NEW: False Claims that Biden ‘Lost’ Pennsylvania Surge, and Tech Companies Struggle to Keep Up https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/2020-election-misinformation-distortions#false-claims-that-biden-lost-pennsylvania-surge-and-tech-companies-struggle-to-keep-up

This is one of the starkest and clearest misinformation paths I've seen lately. And I can't stress this enough, this path is VERY well-known among misinformation reporters & researchers. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/2020-election-misinformation-distortions#false-claims-that-biden-lost-pennsylvania-surge-and-tech-companies-struggle-to-keep-up

It started with tweets from folks like Pam Bondi & Rudy Giuliani that Real Clear Politics had "rescinded" its call that PA went to Biden. That was picked up and repeated verbally in a YouTube video. Then the YouTube video was shared in private FB groups https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/2020-election-misinformation-distortions/false-claims-that-biden-lost-pennsylvania-surge-and-tech-companies-struggle-to-keep-up

The YouTube video! Is on a verified account! Running ADS! And it gained nearly 900,000 views in just 12 hours, largely because of shares on Facebook. YT says this doesn't violate its rules https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/2020-election-misinformation-distortions#false-claims-that-biden-lost-pennsylvania-surge-and-tech-companies-struggle-to-keep-up

MEANWHILE ON FACEBOOK—a CrowdTangle search shows most of this activity is in PRIVATE FB groups, beyond what researchers and journalists can see.

Only 2.5 percent of FB activity—likes, shares, comments—is visible on public FB. I truly am *losing my mind* https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/2020-election-misinformation-distortions#false-claims-that-biden-lost-pennsylvania-surge-and-tech-companies-struggle-to-keep-up

Again this is one of the clearest and most classic paths of cross-platform misinformation: It starts on Twitter, jumps to YouTube (where it can stay up as long as the video doesn't surface in search/recommendations), then gets shared like crazy in private spaces on Facebook.

We have known that this happens. We've known it for a long time. And yet we continue to let it happen.

Please please please be aware that this is a common misinfo path and try to sound the alarm when you can. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/2020-election-misinformation-distortions#false-claims-that-biden-lost-pennsylvania-surge-and-tech-companies-struggle-to-keep-up

More from @mhbergen on the YouTube loophole. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-10/youtube-election-loophole-lets-some-false-trump-win-videos-spread

This is the earliest tweet we traced on this viral falsehood. Posted at 6:30pm last night. The same account, intelspook, has pushed misinformation about Antifa & George Soros. It also doxxed the woman who rented the U-Haul in this other false, viral claim https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/24/technology/without-evidence-right-wing-commentators-link-soros-to-louisville-u-haul.html

This is how the rumor started and gained traction — another classic tactic. "Look on RCP's website. It's right there." Could be genuinely confusing to see Biden back at 259 on the site & PA greyed out but that's because RCP NEVER CALLED PA FOR BIDEN

This falsehood is apparently spreading unchecked in Chinese-language text messages on @WeChatApp (H/T @YLindaQiu). This rumor has become really, really destructive in half a day.