AAP FactCheck Articles

Africa “slave markets” photo is of actors at a re-enactment

A Facebook post from an Australian user on December 8 and examined by AAP FactCheck, allegedly shows people being sold off as slaves.

Read more

Grand Canyon from space image is a Photoshop fake

AAP FactCheck examined a Facebook post on October 16, 2019 by a Queensland user purportedly showing the Grand Canyon from space.

Read more

Samoa "measles timeline" ignores reality of epidemic spread

As a measles epidemic hits the Pacific island nation of Samoa, a Facebook post claims to show a timeline of events ending in the State of Emergency that was declared in November.

Read more

Swedish crime stats claims not clear cut

AAP FactCheck examined a Facebook post from November 23, 2019 on a page called Future Australian Prime Minister with statistics on Sweden, claiming the Nordic nation is a “world leader in many things”.

Read more

Churchill "what are we fighting for" quote is an artistic creation

A quote attributed to Britain’s art-loving wartime prime minister, Winston Churchill, has been circulating on social media after Australia’s current prime minister, Scott Morrison, announced a restructure of the public service.

Read more

Margarine "turkey fattener” post mixes some facts with fiction

AAP FactCheck examined a Facebook post which makes some alarming claims about margarine, including that it was originally created to fatten turkeys and was supposedly repurposed as food for people “when it killed the turkeys”.

Read more

Cruise control warning a slippery mix of claims

AAP FactCheck examined a Facebook post from June 17, 2019 by a private user, which claimed using cruise control in wet weather can cause your car to accelerate further if it hydroplanes, and take off “like an airplane”.

Read more

"Stolen pensions" post recycles misinformation

A lengthy Facebook post from an Australian user starts with a headline that reads: “OLD AGE PENSION QUIETLY CHANGED TO WELFARE PAYMENT” and a claim that the age pension is now (or soon will be) referred to as “Low Income Aged Persons Welfare”. It also claims that “7.5% of our wages deducted before tax for the whole of our working lives has been stolen by both sides of politics”.

Read more

Inaccurate claims about mobile phones in cars

AAP FactCheck examined a Facebook post from a NSW user published on November 19, 2019 which claims Australia has passed laws making it illegal to touch a mobile phone while driving or with engine running.

Read more

Daisy the dog didn’t save 967 people in the 9/11 attacks

AAP FactCheck examined a Facebook post from October 30, 2019 by an Australian user which features a video of Daisy, a guide dog, who supposedly rescued hundreds of people from the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Read more

No, Mel Gibson didn't endorse cryptocurrency scam

AAP FactCheck examined a Facebook post featuring a photo of Hollywood actor and director Mel Gibson above a headline reading “How Mel Gibson’s Latest investment Has Australians Making Up To $63K A Month”.

Read more

Heart attack claims a mix of facts and fiction

AAP FactCheck examined a Facebook post which features a photo of a heart and claims drinking water at specific times of the day will help lower the risk of some diseases. It also details the role of aspirin in heart attacks.

Read more

Bottled water in cars claim leaves a bad taste

AAP FactCheck examined a Facebook post from October 5, 2019 on the page WeAreTeens which features a screenshot of a tweet. Under a caption saying “Don’t leave water in the car!!” is an image of a notice with a headline: “Bottled Water in Your Car Is Very Dangerous”.

Read more

Wind turbines produce more energy than it takes to make them

AAP FactCheck examined a Facebook post from November 7, 2019 by public page Stand Up For Australia- Melbourne, which claimed a wind turbine, referred to in the post as a windmill, "could spin until it falls apart and never generate as much energy as was invested in building it".

Read more

Dreamworld is not giving away tickets to celebrate its anniversary

AAP FactCheck examined multiple links shared on Facebook on November 15, 2019 claiming Dreamworld is giving away tickets to celebrate its anniversary.

Read more

‘The Rock’ unmoved by death hoax stories

AAP FactCheck examined multiple links shared on Facebook on November 14, 2019 by Australian users announcing the supposed death of Hollywood action film actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Read more

Did the NSW government cut $12.9 million from Fire and Rescue NSW’s funding in the 2019-20 budget?

"The 2019/20 budget cut of $12.9 million to recurrent expenditure on top of $21 million of savings to be found for the government's Labour Expense Cap is crippling FRNSW."

Read more

Costco $75 coupon post is a scam

AAP FactCheck examined a link shared on Facebook on November 13, 2019 by Australian users featuring a purported offer of a free $75 Costco coupon in celebration of the company’s anniversary.

Read more

Stories of his demise are greatly exaggerated: Clint Eastwood is not dead

AAP FactCheck examined a link shared on Facebook on November 7, 2019 by Australian users. The link goes to a web page featuring a video announcing the supposed death of Hollywood film star Clint Eastwood.

Read more

‘Japan keeps Islam at bay’ post is partly false

AAP FactCheck examined a Facebook post from November 18, 2015 by an Australian user which lists how Japan purportedly puts “restrictions on Islam and ALL Muslims”.

Read more