This week my colleagues looked at the evidence behind a fake ‘leaked memo’ on social media. It claimed to be from an Imperial College professor, discussing plans for a “Permanent UK Lockdown.”

There was no evidence to back up these claims, but people believed it. It led to abuse of members of the university's staff.

Bad information is harmful. Claims like this can reach a lot of people in a short space of time. And the more a false statement is shared, the more people are likely to believe it.

But the more of us stand up for honesty, the faster incendiary false claims can be caught out and exposed.

Thanks to support from readers like you, millions of people have been able to access accurate information this year. Supporters make sure people can base their decisions on facts, and not rumours.

With hundreds of false claims appearing every day, we need your help to keep up.

Just a few pounds a month could help someone stop and think, before believing harmful information. Could you help make that happen today?