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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Debunking Viral Claims

FactCheck.org is one of several organizations working with Facebook to debunk misinformation shared on the social media network. We provide several resources for readers: a guide on how to flag suspicious stories on Facebook and a list of websites that have carried false or satirical articles, as well as a video and story on how to spot false stories.

Zelensky Remains in Ukraine, Despite False Claims on Social Media

Zelensky Remains in Ukraine, Despite False Claims on Social Media
March 21, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appeared in several recent videos that show he has remained in the country since Russia invaded on Feb. 24. But a post circulating on Facebook falsely claims he fled and recorded a video using a green screen to make it appear as though he’s still in Ukraine. There’s no evidence to support the claim. A digital forensics expert told us that nothing in the video indicates it was filmed using a green screen.

Spending Bill Includes Pay Raise for Staffers, Not Members of Congress

Spending Bill Includes Pay Raise for Staffers, Not Members of Congress
March 16, 2022

President Joe Biden signed a $1.5 trillion bill that funds the federal government and provides assistance to Ukraine. Social media posts misrepresent the bill by implying Congress members gave themselves a 21% pay raise. The bill increases House office budgets by 21%, which likely will result in pay raises for staffers — but not for members of Congress.

Social Media Posts Misrepresent Victims of Hospital Bombed in Mariupol

Social Media Posts Misrepresent Victims of Hospital Bombed in Mariupol
March 16, 2022

Russian planes bombed a hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 9, killing three people and injuring at least 17, including two pregnant women seen in photos shared around the world. Social media posts falsely claimed one woman “posed” as the two women. One of the women died of her injuries, along with her baby; the other gave birth to a daughter.

Social Media Posts Misrepresent U.S.-Ukraine Threat Reduction Program

Social Media Posts Misrepresent U.S.-Ukraine Threat Reduction Program
March 2, 2022

The U.S. Department of Defense’s Biological Threat Reduction Program has provided technical support to improve and protect Ukraine’s public health laboratories. Social media posts, however, falsely claim the program created “bioweapons labs” that are being targeted by Russian forces as part of the invasion of Ukraine.

Bogus Tweet Spreads False Account of ‘First American Casualty’ in Ukraine

Bogus Tweet Spreads False Account of ‘First American Casualty’ in Ukraine
February 27, 2022

“Bernie Gores” was not killed in Afghanistan in August, and he wasn’t the “first American casualty of the Ukraine crisis.” He doesn’t exist. But Facebook users were faked out by fabricated tweets that purport to show CNN announcing the death of the same man twice in six months. The photo of “Gores” used in both fake tweets is video gamer Jordie Jordan.

More than 100 Protesters Arrested in Ottawa, Despite Claims in Facebook Video

More than 100 Protesters Arrested in Ottawa, Despite Claims in Facebook Video
February 25, 2022

More than 100 people were arrested during the Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa. But a video on social media falsely claimed protesters were released “in the middle of nowhere” because the arrests were “illegal.” An associate professor of law who observed the protests said that “police had the authority to arrest and charge everyone in the illegal gathering.”