A Russian disinformation operation has turned its attention to the US midterm elections, unleashing a series of deepfake videos that depict celebrities attacking Democrats, researchers said, with more expected to come.
Fact Check
The anti-parasitic drug mebendazole has shown preclinical efficacy in targeting multiple cancers, but experts say social media posts calling it a “cure” go too far. Additional clinical trials in humans are necessary to prove when, at what dosage, and in which treatment combinations it could make an impact.
Mounting concern over the rapid expansion of data centers in the United States has pushed accounts online to allege low-frequency electromagnetic fields emitted by the facilities have caused severe health issues across species, including in honeybees and cows. But scientists caution such claims are backed by minimal to no evidence, in contrast to larger, genuine environmental concerns posed by the booming construction projects.
Donald Trump made unsupported statements about childhood vaccination in the United States compared with Europe as he signed an executive order, and the White House followed the US president’s address by republishing a misleading graphic on the number of injections recommended for children. But prior to the Trump administration’s changes, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had endorsed pediatric immunizations against 17 diseases, similar to guidance in many European countries.
A mass rush of migrants crossing over from Morocco plunged Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta into turmoil in late July 2026, but a video claimed across social media to show those new arrivals flipping, kicking and throwing trash cans is unrelated. The footage dates to May and actually shows rioting in Toulouse, France after Paris Saint-Germain won the UEFA Champions League.
Thousands of excess deaths have been recorded due to intense summer heat, leading several social media posts — including some generated with artificial intelligence — to claim the heatwaves were manufactured by a space phenomenon known as solar flares. However, scientists said solar flares do not impact Earth’s surface temperatures and that heatwaves are instead worsened by carbon emissions.
Online fans of Cristiano Ronaldo are claiming a series of videos show a massive crowd celebrating the superstar Portuguese footballer during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the clips are misrepresented — and in some cases, dubbed with unrelated audio of a chorus singing the striker’s name. The original footage predates the global tournament and shows supporters of a Polish football club celebrating their team’s promotion in Kraków.
16.06.2026: Football celebration clip mislabeled as Albanian protests against Kushner-linked project
Protests have swelled across Albania since late May 2026 in opposition to the development of a luxury beach resort linked to US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner. But a video spreading online of a massive gathering crowding a beach is unrelated; the footage captured a celebration of fans backing the Spanish football club Deportivo La Coruña.
Meta has removed 39 Facebook pages that were pushing false claims about famous National Hockey League players following an AFP investigation. The pages were managed from Vietnam and capitalizing on interest in the Stanley Cup playoffs to farm engagement and drive traffic to articles on websites overrun with advertisements.
Most milk sold in grocery stores is supplemented with vitamin D using an ingredient that is also found in some rat poisons, but the addition does not make the beverage dangerous for humans, as claimed in posts across social media. The poisons deployed to exterminate rodents use a high level of vitamin D that experts said is not comparable to the lower amount found in fortified milk.