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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Reports Didn’t Misrepresent One Man’s Death as Two

Reports Didn’t Misrepresent One Man’s Death as Two

A bogus meme on Facebook suggests that the news media has tried to pass off one man’s death, attributed to complications from COVID-19, as two separate cases. But the headlines cited simply focused on different parts of his biography.

Conspiracy Theory Misinterprets Goals of Gates Foundation

Conspiracy Theory Misinterprets Goals of Gates Foundation

A conspiracy theory falsely claims Bill Gates is plotting to use COVID-19 testing and a future vaccine to track people with microchips. The Gates Foundation has advocated for expanded testing and has funded vaccine research, but neither of those involves implanted microchips.

TV News Report Prompts Unfounded Attacks on Michigan Governor

TV News Report Prompts Unfounded Attacks on Michigan Governor

A TV station’s report on a Michigan fine for those violating the state’s social distancing orders showed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at a signing ceremony with an intimate crowd of people — prompting accusations of hypocrisy on social media. But the footage used was from January 2019.

Trump’s Snowballing China Travel Claim

Trump’s Snowballing China Travel Claim

President Trump said that restrictions he placed on travel from China “saved a lot of lives,” a claim that grew to “probably tens of thousands” and “hundreds of thousands.” But we found no support for such figures.

False Claim of Deadly Coronavirus Vaccine Trial in Africa

False Claim of Deadly Coronavirus Vaccine Trial in Africa

Posts across social media are falsely claiming that a vaccine trial for the novel coronavirus in Senegal resulted in the death of seven children. The video behind those claims does not show that. And there is no clinical trial for a potential vaccine currently taking place in Senegal.

Mailbag: Face Masks

A reader sent us a comment about our article on the research behind face masks and whether people who aren’t sick should use them to limit the spread of COVID-19.