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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Photo Shows Electric Car-sharing Lot in China, Contrary to Facebook Post

Photo Shows Electric Car-sharing Lot in China, Contrary to Facebook Post

Congress has passed a bill that would fund incentives to purchase electric vehicles. But a false claim is circulating on social media that purports to show an “electric car cemetery” in France. The photo actually shows a car-sharing company’s storage lot in China. The cars were to be replaced by updated electric vehicles.

Video Makes Unsubstantiated Claim About Chinese Maneuvers After Pelosi Visit to Taiwan

Video Makes Unsubstantiated Claim About Chinese Maneuvers After Pelosi Visit to Taiwan

China held live-fire military drills around Taiwan as a response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island on Aug. 2. But a video posted on social media made unfounded claims that China had attacked a Taiwanese armory. An expert told us that the claim was false and a majority of the video’s footage did not appear to be from the week of Pelosi’s visit. 

Facebook Post Repeats Flawed Claim on Wuhan Lab Funding

Facebook Post Repeats Flawed Claim on Wuhan Lab Funding

A Facebook post is spreading the false claim that former President Barack Obama gave $3.8 million to a lab in Wuhan, China. The money referenced was actually provided to a U.S. research group. Only $600,000 went to the lab as part of a U.S.-approved collaboration. 

Trump’s Confusing Claim on Italy and Travel Restrictions

Trump’s Confusing Claim on Italy and Travel Restrictions

We could find no evidence to support President Donald Trump’s claim that Italy was “hit hard” by the coronavirus pandemic because “a lot of the people that didn’t come in here went to Italy” when the U.S. imposed travel restrictions on China.

No Link Between Harvard Scientist Charles Lieber and Coronavirus

No Link Between Harvard Scientist Charles Lieber and Coronavirus

Q. Is it true that federal agents arrested Harvard professor Charles Lieber for creating the coronavirus?

A: No. Lieber, a nanoscientist, was charged for lying about his participation in a Chinese recruitment program and his affiliation with a Chinese university. He is not accused of being a spy and has no connection to the new coronavirus.

Q&A on COVID-19

Q&A on COVID-19

An outbreak of viral pneumonia that began in the central Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019 has now sickened thousands, and led to more than 100 deaths. Here, we answer some key questions about what is known so far about the outbreak and the virus.

Social Media Posts Spread Bogus Coronavirus Conspiracy Theory

Social Media Posts Spread Bogus Coronavirus Conspiracy Theory

Multiple social media posts are spreading a bogus conspiracy theory about the deadly Wuhan virus. The posts falsely claim that the virus has been patented and a vaccine is already available. That’s not true; the patents the posts refer to pertain to different viruses.

Checking Inhofe’s Energy Statistics on China

Checking Inhofe’s Energy Statistics on China

Sen. Jim Inhofe scoffed at the suggestion that China could shift 20 percent of its energy to non-fossil fuels by 2030, in part, he said, because China “has no known reserves of natural gas.” But Inhofe is wrong about that.