Maarten Schenk
@mschenk.bsky.social
Fact checker. Co-founder of leadstories.com.
Pinned
Reposted by Maarten Schenk
November 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM
To everyone exitedly posting X showing where an account is based surely will be the end of foreign ragebaiting slop accounts...
... Meta has had this feature for years and it *totally* fixed the problem there </sarcasm>
To coin a phrase:
"Grandpa doesn't check the 'about' tab." -- Me
... Meta has had this feature for years and it *totally* fixed the problem there </sarcasm>
To coin a phrase:
"Grandpa doesn't check the 'about' tab." -- Me
November 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM
To everyone exitedly posting X showing where an account is based surely will be the end of foreign ragebaiting slop accounts...
... Meta has had this feature for years and it *totally* fixed the problem there </sarcasm>
To coin a phrase:
"Grandpa doesn't check the 'about' tab." -- Me
... Meta has had this feature for years and it *totally* fixed the problem there </sarcasm>
To coin a phrase:
"Grandpa doesn't check the 'about' tab." -- Me
Reposted by Maarten Schenk
Ok Bluesky, let’s give this a go: I found this postcard in the back of a photo frame I bought at a London thrift shop.
It’s an unsent postcard from a woman called Linda to her parents. The front shows the Kremlin in Moscow and the stamp says 1984 (!).
I’d love to return it to Linda - can you help?
It’s an unsent postcard from a woman called Linda to her parents. The front shows the Kremlin in Moscow and the stamp says 1984 (!).
I’d love to return it to Linda - can you help?
November 21, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Ok Bluesky, let’s give this a go: I found this postcard in the back of a photo frame I bought at a London thrift shop.
It’s an unsent postcard from a woman called Linda to her parents. The front shows the Kremlin in Moscow and the stamp says 1984 (!).
I’d love to return it to Linda - can you help?
It’s an unsent postcard from a woman called Linda to her parents. The front shows the Kremlin in Moscow and the stamp says 1984 (!).
I’d love to return it to Linda - can you help?
"Not cool, man, make up your mind!" -- A bunch of sailors who just got new tattoos yesterday.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
In reversal, Coast Guard again classifies swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The new order came hours after The Post reported the service would instead classify such symbols as “potentially divisive” under guidelines set for release next month.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:13 PM
"Not cool, man, make up your mind!" -- A bunch of sailors who just got new tattoos yesterday.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Have you tried turning Cloudflare off and on again?
November 18, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Have you tried turning Cloudflare off and on again?
Some fact checks read like a detective novel. This one by @thompsonsarah.bsky.social is one of those...
Fact Check: The Mother Of Christopher Todd Erick Did NOT Find Her Deceased Son In An Exhibit Of Plastinated Real Bodies In Las Vegas -- That Exhibit Predates His Death
Fact Check: The Mother Of Christopher Todd Erick Did NOT Find Her Deceased Son In An Exhibit Of Plastinated Real Bodies In Las Vegas -- That Exhibit Predates His Death
Did the mother of Christopher Todd Erick discover the body of her deceased son, plastinated and on display in a Real Bodies exhibit in Las Vegas? No, that's not true: The bodies on display in the exhibit originated in China....
leadstories.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Some fact checks read like a detective novel. This one by @thompsonsarah.bsky.social is one of those...
Let's put those rumors about Epstein, Trump, Bubba and Ghislaine Maxwell's horse out to pasture...
Fact Check: 'Bubba' Reference In Mark Epstein Email To Brother Jeffrey Epstein Was Not About Trump And A Horse -- Spokesperson Confirmed
Fact Check: 'Bubba' Reference In Mark Epstein Email To Brother Jeffrey Epstein Was Not About Trump And A Horse -- Spokesperson Confirmed
Was Mark Epstein referring to a horse named "Bubba" in an email to his brother Jeffrey Epstein when he wrote "Ask him if Putin has the photos of Trump blowing Bubba"? No, that's not true: A spokesperson for Mark Epstein...
leadstories.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Let's put those rumors about Epstein, Trump, Bubba and Ghislaine Maxwell's horse out to pasture...
Reposted by Maarten Schenk
Word wakker, schapen!
🎁 kwok.shop/scheurkalender2026
🎁 kwok.shop/scheurkalender2026
November 16, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Word wakker, schapen!
🎁 kwok.shop/scheurkalender2026
🎁 kwok.shop/scheurkalender2026
Reposted by Maarten Schenk
Fact Check: Video Of Donald Trump Touching Bill Clinton's Crotch Is NOT Real -- It's AI-Generated
Fact Check: Video Of Donald Trump Touching Bill Clinton's Crotch Is NOT Real -- It's AI-Generated
Is a video of Donald Trump touching and patting Bill Clinton's crotch authentic? No, that's not true: The first frame of the six-second clip is a real image of Trump and Clinton at a golf tournament in 2000 that was...
leadstories.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Fact Check: Video Of Donald Trump Touching Bill Clinton's Crotch Is NOT Real -- It's AI-Generated
Reposted by Maarten Schenk
Results. Results? Results!
veraAI officially ended on 31 October 2025.
But its legacy is here to stay!
We make available a first set of results - available and accessible to ALL. From Keyframe Selection and Enhancement Service to the Verification Plugin.
More will be added in due course.
veraAI officially ended on 31 October 2025.
But its legacy is here to stay!
We make available a first set of results - available and accessible to ALL. From Keyframe Selection and Enhancement Service to the Verification Plugin.
More will be added in due course.
vera.ai has come to an end – its results remain accessible. More right here!
VERification Assisted by AI. R&D & innovation co-funded by the HorizonEU. Continuing WeVerify work. And much more!
www.veraai.eu
November 14, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Results. Results? Results!
veraAI officially ended on 31 October 2025.
But its legacy is here to stay!
We make available a first set of results - available and accessible to ALL. From Keyframe Selection and Enhancement Service to the Verification Plugin.
More will be added in due course.
veraAI officially ended on 31 October 2025.
But its legacy is here to stay!
We make available a first set of results - available and accessible to ALL. From Keyframe Selection and Enhancement Service to the Verification Plugin.
More will be added in due course.
I was wondering why there suddenly was traffic on this old fact check again...
leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2...
Now I know:
truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
The President of the United States fell for satire from a left-wing troll...
leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2...
Now I know:
truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
The President of the United States fell for satire from a left-wing troll...
November 9, 2025 at 7:31 PM
I was wondering why there suddenly was traffic on this old fact check again...
leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2...
Now I know:
truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
The President of the United States fell for satire from a left-wing troll...
leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2...
Now I know:
truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
The President of the United States fell for satire from a left-wing troll...
Reposted by Maarten Schenk
November 8, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Belgische militaire MQ-9 Reaper drone draait rondjes in de buurt van Malmedy.
#drones #dronesightings #Belgium
#drones #dronesightings #Belgium
November 7, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Belgische militaire MQ-9 Reaper drone draait rondjes in de buurt van Malmedy.
#drones #dronesightings #Belgium
#drones #dronesightings #Belgium
Reposted by Maarten Schenk
The FBI is trying to unmask the owner of infamous archiving site Archive.is, according to a subpoena the site posted. No other information given, the site quietly posted the document a few days ago. FBI telling domain registrar to hand over all sorts of ID'ing info
www.404media.co/fbi-tries-to...
www.404media.co/fbi-tries-to...
FBI Tries to Unmask Owner of Infamous Archive.is Site
The FBI has subpoenaed the domain registrar of archive.today, demanding information about the owner.
www.404media.co
November 6, 2025 at 3:16 PM
The FBI is trying to unmask the owner of infamous archiving site Archive.is, according to a subpoena the site posted. No other information given, the site quietly posted the document a few days ago. FBI telling domain registrar to hand over all sorts of ID'ing info
www.404media.co/fbi-tries-to...
www.404media.co/fbi-tries-to...
Fact Check: Video Of Person Admitting Plan To 'Illegally Vote' For Zohran Mamdani 'Six or Seven Times' In NYC Mayoral Race IS A Meme
Fact Check: Video Of Person Admitting Plan To 'Illegally Vote' For Zohran Mamdani 'Six or Seven Times' In NYC Mayoral Race IS A Meme
Did a video of a social media user claiming to be about to cast a ballot for Zohran Mamdani "six or seven times" in the 2025 New York City mayoral election capture a self-incriminating admission of voter fraud? No, that's...
leadstories.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Yet another example of @Grok making up a fake fact check.
Fact Check: Fake Walmart SNAP EBT Glitch Video Does NOT Show Events In Louisiana -- AI Generated
Fact Check: Fake Walmart SNAP EBT Glitch Video Does NOT Show Events In Louisiana -- AI Generated
Is this real video of an EBT glitch at a Louisiana Walmart and does it have anything to do with SNAP cuts in 2025? No, that's not true: The entire viral video was made using artificial intelligence and a claim...
leadstories.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Yet another example of @Grok making up a fake fact check.
Reposted by Maarten Schenk
Gisteren heb ik het boek 'The fake news files' van @mschenk.bsky.social uitgelezen.
Ik vind het een superinteressant boek en een aanrader voor iedereen die gebruikmaakt van sociale media en/of interesse heeft in feiten.
Het nut van factcheckers wordt volgens mij zwaar onderschat. Zoveel respect!🙏
Ik vind het een superinteressant boek en een aanrader voor iedereen die gebruikmaakt van sociale media en/of interesse heeft in feiten.
Het nut van factcheckers wordt volgens mij zwaar onderschat. Zoveel respect!🙏
November 2, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Gisteren heb ik het boek 'The fake news files' van @mschenk.bsky.social uitgelezen.
Ik vind het een superinteressant boek en een aanrader voor iedereen die gebruikmaakt van sociale media en/of interesse heeft in feiten.
Het nut van factcheckers wordt volgens mij zwaar onderschat. Zoveel respect!🙏
Ik vind het een superinteressant boek en een aanrader voor iedereen die gebruikmaakt van sociale media en/of interesse heeft in feiten.
Het nut van factcheckers wordt volgens mij zwaar onderschat. Zoveel respect!🙏
Die "This is not a murder mystery"... Duidelijk veel werk in research en decors gestoken.
Jammer dat de dialogen precies af en toe door ChatGPT zijn geschreven.
Veel mini-speeches met expositie, vol met Wikipedia-achtige feitjes en weetjes.
Jammer dat de dialogen precies af en toe door ChatGPT zijn geschreven.
Veel mini-speeches met expositie, vol met Wikipedia-achtige feitjes en weetjes.
November 2, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Die "This is not a murder mystery"... Duidelijk veel werk in research en decors gestoken.
Jammer dat de dialogen precies af en toe door ChatGPT zijn geschreven.
Veel mini-speeches met expositie, vol met Wikipedia-achtige feitjes en weetjes.
Jammer dat de dialogen precies af en toe door ChatGPT zijn geschreven.
Veel mini-speeches met expositie, vol met Wikipedia-achtige feitjes en weetjes.
Reposted by Maarten Schenk
Beware Of Fake Fan Pages Spreading False Stories About Your Favorite Celebrities -- How To Spot 'Viet Spam' #prebunkingatscale
leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2...
leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2...
Prebunk: Beware Of Fake Fan Pages Spreading False Stories About Your Favorite Celebrities -- How To Spot 'Viet Spam' | Lead Stories
This is what fact checkers call a "prebunk." A prebunk is like a debunk (another word for fact check), only...
leadstories.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Beware Of Fake Fan Pages Spreading False Stories About Your Favorite Celebrities -- How To Spot 'Viet Spam' #prebunkingatscale
leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2...
leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2...
Viral videos of "migrants" stealing stuff from graves in the UK actually show an Easter tradition in Ukraine...
(I've seen similar videos claiming it happened in France)
(I've seen similar videos claiming it happened in France)
Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Illegal Immigrants In UK Stealing From The Dead -- Memorial Tradition In Ukraine Leaves Sweets To Be Taken After Easter
Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Illegal Immigrants In UK Stealing From The Dead -- Memorial Tradition In Ukraine Leaves Sweets To Be Taken After Easter
Does a video show illegal immigrants in the UK stealing from the dead by taking things from graves to sell? No, that's not true: The video was first posted by a TikTok account from Ukraine, on April 27, the day...
leadstories.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Viral videos of "migrants" stealing stuff from graves in the UK actually show an Easter tradition in Ukraine...
(I've seen similar videos claiming it happened in France)
(I've seen similar videos claiming it happened in France)
Don't be fooled by this widely shared fake Sudan image...
(Plenty of real atrocity videos going around, no need to share fake ones...)
(Plenty of real atrocity videos going around, no need to share fake ones...)
Fact Check: Video Of Soldiers Menacing Mother And Child NOT Real Sudan Conflict Image -- Shadow Discrepancies And Originates From AI Account
Fact Check: Video Of Soldiers Menacing Mother And Child NOT Real Sudan Conflict Image -- Shadow Discrepancies And Originates From AI Account
Does a real video show a mother and child cowering from the shadows of two soldiers and their rifles? No, that's not true: The day after it was originally posted without an AI label, the original poster edited the description...
leadstories.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Don't be fooled by this widely shared fake Sudan image...
(Plenty of real atrocity videos going around, no need to share fake ones...)
(Plenty of real atrocity videos going around, no need to share fake ones...)
Crazy to have the Let-them-eat-cake moment of the 21st century (the "Ballroom priority" quote) fact checked in real time. (Yes, she said it *but* there is context...)
The original Marie-Antoinette quote had to wait for historians: www.britannica.com/story/did-ma...
leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2...
The original Marie-Antoinette quote had to wait for historians: www.britannica.com/story/did-ma...
leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2...
Fact Check: Context Of 'President's Main Priority' Ballroom Quote From Karoline Leavitt Was Question About Other White House Construction Projects | Lead Stories
Did White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt describe the ballroom construction at the White House as President Trump's "main priority"?...
leadstories.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Crazy to have the Let-them-eat-cake moment of the 21st century (the "Ballroom priority" quote) fact checked in real time. (Yes, she said it *but* there is context...)
The original Marie-Antoinette quote had to wait for historians: www.britannica.com/story/did-ma...
leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2...
The original Marie-Antoinette quote had to wait for historians: www.britannica.com/story/did-ma...
leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2...
Reposted by Maarten Schenk
Today on @indicator.media: A first-of-its-kind audit of AI labels on major social platforms.
Tech platforms promised to label AI content. They're not delivering.
An Indicator audit of hundreds of synthetic images and videos reveals that platforms frequently fail to label AI content
indicator.media
October 23, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Today on @indicator.media: A first-of-its-kind audit of AI labels on major social platforms.