MBFC's Daily Vetted Fact Checks for 12/17/2024

Media Bias Fact Check selects and publishes fact checks from around the world. We only utilize fact-checkers who are either a signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) or have been verified as credible by MBFC. Further, we review each fact check for accuracy before publishing. We fact-check the fact-checkers and let you know their bias. When appropriate, we explain the rating and/or offer our own rating if we disagree with the fact-checker. (D. Van Zandt)

Claim Codes: Red = Fact Check on a Right Claim, Blue = Fact Check on a Left Claim, Black = Not Political/Conspiracy/Pseudoscience/Other

Fact Checker bias rating Codes: Red = Right-Leaning, Green = Least Biased, Blue = Left-Leaning, Black = Unrated by MBFC

FALSE	Claim via Social Media: It’s legal to shoot down a drone. KGW rating: False (It’s illegal to shoot at any aircraft, including drones.) It’s illegal to shoot down a drone
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: The New York Times published an opinion article titled “Why the Glorification of Luigi Mangione Is Inherently Anti-Israeli”. Australian Associated Press rating: False (It did not publish an article with this headline.) NYT headline slamming ‘anti-Israeli’ glorification of Luigi Mangione is fake
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: Photos show mysterious drones reported flying over parts of New Jersey in November and December 2024. PolitiFact rating: False (Reverse-image search results show that neither of the images included in a Dec. 11 Threads post showed mysterious drones reported in New Jersey.) These photos don’t show the drones reported in New Jersey
NO EVIDENCE	Claim via Social Media: UnitedHealthcare uses an artificial intelligence (AI) tool with a 90% error rate to deny insurance claims. Snopes rating: Unproven (It’s true that UnitedHealth once deployed AI software to evaluate claims, though the extent to which the technology informed decisions about denying coverage, if any, was unknown. It was also unclear whether UnitedHealth still uses the software at the time of this writing.) The Facts Behind Accusations That United Healthcare Uses Error-Prone AI to Deny Claims
BLATANT LIE	Claim via Social Media: “79.4% of babies who die of SIDS had a vaccine the same day” Science Feedback rating: Inaccurate (The posts wrongly interpreted the study’s findings. The 79.4% figure cited referred to children who received more than one vaccine on the day of vaccination, not on the day of their death.) Claim that 79.4% of SIDS deaths occurred on same day as vaccination misinterprets CDC study
FALSE	(International: Nigeria): Nigerian businessman is the world’s first black car manufacturer AFP Fact Check rating: False Posts falsely claim Nigerian automaker is world’s first black car manufacturer

Disclaimer: We are providing links to fact-checks by third-party fact-checkers. If you do not agree with a fact check, please directly contact the source of that fact check.