Examples (misinformation, hoaxes, conspiracy theories)

Here we will share examples of misinformation and disinformation, such as hoaxes, conspiracy theories, and more.

By News Literacy Project

News Literacy Project
Facebook
This photograph actually shows an anti-government protest in Chile
afp.com - Multiple sources
A photo of tens of thousands of people at a rally has been shared thousands of times in multiple Facebook posts which claim it shows an opposition …
1 day ago
News Literacy Project
Facebook
This photo has circulated since 2016 in reports about a dilapidated
afp.com - Multiple sources
A photo has been shared thousands of times in multiple Sinhala-language Facebook posts which claim it shows a damaged road in Sri Lanka which was …
2 days ago
News Literacy Project
Steph Curry
No, Nike and Steph Curry didn’t split over Bible verses
politifact.com - Samantha Putterman
Did Golden State Warriors basketball player Steph Curry part ways with Nike because the company wouldn’t let him put bible verses on his shoes? The …
1 day ago
News Literacy Project
Elise Stefanik
Is This a Picture of Elise Stefanik Flipping the Bird at an Impeachment Inquiry?
snopes.com - Snopes
On November 15, 2019, after former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch finished offering public testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives as …
4 days ago
News Literacy Project
Donald Trump
No, four Republicans did not vote to impeach President Trump
politifact.com - Daniel Funke
The House of Representatives hasn’t yet voted on whether to bring impeachment charges against President Donald Trump. But some Facebook users are …
1 day ago
News Literacy Project
Donald Trump
Meme using AFP photo falsely claims to show Trump-Ukraine scandal
afp.com - Multiple sources
A photo of White House staff members who worked for former US president Barack Obama has been shared thousands of times with the claim that one of …
5 days ago
News Literacy Project
Donald Trump
Viral Posts Misidentify Soros' Son as the Whistleblower
factcheck.org - By Isabella Fertel
Social media users, including a Republican congressman, falsely identified George Soros’ son, Alexander, as the whistleblower who triggered the …
5 days ago
News Literacy Project
Politics
Debunking two viral (and deeply misleading) 2019 maps
CNN - Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large
Washington (CNN) — In the wake of a series of defeats at the ballot box on Tuesday -- Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin's all-but-certain loss and Democrats' takeover of the Virginia state House and Senate -- from
November 7
News Literacy Project
Guns
This is a misleading infographic about gun laws and homicide rates in
afp.com - Multiple sources
An infographic has been shared nearly 20,000 times in multiple posts on Facebook, Twitter and Reddit alongside a claim that Honduras bans its …
October 31
News Literacy Project
Public Health
Children recently vaccinated against polio do not spread a virus that
afp.com - Multiple sources
Memes shared thousands of times in North America claim there is a connection between the polio vaccine and severe outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth …
October 29
News Literacy Project
Olive Garden
No, Olive Garden is not funding President Trump’s re-election campaign
politifact.com - Samantha Putterman
Unlimited soups, salads and breadsticks are what Olive Garden is known for (especially the breadsticks). But is the restaurant also "funding" …
November 5
News Literacy Project
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Did CNN Say 'Trump Killed Unarmed Father of 3' About al-Baghdadi?
snopes.com - Snopes
On Oct. 27, 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the death of Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi after U.S. military cornered him. …
October 29
News Literacy Project
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Fake News: Former Speaker Paul Ryan Is NOT Photographed With ISIS Leader Al-Baghdadi
leadstories.com - Alan Duke
Was former House Speaker Paul Ryan photographed with ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi? No, that's not true: A photo purportedly of the former …
November 3
News Literacy Project
Ilhan Omar
Did Omar Offer Condolences to Loved Ones of ‘Austere Scholar’ al-Baghdadi?
snopes.com - Snopes
On Oct. 28, 2019, the website Genesiustime published an article positing that Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, had offered her condolences to …
October 30
News Literacy Project
Politics
Trump Tweets Faked Photo of Hero Dog Getting a Medal
The New York Times - Niraj Chokshi and Karen Zraick
President Trump on Wednesday shared an altered photograph of himself placing a medal around the neck of the dog injured in the raid last weekend that led to the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Islamic
October 31
News Literacy Project
Facebook
Fake News: Lindsey Graham Did NOT Endorse The Green New Deal In Ad
leadstories.com - Maarten Schenk
Did Senator Lindsey Graham endorse the Green New Deal proposed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez? No, that's not true: a video ad from The Really Online …
October 26
News Literacy Project
Democrats
Photo altered to change wording in protesters’ banner
Associated Press
CLAIM: Photo shows protesters carrying a banner that states “Assassinate Republicans that defeat Democrats. Make America Great.” AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The photo was altered to change the wording on banner.
October 22
News Literacy Project
Toronto, ON
Drivers must show their entire face in licence photos in Ontario,
afp.com - Multiple sources
A fabricated photo showing a driver’s licence from the Canadian province of Ontario featuring a picture of a person wearing a full face veil is …
October 25
News Literacy Project
Donald Trump
Did Donald Trump Call Italy's President 'Mozzarella'?
snopes.com - Snopes
In October 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump’s public appearances with his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, gave rise to a veritable explosion …
October 17
News Literacy Project
Public Relations
Obama Didn't Authorize 'Lying' by the Media
factcheck.org - By Angelo Fichera
Social media posts falsely claim that former President Barack Obama signed a bill that made it permissible for “the media” to get “away with lying.” …
October 18
News Literacy Project
Syria
Photo does not show U.S. troops crying in Syria
Associated Press
CLAIM: Photo shows U.S. soldiers on the ground in Syria “crying and visibly shaken.” AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The photo shows U.S. soldiers in Kuwait in 2011. THE FACTS: A meme circulating Wednesday on
October 16
News Literacy Project
Flu
Instagram Post Falsely Links Flu Vaccine to Polio
factcheck.org - By Jessica McDonald
A popular Instagram post falsely claims “over 1,100 people died from reactions to the [flu] shot” in 2018, and suggests that the immunization gave …
October 18
News Literacy Project
Is it Now Illegal to Say ‘Illegal’ in New York City?
truthorfiction.com - Kim LaCapria
In September 2019, New York City made it illegal to call anyone "illegal" or an "illegal alien," imposing a $250,000 fine for offenders. In late …
October 2
News Literacy Project
Jefferson didn’t say 'freedom is lost gradually from uninterested, uninformed, uninvolved people'
politifact.com - Samantha Putterman
Did Thomas Jefferson say that freedom is lost gradually from "uninterested, uninformed and uninvolved people"? That’s what one viral Facebook post …
October 8
News Literacy Project
A Pro-Trump Conspiracy Group Planted A Fake Climate Activist Who Suggested “Eating Babies” At An AOC Town Hall Meeting
buzzfeednews.com - Tasneem Nashrulla
The president and the far right slammed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over the bizarre town hall speaker who suggested eating babies to solve the …
October 4
News Literacy Project
How anti-vaxxers are using babies' deaths to push forward the movement.
How anti-vaxxers target grieving moms and turn them into crusaders against vaccines
NBC News - Brandy Zadrozny
September 24
News Literacy Project
Another Bogus Beto Photo
factcheck.org - By Saranac Hale Spencer
A photo circulating online falsely identifies a man who appears to have wet his pants as Beto O’Rourke. The photo actually shows Alexander …
September 18
News Literacy Project
Were Piles of Rubbish Left in Hyde Park By Global-Warming Protesters?
snopes.com - Snopes
In late April 2019, social media users started sharing images that supposedly showed piles of rubbish in London’s Hyde Park. Many of these posts …
April 23
News Literacy Project
Fake News: Al Gore Did NOT Say Hurricane is Result Of Trump's Climate Change Denial
leadstories.com - Maarten Schenk
Did Al Gore blame President Donald Trump for hurricane Dorian at a converence in Geneva? No, that's not true. The story was published by a liberal …
September 3