Category: Rumors and Misinformation

Elections Officials Battle a Deluge of Disinformation

County clerks and secretaries of state are overwhelmed this year, as they stare down a “perpetual moving target” of new conspiracy theories, political pressure and threats.

Students Target Teachers in Group TikTok Attack, Shaking Their School

Seventh and eighth graders in Malvern, Pa., impersonating their teachers posted disparaging, lewd, racist and homophobic videos in the first known mass attack of its kind in the U.S.

Is Xenophobia on Chinese Social Media Teaching Real-World Hate?

Violent attacks on foreigners have prompted a debate about extreme nationalism online in a country that heavily censors information the government bans.

Once a Sheriff’s Deputy in Florida, Now a Source of Disinformation From Russia

In 2016, Russia used an army of trolls to interfere in the U.S. presidential election. This year, an American given asylum in Moscow may be accomplishing much the same thing all by himself.

Taiwan, on China’s Doorstep, Is Dealing With TikTok Its Own Way

The island democracy was early to ban TikTok on government phones, and the ruling party refuses to use it. But a U.S.-style ban is not under consideration.

States Move to Ban Deepfake Nudes to Fight Sexually Explicit Images of Minors

Legislators in two dozen states are working on bills, or have passed laws, to combat A.I.-generated sexually explicit images of minors.