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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Contrary to False Posts, Sanitizer Helpful Against Coronavirus

Contrary to False Posts, Sanitizer Helpful Against Coronavirus

Screenshots circulating on Facebook falsely claim that hand sanitizer will “do nothing for the coronavirus.” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says hand sanitizers with 60% alcohol can be used to help prevent contracting and spreading the virus.

Coronavirus Prank Falsely Tells of Workplace, School Closings

Coronavirus Prank Falsely Tells of Workplace, School Closings

Facebook posts, evidently intended as a prank, erroneously claim that the government — or specific states such as Michigan or Florida — has mandated that employers and schools close for two weeks in response to the coronavirus. No such announcement has been made.

Social Posts Share Fake Schumer Tweet

Social Posts Share Fake Schumer Tweet

Posts on Facebook falsely claim to show screenshots of two tweets by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about the U.S. coronavirus response. Schumer didn’t post the supposed tweet criticizing President Donald Trump’s decision to bar travelers from China.

Image Altered to Show KKK Members with Trump Sign

Image Altered to Show KKK Members with Trump Sign

A doctored image on social media shows members of the KKK carrying a Trump-Pence campaign banner. The original image, which predates President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign by several years, does not.

Cattle Vaccine Not Related to 2019 Novel Coronavirus

Cattle Vaccine Not Related to 2019 Novel Coronavirus

Viral Facebook posts use a photo of a vaccine for cows to falsely suggest that the novel coronavirus isn’t actually new, alleging it is proof of “how much the media controls people.” The cattle vaccine has nothing to do with the COVID-19 virus.

Anti-Sanders Ad Misleads on ‘Toxic Waste’ Site

Anti-Sanders Ad Misleads on ‘Toxic Waste’ Site

An ad misleads when it claims that Sen. Bernie Sanders “helped turn neighborhoods like ours into a toxic waste dumping ground.” Sanders did support a bill that could have resulted in nuclear waste being placed near a poor, minority town in Texas, but the state ultimately rejected that location.

Weinstein Wasn’t a Medal of Freedom Recipient

Weinstein Wasn’t a Medal of Freedom Recipient

A doctored image spread on Facebook erroneously shows former President Barack Obama giving Harvey Weinstein the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The actual photo showed Obama bestowing the honor upon former Vice President Joe Biden.

Sanders Didn’t Call for 52% Tax on $29,000 Incomes

Sanders Didn’t Call for 52% Tax on $29,000 Incomes

A viral post claims, falsely, that Sen. Bernie Sanders at a recent debate called for a tax rate of 52% on incomes of $29,000 or more to pay for his Medicare for All plan. He didn’t. That figure was floated as a potential marginal tax rate for income above $10 million.

Story Misrepresents Abrams’ Remarks on Electoral College

Story Misrepresents Abrams’ Remarks on Electoral College

A story circulating online misleadingly claims Stacey Abrams “boasted that Democrats can ‘jerry-rig the system and go around the Constitution’ to win the 2020 election.” Her comments about moving to a national popular vote system were not about the 2020 election or securing a Democratic victory.