NEW: X, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram are allowing a storm of lies about extreme weather events.

([link removed])

Friend,

Extreme weather events, like the recent Texas floods, are more frequent than ever. When these emergencies happen, people turn to social media to find answers.

But, when the LA fires and hurricanes Helen and Milton hit, instead of reliable information, a storm of false claims and conspiracies took over X, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

How do we know this? CCDH analyzed ([link removed]) 300 of the most-liked false and misleading posts about extreme weather events made between 2023 and 2025 on X, Meta (Instagram and Facebook), and YouTube.

What we found ([link removed]) was alarming:

Community Notes or fact-checks were NOT displayed on most of the posts on X, Facebook, and Instagram, and they were absent from all YouTube videos.

The falsehoods in our sample were viewed 221 million times across the four platforms. They included false claims that the LA wildfires were part of a “globalist plot”, that the hurricanes are controlled by “weather weapon technology”, and that emergency responders were failing to act and diverting funds.

All platforms are giving ‘verified’ status to users pushing these false claims, allowing their content to reach more people.

YouTube displayed ads next to 29 of the 100 misleading videos, profiting from this content.

Conspiracist Alex Jones’ false claims about the 2025 LA wildfires had more views on X than the combined views of posts from 10 major news outlets and 10 key emergency agencies.

([link removed])

The online spread of lies about extreme weather events can erode trust in science and authorities, disrupt emergency efforts and put lives at risk.

X, YouTube, and Meta are falling short of their responsibilities during moments when accurate information can mean life or death.

Friend, help us spread the word that these platforms are failing people in critical moments. Share our new findings with your friends and family:

Share on LinkedIn ([link removed])

Share on Facebook ([link removed])

Share on Bluesky ([link removed])

Share on Threads ([link removed])

Share on Instagram ([link removed])

Share on WhatsApp ([link removed](CCDH)%20found%20that%20X%2C%20Meta%20and%20YouTube%20are%20letting%20misleading%20claims%20about%20extreme%20weather%20events%20-%20like%20the%20LA%20wildfires%20and%20Hurricane%20Helene%20-%20spread%20unchecked.%0A%0AThese%20falsehoods%20delay%20emergency%20responses%20and%20put%20lives%20at%20risk.%20Read%20more%3A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.france24.com%2Fen%2Flive-news%2F20250722-extreme-weather-misinformation-putting-lives-at-risk-study-warns)

Best wishes,

The CCDH Team

([link removed])
([link removed])
([link removed])
([link removed])
([link removed])
([link removed])

General:[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) | Press: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

You are receiving this email as you subscribed to CCDH's email list. Manage personal data, email subscriptions, and recurring donations ([link removed]) here or unsubscribe from all. ([link removed])