Bill McCarthy
@billmccarthy.bsky.social
Senior digital investigation journalist covering online mis- and disinformation for AFP • Formerly with PolitiFact and the Raleigh News & Observer • Duke alum • “The internet folks” - Stephen Colbert
https://factcheck.afp.com/Bill-MCCARTHY
https://factcheck.afp.com/Bill-MCCARTHY
Pinned
Bill McCarthy
@billmccarthy.bsky.social
· May 21
Trump Displays DRC Visual As Proof Of South African 'Genocide'
US President Donald Trump brandished a stack of printed articles at the White House Wednesday that he claimed documented a genocide taking place against white people in South Africa.
www.barrons.com
“Look, here's burial sites all over the place. These are all white farmers that are being buried,” Donald Trump said during today’s White House meeting with South Africa’s president.
The image he was holding up, however, is of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
www.barrons.com/news/trump-d...
The image he was holding up, however, is of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
www.barrons.com/news/trump-d...
US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social a video of a massive crowd with text reading: "Venezuela celebrates Democrats cry."
The problem: the footage actually shows a UCLA "undie run," an unofficial campus tradition, in December.
factual.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The problem: the footage actually shows a UCLA "undie run," an unofficial campus tradition, in December.
factual.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
January 6, 2026 at 7:47 PM
US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social a video of a massive crowd with text reading: "Venezuela celebrates Democrats cry."
The problem: the footage actually shows a UCLA "undie run," an unofficial campus tradition, in December.
factual.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The problem: the footage actually shows a UCLA "undie run," an unofficial campus tradition, in December.
factual.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Reposted by Bill McCarthy
January 5, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Elon Musk reposted an AI-generated video depicting triumphant celebrations in the streets of Venezuela after US forces' shock capture of Nicolás Maduro. factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
January 5, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Elon Musk reposted an AI-generated video depicting triumphant celebrations in the streets of Venezuela after US forces' shock capture of Nicolás Maduro. factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Elon Musk's AI tool Grok is facing growing international backlash for generating sexualized deepfakes of women and minors, with the European Union joining the condemnation and Britain warning of an investigation. www.barrons.com/news/remove-...
'Remove Her Clothes': Global Backlash Over Grok Sexualized Images
Elon Musk's AI tool Grok faced growing international backlash Monday for generating sexualized deepfakes of women and minors, with the European Union joining the condemnation and Britain warning of an...
www.barrons.com
January 5, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Elon Musk's AI tool Grok is facing growing international backlash for generating sexualized deepfakes of women and minors, with the European Union joining the condemnation and Britain warning of an investigation. www.barrons.com/news/remove-...
After US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in an overnight raid, social media flooded with images falsely linked to the operation or the reaction of the country's citizens, in addition to AI-generated photos depicting the deposed president. factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
January 5, 2026 at 10:04 PM
After US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in an overnight raid, social media flooded with images falsely linked to the operation or the reaction of the country's citizens, in addition to AI-generated photos depicting the deposed president. factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Woman felt 'dehumanised' after Musk's Grok AI used to digitally remove her clothes www.bbc.com/news/article...
Woman felt 'dehumanised' after Musk's Grok AI used to digitally remove her clothes
The BBC has seen several examples of it undressing women and putting them in sexual situations without their consent.
www.bbc.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Woman felt 'dehumanised' after Musk's Grok AI used to digitally remove her clothes www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Bill McCarthy
NEW with @manonjacob.bsky.social:
Donald Trump blamed US windmills for killing bald eagles in a Truth Social post last night.
But the photo was years old, taken in Israel, and of a bird that experts said was definitely not an eagle and more likely a type of falcon.
www.barrons.com/news/trump-g...
Donald Trump blamed US windmills for killing bald eagles in a Truth Social post last night.
But the photo was years old, taken in Israel, and of a bird that experts said was definitely not an eagle and more likely a type of falcon.
www.barrons.com/news/trump-g...
December 31, 2025 at 7:32 PM
NEW with @manonjacob.bsky.social:
Donald Trump blamed US windmills for killing bald eagles in a Truth Social post last night.
But the photo was years old, taken in Israel, and of a bird that experts said was definitely not an eagle and more likely a type of falcon.
www.barrons.com/news/trump-g...
Donald Trump blamed US windmills for killing bald eagles in a Truth Social post last night.
But the photo was years old, taken in Israel, and of a bird that experts said was definitely not an eagle and more likely a type of falcon.
www.barrons.com/news/trump-g...
NEW with @manonjacob.bsky.social:
Donald Trump blamed US windmills for killing bald eagles in a Truth Social post last night.
But the photo was years old, taken in Israel, and of a bird that experts said was definitely not an eagle and more likely a type of falcon.
www.barrons.com/news/trump-g...
Donald Trump blamed US windmills for killing bald eagles in a Truth Social post last night.
But the photo was years old, taken in Israel, and of a bird that experts said was definitely not an eagle and more likely a type of falcon.
www.barrons.com/news/trump-g...
December 31, 2025 at 7:32 PM
NEW with @manonjacob.bsky.social:
Donald Trump blamed US windmills for killing bald eagles in a Truth Social post last night.
But the photo was years old, taken in Israel, and of a bird that experts said was definitely not an eagle and more likely a type of falcon.
www.barrons.com/news/trump-g...
Donald Trump blamed US windmills for killing bald eagles in a Truth Social post last night.
But the photo was years old, taken in Israel, and of a bird that experts said was definitely not an eagle and more likely a type of falcon.
www.barrons.com/news/trump-g...
Reposted by Bill McCarthy
A widespread video claims to show New Yorkers hurling snowballs at immigration agents, but it is misrepresented. The footage was captured in Moscow in 2021 as Russians took to the streets following Alexei Navalny's imprisonment. u.afp.com/S86Q
December 30, 2025 at 4:33 PM
A widespread video claims to show New Yorkers hurling snowballs at immigration agents, but it is misrepresented. The footage was captured in Moscow in 2021 as Russians took to the streets following Alexei Navalny's imprisonment. u.afp.com/S86Q
This video claiming to show New Yorkers pelting ICE agents with snowballs has spread widely across social media, but the footage is misrepresented.
It was captured in Moscow in 2021 as Russians took to the streets following Alexei Navalny's imprisonment.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
It was captured in Moscow in 2021 as Russians took to the streets following Alexei Navalny's imprisonment.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
December 30, 2025 at 4:23 PM
This video claiming to show New Yorkers pelting ICE agents with snowballs has spread widely across social media, but the footage is misrepresented.
It was captured in Moscow in 2021 as Russians took to the streets following Alexei Navalny's imprisonment.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
It was captured in Moscow in 2021 as Russians took to the streets following Alexei Navalny's imprisonment.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Reposted by Bill McCarthy
Exclusive: A year after Tenet Media was busted for funneling Russian money to MAGA pundits like Benny Johnson and Tim Pool, a Trump administration effort involving State and the FBI has welcomed Tenet's founders back into the US. @thebulwark.com: www.thebulwark.com/p/lauren-che...
Trump Admin Scores Visa for Founder of Russian Propaganda Outlet
Tenet Media’s Lauren Chen is back—even though the illegal-influence and money-laundering investigation remains open.
www.thebulwark.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Exclusive: A year after Tenet Media was busted for funneling Russian money to MAGA pundits like Benny Johnson and Tim Pool, a Trump administration effort involving State and the FBI has welcomed Tenet's founders back into the US. @thebulwark.com: www.thebulwark.com/p/lauren-che...
Nice credit to AFP's reporting on the disinformation surrounding the Brown University shooting in this article from the New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/25/t...
Government Officials Once Stopped False Accusations After Violence. Now, Some Join In.
www.nytimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Nice credit to AFP's reporting on the disinformation surrounding the Brown University shooting in this article from the New York Times. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/25/t...
There are lot of fake Epstein-related images circulating across platforms, including this picture purporting to show Donald Trump and Pam Bondi.
The image is altered. In original 1997 photo, Trump is posing beside Belgian model Ingrid Seynhaeve.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The image is altered. In original 1997 photo, Trump is posing beside Belgian model Ingrid Seynhaeve.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
December 22, 2025 at 10:41 PM
There are lot of fake Epstein-related images circulating across platforms, including this picture purporting to show Donald Trump and Pam Bondi.
The image is altered. In original 1997 photo, Trump is posing beside Belgian model Ingrid Seynhaeve.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
The image is altered. In original 1997 photo, Trump is posing beside Belgian model Ingrid Seynhaeve.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Reposted by Bill McCarthy
President Donald Trump added bronze plaques at the White House that include misleading or false descriptions of recent Democratic presidents.
Trump’s presidential plaques include falsehoods
President Donald Trump added bronze plaques at the White House that include misleading or false descriptions of recent Democratic presidents.
buff.ly
December 21, 2025 at 3:17 PM
President Donald Trump added bronze plaques at the White House that include misleading or false descriptions of recent Democratic presidents.
Reposted by Bill McCarthy
NEW:
Officials in Rhode Island have denounced misinformation that they said complicated their multiday search for the gunman who killed two students and wounded others at Brown University.
More from @en.afp.com: www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Officials in Rhode Island have denounced misinformation that they said complicated their multiday search for the gunman who killed two students and wounded others at Brown University.
More from @en.afp.com: www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Misinformation complicated Brown University shooting probe: police
Officials in the US state of Rhode Island have denounced misinformation that they said complicated their multiday search for the gunman who killed two students and wounded others at Brown University.
www.france24.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Reposted by Bill McCarthy
FACT CHECK:
Right-wing X users spent days blaming Brown University's shooting on Palestinian student Mustapha Kharbouch, even as school and state officials rejected those allegations.
Now, authorities have ID'd the suspect as another man: Claudio Neves Valente.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Right-wing X users spent days blaming Brown University's shooting on Palestinian student Mustapha Kharbouch, even as school and state officials rejected those allegations.
Now, authorities have ID'd the suspect as another man: Claudio Neves Valente.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
December 19, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Reposted by Bill McCarthy
NEW:
Statements from Mustapha Kharbouch, the Brown University student falsely accused online of being the campus shooter, and their legal team.
"The past few days have been an unimaginable nightmare," Kharbouch says. "I received non-stop death threats and hate speech."
Statements from Mustapha Kharbouch, the Brown University student falsely accused online of being the campus shooter, and their legal team.
"The past few days have been an unimaginable nightmare," Kharbouch says. "I received non-stop death threats and hate speech."
December 19, 2025 at 7:52 PM
NEW:
Statements from Mustapha Kharbouch, the Brown University student falsely accused online of being the campus shooter, and their legal team.
"The past few days have been an unimaginable nightmare," Kharbouch says. "I received non-stop death threats and hate speech."
Statements from Mustapha Kharbouch, the Brown University student falsely accused online of being the campus shooter, and their legal team.
"The past few days have been an unimaginable nightmare," Kharbouch says. "I received non-stop death threats and hate speech."
Reposted by Bill McCarthy
Student baselessly blamed for Brown University shooting online u.afp.com/NotTheBrownS...
December 19, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Student baselessly blamed for Brown University shooting online u.afp.com/NotTheBrownS...
Reposted by Bill McCarthy
Awful that these events are nearly always accompanied by such false accusations, but great work by @billmccarthy.bsky.social to capture the spread of these claims in real time
Student baselessly blamed for Brown University shooting online u.afp.com/NotTheBrownS...
December 19, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Awful that these events are nearly always accompanied by such false accusations, but great work by @billmccarthy.bsky.social to capture the spread of these claims in real time
NEW:
Statements from Mustapha Kharbouch, the Brown University student falsely accused online of being the campus shooter, and their legal team.
"The past few days have been an unimaginable nightmare," Kharbouch says. "I received non-stop death threats and hate speech."
Statements from Mustapha Kharbouch, the Brown University student falsely accused online of being the campus shooter, and their legal team.
"The past few days have been an unimaginable nightmare," Kharbouch says. "I received non-stop death threats and hate speech."
December 19, 2025 at 7:52 PM
NEW:
Statements from Mustapha Kharbouch, the Brown University student falsely accused online of being the campus shooter, and their legal team.
"The past few days have been an unimaginable nightmare," Kharbouch says. "I received non-stop death threats and hate speech."
Statements from Mustapha Kharbouch, the Brown University student falsely accused online of being the campus shooter, and their legal team.
"The past few days have been an unimaginable nightmare," Kharbouch says. "I received non-stop death threats and hate speech."
Reposted by Bill McCarthy
FACT CHECK:
Right-wing X users spent days blaming Brown University's shooting on Palestinian student Mustapha Kharbouch, even as school and state officials rejected those allegations.
Now, authorities have ID'd the suspect as another man: Claudio Neves Valente.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Right-wing X users spent days blaming Brown University's shooting on Palestinian student Mustapha Kharbouch, even as school and state officials rejected those allegations.
Now, authorities have ID'd the suspect as another man: Claudio Neves Valente.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
December 19, 2025 at 3:10 PM
FACT CHECK:
Right-wing X users spent days blaming Brown University's shooting on Palestinian student Mustapha Kharbouch, even as school and state officials rejected those allegations.
Now, authorities have ID'd the suspect as another man: Claudio Neves Valente.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Right-wing X users spent days blaming Brown University's shooting on Palestinian student Mustapha Kharbouch, even as school and state officials rejected those allegations.
Now, authorities have ID'd the suspect as another man: Claudio Neves Valente.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
NEW:
Officials in Rhode Island have denounced misinformation that they said complicated their multiday search for the gunman who killed two students and wounded others at Brown University.
More from @en.afp.com: www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Officials in Rhode Island have denounced misinformation that they said complicated their multiday search for the gunman who killed two students and wounded others at Brown University.
More from @en.afp.com: www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Misinformation complicated Brown University shooting probe: police
Officials in the US state of Rhode Island have denounced misinformation that they said complicated their multiday search for the gunman who killed two students and wounded others at Brown University.
www.france24.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:47 PM
NEW:
Officials in Rhode Island have denounced misinformation that they said complicated their multiday search for the gunman who killed two students and wounded others at Brown University.
More from @en.afp.com: www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Officials in Rhode Island have denounced misinformation that they said complicated their multiday search for the gunman who killed two students and wounded others at Brown University.
More from @en.afp.com: www.france24.com/en/live-news...
FACT CHECK:
Right-wing X users spent days blaming Brown University's shooting on Palestinian student Mustapha Kharbouch, even as school and state officials rejected those allegations.
Now, authorities have ID'd the suspect as another man: Claudio Neves Valente.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Right-wing X users spent days blaming Brown University's shooting on Palestinian student Mustapha Kharbouch, even as school and state officials rejected those allegations.
Now, authorities have ID'd the suspect as another man: Claudio Neves Valente.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
December 19, 2025 at 3:10 PM
FACT CHECK:
Right-wing X users spent days blaming Brown University's shooting on Palestinian student Mustapha Kharbouch, even as school and state officials rejected those allegations.
Now, authorities have ID'd the suspect as another man: Claudio Neves Valente.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Right-wing X users spent days blaming Brown University's shooting on Palestinian student Mustapha Kharbouch, even as school and state officials rejected those allegations.
Now, authorities have ID'd the suspect as another man: Claudio Neves Valente.
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Darnell Weaver, Rhode Island State Police superintendent: “Criminal investigations are grounded in evidence, not speculation or online commentary. The endless barrage of misinformation, disinformation, rumors, leaks and clickbait were not helpful in this investigation.”
December 19, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Darnell Weaver, Rhode Island State Police superintendent: “Criminal investigations are grounded in evidence, not speculation or online commentary. The endless barrage of misinformation, disinformation, rumors, leaks and clickbait were not helpful in this investigation.”
For days, a torrent of posts from mostly anonymous X accounts baselessly blamed the Brown University shooting on a Palestinian student at the school.
Officials tonight identified the suspect as Portuguese national Claudio Neves Valente, 48, who was found dead in a storage unit.
Officials tonight identified the suspect as Portuguese national Claudio Neves Valente, 48, who was found dead in a storage unit.
December 19, 2025 at 3:57 AM
For days, a torrent of posts from mostly anonymous X accounts baselessly blamed the Brown University shooting on a Palestinian student at the school.
Officials tonight identified the suspect as Portuguese national Claudio Neves Valente, 48, who was found dead in a storage unit.
Officials tonight identified the suspect as Portuguese national Claudio Neves Valente, 48, who was found dead in a storage unit.