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Charlie Kirk killing: Rumors, misinformation rampant on social media
A manhunt is ongoing for Charlie Kirk's shooter in Utah; false claims about the assassin's identity have spread widely, complicating the investigation and public discourse.
- Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative influencer and Turning Point USA founder, was reportedly shot at a Utah event with the shooter still unidentified and at large as of September 12, 2025.
- Reports about Kirk's condition conflicted, with some sources initially claiming he was alive, then acknowledging his death, while misinformation quickly spread across social media platforms.
- Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot on X played a key role in amplifying false claims about Kirk’s shooting and the shooter's identity before partially correcting its statements later.
- On September 11, 2025, Eric Levitz cited the Anti-Defamation League’s 2024 report, which found right-wing extremists committed all ideological killings that year, countering false claims that political violence is solely left-wing.
- The shooting intensified debates on political violence and free speech, prompting calls for legislation against mocking Kirk's death while authorities continue searching for the perpetrator.
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14 Articles
14 Articles
Online users spread misinformation about Charlie Kirk's alleged killer's identity
The killing of US far-right activist Charlie Kirk has seen social media users sharing names and photos of at least two people misidentified as the alleged shooter. It turns out that neither of them has…
·France
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Trump’s message on Charlie Kirk wasn’t AI. But our confidence in what’s real is fading
The aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah, has been a maelstrom of misinformation and hatred, revealing how polarized social media and the past decade of digital conflict have left us. One of the most unsettling signs that something fundamental has broken in our sense of reality comes from a seemingly trivial detail: Donald Trump’s pinky finger. In a White House statement mourning Kirk’s death, many viewers focused less on…
Rumors, Misinformation About Charlie Kirk Killing Rampant on Social Media
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 33%
C 50%
R 17%
Factuality
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