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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Fox News and Dominion Voting Not Owned By Same Company, Contrary to Online Posts

Fox News and Dominion Voting Not Owned By Same Company, Contrary to Online Posts

Dominion Voting Systems sued Fox News for defamation, alleging the news organization spread lies about the company after the 2020 election. After the suit was settled, social media posts falsely claimed that Fox and Dominion Voting Systems were owned by the same company, BlackRock. BlackRock does not own any shares of Dominion Voting Systems.

Kansas School Sports Act Doesn’t Require ‘Genital Inspections,’ Contrary to Online Posts

Kansas School Sports Act Doesn’t Require ‘Genital Inspections,’ Contrary to Online Posts

Kansas passed a bill allowing only “biologically female” students to play on girls’ and women’s athletic teams from elementary through college. Social media posts misleadingly claim the bill will allow “forced genital inspections” of students. The bill doesn’t mention genital inspections, and it leaves the implementation of policies up to schools’ governing bodies.

Posts Misrepresent U.N. Panel’s Guidance on Consensual Sex Between Adolescents

Posts Misrepresent U.N. Panel’s Guidance on Consensual Sex Between Adolescents

An international judicial panel working with the United Nations’ AIDS agency issued recommendations in March on laws related to sexual conduct, including consensual sex between adolescents. Social media posts misrepresented the recommendations, with one falsely claiming, “UN wants to decriminalize sex between minors and adults.”

Posts Mislead on Rules for Guns at NRA Convention, Utah GOP Event

Posts Mislead on Rules for Guns at NRA Convention, Utah GOP Event

The three-day National Rifle Association convention in Indianapolis allowed attendees to carry firearms, except for a two-hour period when former President Donald Trump and other leaders spoke in a hall secured by the Secret Service. Yet, social media posts from a Democratic advocacy group misleadingly claimed that “guns were BANNED at the NRA convention.”

FBI Access Request Is Not Evidence White House ‘Lied’ About Not Being ‘Involved’ in ‘Mar-a-Lago Raid’

FBI Access Request Is Not Evidence White House ‘Lied’ About Not Being ‘Involved’ in ‘Mar-a-Lago Raid’

There’s no evidence the White House aided or had prior knowledge of the FBI’s search of Mar-a-Lago in August 2022. By law, the White House requested access for the FBI to review the classified documents that former President Donald Trump turned over seven months earlier. That doesn’t mean the White House was “involved” in the “raid” that came later and “lied” about it, as a conservative commentator claimed.

Bogus Claim Targets Bud Light Partnership with Transgender Influencer

Bogus Claim Targets Bud Light Partnership with Transgender Influencer

Bud Light partnered with a transgender social media influencer for a promotion during the NCAA March Madness tournament. Social media users responded with the false claim that the CEO of the company had resigned following a conservative backlash to the partnership. The claim originated in a fabricated article on a satirical website.

Fewer Cases of Flu Due to Pandemic Precautions, Contrary to Viral Claim

Fewer Cases of Flu Due to Pandemic Precautions, Contrary to Viral Claim

Public health organizations have explained that the reason there were far fewer cases of the flu in 2020 and 2021 was likely due to measures adopted to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, such as handwashing and social distancing. But a post on social media has spread the false claim that the dip in flu cases suggests that COVID-19 was a hoax.

Posts Make Misleading Claims About Bill to Protect LGBTQ+ Events in Ontario

Posts Make Misleading Claims About Bill to Protect LGBTQ+ Events in Ontario

Four members of a minority party in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario introduced a bill on April 4 that would create temporary community safety zones around drag performance venues to prevent “acts of intimidation.” But online posts misleadingly claimed Canada has already passed a law that “made it illegal to protest against” the LGBTQ+ community.

Posts Distort Possible Sentencing for Trump in Manhattan Indictment

Posts Distort Possible Sentencing for Trump in Manhattan Indictment

Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on April 4 to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records to conceal alleged hush money payments. Social media posts misleadingly claim Trump is “facing up to 30+ years” in prison if convicted. But legal experts said it is unlikely Trump would serve any time in prison.

Biden’s 2022 Remarks Not Related to Trump Indictment, Contrary to Online Posts

Biden’s 2022 Remarks Not Related to Trump Indictment, Contrary to Online Posts

Social media posts and former President Donald Trump are sharing an edited video of President Joe Biden to make the unfounded claim that Biden “is coordinating these Trump indictments.” Biden’s comments, made in 2022, were related to international concerns about American democracy, not Trump’s legal battles.