Fact-check 2022: Most-read VERIFY stories

There was quite a lot of misinformation and a few shocking truths that circulated on-line in 2022. VERIFY revealed lots of of stories this 12 months to assist folks distinguish between true and false information.

To look again on 2022, the VERIFY crew reviewed which stories you learn probably the most on our web site. Here are the highest 5: 

#5: No, 15,000 protesters in Iran weren’t sentenced to dying

Following the September 2022 dying of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in Iranian police custody, protesters throughout the nation demanded enhancements to human rights and civil liberties. Amini was arrested on accusations of improperly sporting hijab, a head masking that Iranian legislation requires girls to put on whereas in public.

Human rights teams estimated that the Iranian authorities detained greater than 15,000 protesters. In November, a number of viral social media posts – together with from celebrities like Peter Frampton, Sophie Turner and Viola Davis – claimed all 15,000 of these protesters had been sentenced to dying, and warned of an impending mass execution.

While it’s true that an estimated 15,000 protesters had been detained in Iran, VERIFY discovered the posts shared on social media claiming they’ve all been sentenced to dying have been inaccurate. 

The 15,000 quantity got here from estimates by the United Nations and the Human Rights Activists News Agency of what number of complete folks had been detained in Iran in reference to the protests. 

But reporting indicates on the time the viral posts have been despatched, solely one person had really obtained a dying sentence in reference to the protests. Several weeks later, in early December 2022, Iran said it executed a prisoner for a criminal offense allegedly dedicated through the nation’s ongoing nationwide protests, the primary such dying penalty carried out within the nation.

Human rights specialists warn that future dying sentences might be handed down with out warning or due course of.

Iran Human Rights estimates as of Dec. 27, not less than 476 protesters have been killed by safety forces in Iran, and one other 100 face dying penalty expenses or execution.  

#4: No, you’ll be able to’t steal as much as $950 value of merchandise in California with out consequence beneath Prop 47

Proposition 47, a legislation enacted in California in 2014, was introduced again into the general public eye this 12 months following a section on Fox News.

Then-California Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-District 6), who helps efforts to repeal Proposition 47, appeared on Fox News in February. (Kiley has since been elected to the U.S. House.) 

After Kiley’s look, some folks on social media claimed the California legislation permits shoplifting and that shoplifting gadgets value lower than $950 is not a crime.

While Proposition 47 did cut back the punishment for sure theft crimes, VERIFY discovered you could’t steal as much as $950 value of merchandise in California with out authorized consequence.

The proposition reclassified sure theft offenses from felony expenses to misdemeanors,  according to California Courts. It created a brand new misdemeanor offense known as “shoplifting,” which is punishable by as much as six months in county jail, a advantageous of as much as $1,000 or each.

Shoplifting is outlined beneath California’s penal code as “entering a commercial establishment with intent to commit larceny while that establishment is open during regular business hours, where the value of the property that is taken or intended to be taken does not exceed $950.”

Before the passage of Proposition 47, shoplifters have been often charged beneath the state’s housebreaking legal guidelines, which carried felony penalties..

#3: Yes, you’ll be able to take a look at optimistic for COVID-19 on PCR exams for as much as 12 weeks after an infection

In December 2021,  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) up to date its COVID-19 steerage to say folks contaminated with the virus solely have to isolate themselves for 5 days if they’re asymptomatic or their signs are resolving.

Some folks have been essential of the up to date steerage as a result of there wasn’t a suggestion for folks to check detrimental for COVID-19 earlier than ending their isolation. In response, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that one of many causes there’s no detrimental take a look at suggestion is as a result of PCR exams “can stay positive for up to 12 weeks.”

Polymerase chain response (PCR) exams for COVID-19 contain a lab course of that may detect the genetic materials of the virus that causes COVID-19. They are extra delicate than speedy antigen exams, which means they’re extra more likely to precisely determine a COVID-19 case. 

While the excessive sensitivity is dependable for first diagnosing folks with COVID-19, it’s far much less dependable for figuring out if somebody remains to be infectious with the virus. Fragments of the virus materials may be detected three months later, according to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Health businesses in Canada and the United Kingdom additionally acknowledge that PCR exams can have optimistic outcomes three months after an individual was initially identified with COVID-19.

#2: Yes, there’s a method to examine if you happen to obtained a federal Pell grant

President Joe Biden introduced in August that his administration would forgive as much as $10,000 for a lot of pupil debtors, and as much as $20,000 for debtors who obtained Pell Grants whereas at school. Student debt aid is presently on maintain as courtroom orders block the forgiveness program and the applying is presently closed. 

When pupil mortgage forgiveness was first introduced, many individuals searched on-line for information about Pell Grants and easy methods to examine in the event that they obtained one. 

Federal Pell Grants are often solely awarded to undergraduate college students with distinctive monetary want, the Department of Education says. They don’t have to be repaid like a pupil mortgage would.

Student debtors can examine their whole federal pupil support historical past on the Federal Student Aid website run by the U.S. Department of Education. This contains their Pell Grant historical past. You’ll discover this information in your aid summary page when you’ve logged into studentaid.gov together with your FSA ID.

#1: Yes, warming up your automobile earlier than driving in chilly climate can harm the engine

VERIFY responded to dozens of feedback and messages about this story that stemmed from a viewer query. The viewer wished to know if letting your automobile warm up earlier than hitting the highway, a common practice for many drivers, can doubtlessly damage the automobile’s engine. 

It’s true that in chilly climate, extreme idling – the follow of “warming up” your automobile – could cause some long-term harm to the engines of recent gas-powered autos, in keeping with a number of sources, together with Firestone Complete Auto Care, Chuck’s Auto Repair and Smart Motors Toyota. It’s not the worst factor you are able to do to your engine, however there’s nothing optimistic that comes from it – besides a heat cabin.

Engines used to want to heat up earlier than driving in chilly temperatures, however that’s not true for many autos made after 1980. 

Instead of ready to your automobile to heat up within the winter, most producers suggest driving off gently after about 30 seconds to a minute, as a result of the engine warms up quicker when the automobile is being pushed. 

But, for electrical car house owners, the above information doesn’t apply.