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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

No Change in George Floyd’s Cause of Death, Despite Viral False Claims

No Change in George Floyd’s Cause of Death, Despite Viral False Claims

The police officer who kept his knee on George Floyd’s neck for about nine minutes in 2020 was convicted of murder, and the medical examiner determined that police efforts to subdue Floyd caused his death. Nothing about the autopsy’s findings have changed, but social media posts falsely claim new documents show Floyd died of a drug overdose or natural causes.

Social Media Posts Spread Bogus Quote From Qatari Leader

Social Media Posts Spread Bogus Quote From Qatari Leader

Posts on social media are spreading the baseless claim that the ruler of Qatar has “threatened that if the bombing of Gaza does not stop, he will cut off the supply of gas to the world.” The country’s government gets most of its revenue from energy exports, and there’s no record of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani making such a threat.

What We Know About Three Widespread Israel-Hamas War Claims

What We Know About Three Widespread Israel-Hamas War Claims

Since fighting broke out between Israel and Hamas militants on Oct. 7, misinformation about the war has circulated online. But a widely viewed and shared video supposedly correcting what the video calls “three lies about Palestine” and “atrocity propaganda” also gets some of the facts wrong.

Posts Share Bogus Memo to Falsely Claim U.S. Is Sending Additional $8 Billion to Israel

Posts Share Bogus Memo to Falsely Claim U.S. Is Sending Additional $8 Billion to Israel

The U.S. provides Israel with $3.8 billion each year in military funding under an already established agreement. But social media posts are sharing a doctored “memorandum” that falsely purports to show an additional $8 billion was approved for Israel by President Joe Biden on Oct. 7, the day war began between Hamas and Israel.

Conservative Politicians, Commentators Recirculate Old Falsehood on Aid for Immigrants

Conservative Politicians, Commentators Recirculate Old Falsehood on Aid for Immigrants

Immigrants who come to the U.S. without authorization have very limited access to government benefits. But an old falsehood revived by conservatives conflates aid given to authorized refugees with the limited assistance available to immigrants who entered the country illegally. The claim also inflates the benefits given to refugees.

Flu Shots, MMR Vaccines Have Saved Millions of Lives, Contrary to Online Claim

Flu Shots, MMR Vaccines Have Saved Millions of Lives, Contrary to Online Claim

Flu shots and vaccines that protect children against measles, mumps and rubella have been effective in preventing illness, serious disease and death. But a meme has been circulating with the false suggestion that those vaccines are ineffective. Actually, they’ve saved millions of lives and have eliminated both measles and rubella in the U.S.

Video Clip Misrepresents Biden’s Meeting with Israeli President

Video Clip Misrepresents Biden’s Meeting with Israeli President

President Joe Biden met with the Israeli president in July at the White House. A clip from that meeting is circulating online with the false suggestion that Biden was “falling asleep” during the meeting. The full video shows Biden was consulting notecards and wasn’t asleep.