COVID Disinformation: The Anatomy of a Rumor

USA Today routinely fact checks statements made by the media to sort out fact from fiction and information from disinformation. These articles always include references to sources so that you can investigate further and determine the reliability of your own sources of information.

In this Fact Check article, “COVID-19 vaccine recommendations don't link government aid to immunization” by Brinley Hineman, 11/22/20, the reporter tracks down the sources of a false rumor spread on Instagram to discredit the Biden administration’s Corona virus task force. It claims falsely that the Biden Administration will withhold food stamps and other assistance from people who refuse to be vaccinated.

“A screenshot of a Distributed News article posted on Instagram last week wrongly claims that a member of Biden's recently assembled task force recommended withholding food stamps and aid from those who refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it's available.

“The post was shared on Instagram by Angela Stanton-King, who was released from federal prison after being pardoned by President Donald Trump in February after she gave birth while incarcerated.

“She ran for Congress as a Republican in the late-Rep. John Lewis' district in Georgia and was defeated by Georgia Democratic Party Chair Nikema Williams. Stanton-King calls herself a criminal justice expert and is a former reality television star.” 

According to the article, the Website Distributed News routinely publishes false information: “The website's post incorrectly says that Dr. Luciana Borio, an infectious disease doctor who is part of Biden's task force, wants to bar people who refuse the vaccine from receiving food stamps and rent assistant.”

The Website falsely states that Dr. Borio is a CIA-linked operative. It sites a paper by a task force unaffiliated with the Biden campaign of which Borio was a member. The task force wrote a report that recommends partnering with organizations already offering services to vulnerable populations to “…to build trust and streamline vaccine provision…” 

“The paper doesn't mention withholding needed aid at all. “

Be prepared for more of this in the weeks to come.

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Read more: Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris outline their approach to curbing the pandemic on Biden's website.
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