Rape’ an Authentic Feminist Concept?
A blog post on a relatively obscure, anti-feminist website provoked widespread outrage and ridicule years after it first emerged.
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Giuliani Did NOT Quietly File Suit Against Ilhan Omar for Blatant Prejudice on Behalf of White House
Did Rudy Giuliani quietly files a lawsuit against Ilhan Omar for 'Blatant Prejudice' on behalf of the White House? No, that's not true. The story was published by a liberal satire website that tries to mislead Trump supporters and Republicans
FactCheck.org→ Viral Posts Misidentify Soros’ Son as the Whistleblower
Quick Take Social media users, including a Republican congressman, falsely identified George Soros’ son, Alexander, as the whistleblower who triggered the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. Full Story Republican Rep. Steve King of
Truth or Fiction?→ Report: Coordinated Russian Disinformation Could Be ‘Significantly Impactful’
Russian disinformation efforts resulted in their content being shared on more than 100 online outlets as part of a two-pronged approach covering both social media and ginned-up websites, according to a report commissioned by the Senate Intelligence Co
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Did NOT Die at 47 After a Terrible Stunt Attempt Failed
Did actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson die aged 47 after a terrible stunt attempt failed? And was this reported by the BBC? No, that's not true: a gang of hoaxers from the Philipines is at it again with a technically sophisticated death hoax webs
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Trump NOT To Release The Names Of Sexual Predators In Congress
Is President Donald Trump about to release the names of sexual predators in Congress? No, that's not true: stories with headlines making that promise have been circulating since 2017 but they are all copies of an article that called on Trump t
Truth or Fiction?→ Was Donald Trump Fined $2 Million for Misappropriating Funds Donated for Veterans but Used for His Campaign?
In November 2019, a constellation of Facebook posts appeared, collectively making one claim: that United States President Donald Trump was fined $2 million after a judge ruled that funds he had raised were improperly diverted to finance his campaign.
FactCheck.org→ Old Meme Misinforms on CHIP Funding
Quick Take A 2017 meme has resurfaced on Facebook, spreading outdated speculation that the Republicans would not fund the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program. In fact, President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation in January 2018 t
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Americans are So Brainwashed, They Think They Won the Space Race’ Meme
On November 9 2019, a post to Reddit’s r/socialism made a titular claim that Americans “think they won the space race”: Americans are so brainwashed that they think they won the space race. from socialism Ano
FactCheck.org→ Posts Falsely Claim Trump ‘Stole’ From Vets
Quick Take Viral Facebook posts falsely claim that President Donald Trump “stole” charitable donations meant for veterans. A court ruled Trump illegally used his foundation for political purposes when it held a fundraiser for veterans, but
Snopes→ Does a Viral Video Show ‘Paralysis’ Pills in Turkish Snack Sold in the US?
The image of two small tablets inside a Luppo coconut cream bar caused widespread concern — and widespread misinformation — in November 2019.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Old Farmer’s Almanac Predict an Alarming Number of Snowstorms This Winter?
A November 1 2019 ReturnToNow.net post headlined “Old Farmer’s Almanac Predicts An Alarming Number of Snowstorms This Winter” was shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook. and was likely to continue spreading. ReturnToNow.net is cl
Truth or Fiction?→ Are Christians Being Told to Stop Saying That Jesus Is the ‘Son of God’ Because It Offends Muslims?
An April 2019 text-based status update meme on Facebook claimed (without citation, as usual) that Christians are being told to “stop calling Jesus the ‘Son of God,'” because it “offends Muslims”: White text aga
Hoax-Slayer→ Bud Light 24 Pack Facebook Anniversary Giveaway Scam
According to a post that is spreading rapidly across Facebook, Bud Light has announced that everyone who shares a link will be sent a 24 pack of beer. The post Bud Light 24 Pack Facebook Anniversary Giveaway Scam appeared first on Hoax-Slayer.
Truth or Fiction?→ Congress ‘Rejects’ Social Security Increase: Facebook Users Regurgitate Bogus Claim
In a prime example of easily digestible disinformation finding ready distribution on Facebook, a citation-free, years-old claim ginning up outrage against lawmakers was resurrected as a text-based graphic in September 2019, and has been shared thousa
Truth or Fiction?→ Hotel Cleaner Who Stole Sperm from a Millionaire’s Used Condom Won Child Support Battle, Millions?
On November 10 2019, a story about a hotel cleaner stealing a millionaire guest’s used condom to covertly impregnate herself and receive millions of dollars in child support was shared by the Facebook page “Waploaded.com Media”: T
Truth or Fiction?→ Who Runs ‘Journalist Excellence Worldwide’?
In early November 2019, the Facebook page “Journalist Excellence Worldwide” began making engagement inroads, with content shared to large groups and newly-viral, unrelated pages. However — no matter how convincing a page might appear at
Snopes→ Did Elizabeth Warren’s Campaign Say Mark Zuckerberg Had Endorsed Trump?
The Massachusetts senator's presidential campaign got creative in criticizing the spread of political misinformation on Facebook.
FactCheck.org→ Trump Again Misunderstands California’s Wildfires
For the second year in a row, President Donald Trump inaccurately attributed California’s rash of wildfires to poor forest management. He also falsely said other states don’t have “close to the level of burn” as California. Most of
Truth or Fiction?→ Facebook Claims We’re ‘Clickbait.’ And It Won’t Explain Why.
Even as Facebook hides behind “free speech” concerns to justify a lack of action against the spread of far-right content, it does reserve the right to determine what constitutes “clickbait” with no explanation as to how that de
Truth or Fiction?→ Canadian School Falsely Accused of Suspending Student Over ‘Rainbow Poppy’
A recent political candidate in Canada accused her teenage cousin’s school of suspending the girl over an item that may not even be available in their country. Cyara Bird said in a November 7 2019 Twitter post that the 17-year-old Stonewall Coll
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Modesto Is Woke,’ ‘Epstein Was Murdered’ Traffic Sign
On November 6 2019, the following post was shared to Reddit’s r/pics, featuring a roadside traffic sign reading “Epstein was murdered” in digitized text: Modesto CA is woke from pics At the time the image was
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘No Escape From Telephones’: Pacific Bell Chief’s 1953 Prediction Sees New Life Online
A telecommunications president’s remarkably far-flung vision for his industry not only gained attention online in 2019, it is actually legitimate. It is likely that Mark R. Sullivan’s remarks at an unidentified April 1953 event were first
Truth or Fiction?→ Lyft’s Unclear Terms of Service for Sexual Assault Survivors
Ride-sharing company Lyft came under increased scrutiny online in November 2019 as social media users spotted an apparent discrepancy in its policies regarding its treatment of sexual assault victims. “I think what we saw happen in the last 24,
FactCheck.org→ Trump Twists Impeachment Polls
A number of national polls show more Americans want President Donald Trump impeached and removed from office than those who don’t. In swing states, however, a majority opposes removing Trump from office via impeachment, even as a majority support
Truth or Fiction?→ All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in Poland
On November 1 2019, the Facebook page “Witches Night” shared an image set and with it a post claiming that people in Poland — a Catholic majority country — do not celebrate Halloween, instead broadly directing that seasonal attenti
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Ivanka Trump Quote Thomas Jefferson’s Denial of ‘Something He Did, in Fact, Do’?
In early November 2019, a tweet by Ivanka Trump quoting Thomas Jefferson in defense of her father, United States President Donald Trump alongside a response in screenshot form on Facebook: On October 31 2019, Ivanka Trump tweeted a partial quote:
Lead Stories→ Fake News: Former Speaker Paul Ryan Is NOT Photographed With ISIS Leader Al-Baghdadi
Was former House Speaker Paul Ryan photographed with ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi? No, that's not true: A photo purportedly of the former Republican house leader with the now-dead ISIS leader is actually a photo of Ryan with Syrian activis