Category: Rumors and Misinformation

This Chatbot Pulls People Away From Conspiracy Theories

In a new study, many people doubted or abandoned false beliefs after a short conversation with the DebunkBot.
The Chatbot Will See You Now

Americans are already turning to A.I. for health information in large numbers, new research suggests.
ABC’s Matter-of-Fact Moderators Built Factual Guardrails Around Trump

Calmly and firmly, Linsey Davis and David Muir pursued the kind of real-time fact-checking missing from many previous debates.
How False Claims About Dead Cats Became Trump Campaign Fodder

Falsehoods claiming migrants in Ohio are killing cats and decapitating ducks went viral this week. The Trump campaign embraced them.
How Russia Found Its Way Into America’s Conservative Media

Federal prosecutors say Russia paid an American media company to push pro-Kremlin messages from social media influencers including Benny Johnson, Tim Pool and Dave Rubin.
How Telegram Became a Playground for Criminals, Extremists and Terrorists

Drug dealers, scammers and white nationalists openly conduct business and spread toxic speech on the platform, according to a Times analysis of more than 3.2 million Telegram messages.
Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Defends App in First Comments Since Arrest

Pavel Durov, held in France since last month, blamed “growing pains” for the company’s problems and pledged to make improvements.
How Partisan Media Covered Trump’s Arlington Visit

Liberal outlets criticized Mr. Trump for turning his visit into a photo opportunity, while conservative ones falsely suggested the altercation never happened.
Iran Emerges as a Top Disinformation Threat in U.S. Presidential Race

With a flurry of hacks and fake websites, Iran has intensified its efforts to discredit American democracy and possibly tip the race against former President Donald Trump.
How Pavel Durov, Telegram’s Founder, Went From Russia’s Mark Zuckerberg to Wanted Man

Pavel Durov’s anti-establishment streak helped him create one of the world’s biggest online platforms, which emphasizes free speech. It also put a target on his back.
Telegram’s Top Executive Pavel Durov Reportedly Detained in France

The founder of Telegram, an app with more than 900 million users, was taken into custody by authorities, French media reported.
Beyoncé Rumors Briefly Took Center Stage. Kamala Harris Grabbed It Back.

Unsubstantiated rumors that the star would appear at the Democratic National Convention, perhaps alongside Taylor Swift, created a daylong frenzy. Then the headliner took control.