Latest fact checks

27 March 2023

No evidence Covid-19 vaccines have killed thousands of children

An Instagram post wrongly claims that no “healthy” children have died from Covid-19, and that the vaccines have killed thousands.

No evidence Covid-19 vaccines have killed thousands of children

27 March 2023

Viral pictures of Pope Francis wearing puffer jacket are AI-generated

The apparent pictures of Pope Francis have been shared tens of thousands of times.

Viral pictures of Pope Francis wearing puffer jacket are AI-generated

27 March 2023

Covid-19 is not a ‘simple flu’

A Facebook post calling for an investigation into the Covid-19 pandemic falsely claims the government “knew” the virus was a “simple flu”.

27 March 2023

Emergency alert won’t ‘access personal data’

False claims about the emergency alert the government is testing in April are spreading online.

Emergency alert won’t ‘access personal data’

24 March 2023

Photo doesn’t show police finding six skeletons in Wales

A Facebook post falsely claims that at least six skeletons have been found by police in Wales.

Photo doesn’t show police finding six skeletons in Wales

24 March 2023

Photo doesn’t show interior of ‘chemtrail plane’

Posts claiming that a photo shows the inside of a “chemtrail plane” have circulated online for many years. It’s actually a system for fighting forest fires.

Photo doesn’t show interior of ‘chemtrail plane’

24 March 2023

Emergency Alerts won’t match personal data with information collected during the pandemic

A Facebook post falsely claims that the government’s new Emergency Alert service will collect data from someone’s phone.

Emergency Alerts won’t match personal data with information collected during the pandemic

24 March 2023

Are UK nationals a minority in the modern slavery statistics?

The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour MP Jess Phillips clashed over the modern slavery figures during PMQs—but who was right?

Are UK nationals a minority in the modern slavery statistics?

24 March 2023

The government doesn’t spend £17 million a year subsidising food in Parliament

Thousands of people have shared a claim about cheap food in the House of Commons on social media.

The government doesn’t spend £17 million a year subsidising food in Parliament

24 March 2023

Test and Trace app cost much less than £37 billion

Several posts on social media have wrongly claimed the NHS Test and Trace app cost £37 billion. It actually cost about £35 million in its first year.

Test and Trace app cost much less than £37 billion

23 March 2023

Emergency alert phone test on 23 April will not ‘breach GDPR’

This is based on a misunderstanding of how the system works. The alert neither uses nor collects any personal data.

Emergency alert phone test on 23 April will not ‘breach GDPR’

23 March 2023

Outcome of Charles Bronson’s parole hearing has not yet been announced

Multiple Facebook posts have claimed Charles Bronson’s parole bid has been successful and that he is due to be released from prison.

Latest fact checks

No evidence Covid-19 vaccines have killed thousands of children

Viral pictures of Pope Francis wearing puffer jacket are AI-generated

Covid-19 is not a ‘simple flu’

Emergency alert won’t ‘access personal data’

Photo doesn’t show police finding six skeletons in Wales

Photo doesn’t show interior of ‘chemtrail plane’

Emergency Alerts won’t match personal data with information collected during the pandemic

Are UK nationals a minority in the modern slavery statistics?

The government doesn’t spend £17 million a year subsidising food in Parliament

Test and Trace app cost much less than £37 billion

Emergency alert phone test on 23 April will not ‘breach GDPR’

Outcome of Charles Bronson’s parole hearing has not yet been announced

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