Viral image of Pope Francis addressing crowds is AI generated
The photo has been shared widely across social media platforms. Read
Fact checks
Evie Townend
News & Online Journalist
Evie joined Full Fact as a news and online journalist in February 2023. Before this, she worked as a freelance journalist, a money reporter for The Mirror and in the regional CornwallLive newsroom.
Old footage of power line explosion in US does not show Maui fires starting
Posts on social media show blurry footage of sparks and explosions which they falsely claim are directed energy weapons being used in Hawaii. Read
Fact checks
No evidence Maui wildfires started intentionally to create a ‘smart island’
A video claims the Hawaiian island held a “smart city conference” in January. Read
Fact checks
Mountain Dew drink doesn’t prove Maui fires were ‘planned’
The claim has been shared widely online following wildfires on the Hawaiian island. Read
Fact checks
Photo showing ‘selective’ fires in Maui is actually from San Diego in 2003
The image shows a street of houses that have burned down while the surrounding trees remain standing. Read
Fact checks
A UN expert did not say Christians who don’t accept paedophiles will be ‘excluded from society’
The claim appears to come from an online blog and has been shared widely on social media. Read
Fact checks
Only cash withdrawals using a credit card, not a debit card, impact on a credit score
A Facebook post with thousands of shares suggests all cash withdrawals impact a person’s credit score. Read
Fact checks
Photograph of aircraft wing covered in silver tape is not a Ryanair plane
A viral Facebook post suggests the wing of a Ryanair aircraft has been repaired using duct tape. Read
Fact checks
No evidence Nicole Schwab said ‘permanent climate lockdowns are coming’
Multiple posts claim the daughter of the WEF’s founder, Klaus Schwab, said they’re coming “whether you like it or not”. Read
Fact checks
Amazon is not giving away parcels of ‘sorted electronics’ for £3
A post on Facebook is promoting a fake Amazon giveaway that users can supposedly apply for by following a link. Read
Fact checks
