Category: Factchecks

Debunked: Fox News claims about an Irish crime wave are based on discredited claims and bad stats

Posted on By AOB
Factchecks

In early August 2025, Fox News aired a segment claiming Dublin had experienced a 114% rise in “murder/assault attempts”, attributing this surge to increased immigration. A fact-check by The Journal thoroughly debunks this claim. The report notes there is no official crime category labelled “murder/assault attempts”, and statistics from An Garda Síochána or the Central … Read More “Debunked: Fox News claims about an Irish crime wave are based on discredited claims and bad stats” »

Debunked: Old video of a Belgian mosque claims to show “what they’re teaching kids now in school”

Posted on By AOB
Factchecks

The controversy was reported by Belgian publications back in 2018. A viral video showing children praying in a mosque has been falsely presented as evidence of school indoctrination, but in truth, it dates back to 2018 and features a visit organised by a non-profit aiming to promote religious understanding—a trip not part of any school … Read More “Debunked: Old video of a Belgian mosque claims to show “what they’re teaching kids now in school”” »

Debunked: Deepfake video appears to show Canadian Prime Minister announcing ban on old cars

Posted on By AOB
Factchecks

Mark Carney has not announced that cars made prior to 2000 won’t be allowed on the road. A deepfake video purporting to show Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announcing a ban on pre-2000 cars, prohibiting window tints, and outlawing lifted trucks has been debunked — The Journal’s FactCheck confirms it is entirely fabricated, the result … Read More “Debunked: Deepfake video appears to show Canadian Prime Minister announcing ban on old cars” »

TheJournal responds to Meta’s attack on US factcheckers

Posted on By EDMO Admin
Factchecks, News

Meta has announced it is abandoning independent fact-checkers on Facebook and Instagram, replacing them with user-driven “community notes” similar to X. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said third-party moderators were “too politically biased” and called for a return to “free expression.” The move comes as Meta seeks to improve ties with US President-elect Donald Trump. The managing … Read More “TheJournal responds to Meta’s attack on US factcheckers” »

EDMO criticises Meta’s decision to drop fact-checkers in favour of ‘community notes’

Posted on By EDMO Admin
Factchecks, News

The European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) has expressed strong support for the fact-checking community and concern over Meta’s decision to phase out its third-party fact-checking programme, beginning in the US. The move, announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, will replace professional fact-checkers with a user-led “community notes” system similar to X. EDMO warns that this shift … Read More “EDMO criticises Meta’s decision to drop fact-checkers in favour of ‘community notes’” »

GE24: TheJournal FactCheck team up with PA for Election Check 24

Posted on By Eileen Culloty
Elections, Factchecks, News, Outreach

Election Check 24 is a project supported by the Google News Initiative, aimed at fighting misinformation during Ireland’s general election. Led by PA Media, Ireland’s national news agency, it brings together news publishers and TheJournal’s fact-checkers to ensure accurate information is available to the public. PA Media’s fact-checking team, which is recognized by the International … Read More “GE24: TheJournal FactCheck team up with PA for Election Check 24” »

TheJournal launches Knowledge Bank to tackle misinformation and explain complex news

Posted on By EDMO Admin
Factchecks, Media Literacy, News

TheJournal.ie has launched a new website called Knowledge Bank to help readers in Ireland better understand complex and controversial news topics — and to recognise the tactics used in the spread of misinformation. Available at factchecking.ie, the site offers explainers, myth-busting guides, and a practical toolkit with videos and tips on verifying images, spotting false … Read More “TheJournal launches Knowledge Bank to tackle misinformation and explain complex news” »