Category: Rumors and Misinformation

Trump Amplifies Conspiracy Over U.S. Payments to Politico

President Trump spread unfounded claims that the government had paid Politico and other news media outlets for positive coverage of Democrats. Records show agencies paid for subscriptions.
DeepSeek’s Answers Include Chinese Propaganda, Researchers Say

Since the Chinese company’s chatbot surged in popularity, researchers have documented how its answers reflect China’s view of the world. Some of its responses amplify propaganda Beijing uses to discredit critics.
Mark Zuckerberg Defends Embrace of Trump Administration in Meta Employee Q&A

In a meeting with Meta employees on Thursday, Mr. Zuckerberg also doubled down on recent changes to the company’s online speech policies and ending its diversity initiatives.
RFK Jr. Sought to Stop Covid Vaccinations 6 Months After Rollout

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. petitioned the F.D.A. to revoke authorization of the shots at a time when they were in high demand and considered life-saving.
Russian Disinformation Campaigns Eluded Meta’s Efforts to Block Them

A new report details how a covert influence operation linked to the Kremlin continued to place ads on Facebook despite U.S. and E.U. prohibitions on doing business with the organization.
Is Zendaya Engaged?

Speculation abounds when celebrities wear a ring on that finger, so why do it?
Inside Mark Zuckerberg’s Sprint to Remake Meta for the Trump Era

After visiting President-elect Donald J. Trump in November, Mr. Zuckerberg decided to relax Meta’s speech policies. He asked a small team to carry out his goals within weeks. The repercussions are just beginning.
Facebook Shifts Content Moderation to Its Users. Are You Ready?

Meta is joining X and YouTube in shifting moderation to users. Are you ready?
As Trump Praises Meta Decision, Tech Watchdogs Warn of Surge in Disinformation

While Republicans praised the move, some groups cautioned that effectively ending Meta’s fact-checking program would also lead to more conspiracy theories.
Mark Zuckerberg Says Meta Fact-Checkers Were the Problem. Fact-Checkers Rule That False.

Fact-checking groups that worked with Meta said they had no role in deciding what the company did with the content that was fact-checked.
Justin Baldoni’s Ex-Publicist Sues Over Alleged Blake Lively Smear Campaign

An ousted P.R. executive alleges a conspiracy to harm her and steal her clients, in connection with an effort to tarnish Blake Lively.
Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni and a Smear Campaign After ‘It Ends With Us’

A legal complaint lays out an alleged campaign to tarnish Blake Lively after she accused Justin Baldoni of misconduct on the set of “It Ends With Us.”