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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Facebook Post Misleads on H.R. 1’s Proposal on Voter Rolls

Facebook Post Misleads on H.R. 1’s Proposal on Voter Rolls

Democrats say their bill, H.R. 1, the For the People Act, would expand voter access in federal elections. But a Facebook post falsely claims the legislation would prevent the removal of dead people from voter rolls. The bill doesn’t say that, and existing federal legislation requires states to remove names of the deceased from voting lists.

Insurance Companies Provide Coverage After COVID-19 Vaccination

Insurance Companies Provide Coverage After COVID-19 Vaccination

Insurance companies do not deny claims when someone dies after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the American Council of Life Insurers. But a viral social media post has falsely claimed that beneficiaries of a person who dies after getting the vaccine cannot collect life insurance payments.

Post Misleads on Japan’s Policy for Donating Blood After COVID-19 Vaccination

Post Misleads on Japan’s Policy for Donating Blood After COVID-19 Vaccination

Japan only recently adopted guidelines for accepting blood donations from those who have received COVID-19 vaccines. The guidelines are intended to give donors time to get over any side effects from the vaccine. Without providing that context, a social media post misleadingly claims Japan is “refusing” blood donations from vaccinated people.

Capitol Protesters Were Armed With Variety of Weapons

Capitol Protesters Were Armed With Variety of Weapons

Conservative social media posts misleadingly claim the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 was not an “armed” insurrection, citing FBI testimony that no guns were seized from suspects that day. But 23 people have been charged with having deadly or dangerous weapons during the assault — including a loaded handgun found on a man arrested on Capitol grounds.

Bogus Report Claims Philly Mob Boss Stuffed Ballot Boxes

Bogus Report Claims Philly Mob Boss Stuffed Ballot Boxes

A dubious website claims without evidence that Philadelphia mob boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino stuffed ballot boxes for Joe Biden and the Democrats — and would testify about the scheme in exchange for a presidential pardon. Merlino’s attorney denies the claim, which originated on a website operated by a self-described “pro-Trump” political consultant.

Posts Misinterpret Video of North Carolina Voter Rally

Posts Misinterpret Video of North Carolina Voter Rally

Social media posts falsely claim that a video shows get-out-the-vote marchers in North Carolina were pepper-sprayed by police because they were “blocking polls & intimidating voters.” The nearest voting place was a block away from the marchers’ rally, and the governor said the police engaged in “voter intimidation.”

Doctors in Video Falsely Equate COVID-19 With a ‘Normal Flu Virus’

Doctors in Video Falsely Equate COVID-19 With a ‘Normal Flu Virus’

A video posted by a European-based group called World Doctors Alliance falsely claims the novel coronavirus is “a normal flu virus” and there is no COVID-19 pandemic. Actually, COVID-19 is deadlier than the seasonal flu, and some European nations are combatting a second wave of cases.

Viral Article Distorts Military’s Role in Vaccine Distribution

Viral Article Distorts Military’s Role in Vaccine Distribution

The U.S. military may assist in the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available, but it will not forcibly administer vaccines, as a viral article shared on social media falsely suggests. Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, has said mandatory vaccination “would be unenforceable and not appropriate.”