one dumb conspiracy - The Daily Dot

Are you being tracked by microchips in your cheese?

Mikael Thalen — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

In each edition of web_crawlr we have exclusive original content every day. On Mondays our Tech Reporter Mikael Thalen debunks the most wild conspiracy theories swirling around the web in his “One Dumb Conspiracy” column. If you want to read columns like this before everyone else, subscribe to web_crawlr to get your daily scoop of internet culture delivered straight to your inbox.

Conspiracy theorists are sounding the alarm over the belief that the government could be tracking them through microchips hidden in cheese. But the crazy part is, at least some of the story is true.

Screenshots circulating across social media purport to show news articles explaining how Italian cheese makers are embedding microchips into their 90-pound Parmesan wheels in order to stop counterfeits.

“Next Time You Buy Parmesan, Watch Out for the Microchip,” a headline attributed to The Wall Street Journal reads.

Conspiracy theorists have seen the screenshots as proof that the alleged microchips will be used to surveil them once they have been consumed.

“Just, why edible microchips?” one person on X asked. “That's shady AF.”

Others argued that the cheese industry has opted to microchip the populace in lieu of simply cracking down on cheese counterfeiters.

“Microchip technology has to be used for something? How about in your food to protect you from knock off cheese?” another said. “Instead of going after the criminals, they chip your food.”

Believe it or not, the headline and story said to be from The Wall Street Journal is real. Italian cheese makers really are putting microchips in their cheese to fight against counterfeits.

But as is often the case, the story isn’t as nefarious as conspiracy theorists claim.

For starters, a single microchip is used on each 90-pound cheese wheel. Chances are, you aren’t buying and consuming that amount of cheese. So don’t expect there to be microchips in your next slice.

Secondly, the microchips are the same size as a grain of sand and are embedded into the cheese’s food-safe casein label. When a company or restaurant purchases the cheese, they use a laser reader to scan the wheel’s unique serial ID to verify its authenticity.

Also, the microchips are edible. The idea that the government or Big Cheese will go around with a laser reader in an attempt to scan a minuscule chip while it's still inside your digestive system is far-fetched. It would be much easier for them to track your phone.

The company behind the chip, Chicago-based p-Chip, also notes that people can’t be tracked after ingesting the chip.

“We don’t want to be known as the company accused of tracking people,” p-Chip Chief Technology Officer Bill Eibon told the Wall Street Journal. “I ate one of the chips and nobody is tracking me, except my wife, and she uses a different method.”

So to all those who consume it, continue enjoying your cheese!

Why it matters

As technology advances, such innovations in the food industry will undoubtedly continue. But those advances will also be met with conspiracy theories. While skepticism isn’t unwarranted, researching such technologies will help you rise above the noise.

The post Are you being tracked by microchips in your cheese? appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Conspiracy theorists are already calling the Texas chemical plant explosion suspicious

Mikael Thalen — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

An explosion at a chemical plant outside of Houston, Texas, has conspiracy theorists convinced once again that America is being sabotaged from within.

Last week, footage of a huge plume of smoke coming from the Sound Resource Solutions plant spread across social media. The plant produces petroleum-based products and carries extremely flammable chemicals such as acetone. Company president Geoff Harfield stated that a “forklift incident” led to the explosion.

Conspiracy theorists, however, are suggesting that something nefarious is afoot.

“These sort of things seem to be happening a lot lately,” one user on X wrote.

“Have explosions always been this popular?” another asked.

In reality, such accidents happen more often than many realize. But ever since numerous high-profile accidents caught the attention of conspiracy theorists this year, such as the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that led to a controlled burn of hazardous materials, all ensuing accidents have been deemed suspicious.

Some conspiracy theorists argued the fire was a “distraction” from last week’s elections while others suggested the incident could have come from a “terror strike.”

“Totally normal,” one user added. “Not sabotaged or anything.”

“Seems like foreign sabotage of supply chain, probably using domestic/local actors - maybe ones who took advantage of wide open southern border,” another surmised. “But let’s see where the ‘facts’ lead. Prayers for everyone involved there.”

The facts, of course, show no evidence whatsoever of a secret foreign sabotage intended to bring America to its knees. A map released in February by the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters showed that 224 fires, explosions, and toxic chemical releases took place in the previous year.

In other words, such accidents happen fairly often. Most just don’t garner national attention. Either way, conspiracy theorists can’t help but view the world through a paranoid lens that frames every single negative incident as part of a greater plan to enslave them.

Why it matters

When chemical accidents happen, it is important for the public to receive credible information. Distrust of the government is common at such times and isn’t entirely unwarranted. Governments have failed to properly inform the public of certain dangers before.

But spreading baseless conspiracy theories based on no evidence that the accident was intentional serves no one.

The post Conspiracy theorists are already calling the Texas chemical plant explosion suspicious appeared first on The Daily Dot.

No, Russia didn’t just crush Ukraine’s ‘Adrenochrome cartel’

Mikael Thalen — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:00:00 +0000

A conspiracy theory tearing through social media claims that Special Forces soldiers in Russia just crushed an “Adrenochrome cartel” in Ukraine. And as you guessed, it’s all nonsense.

For those who don’t remember, Adrenochrome is the substance that conspiracy theorists falsely believe is harvested and consumed by the world’s elite from the adrenal glands of children.

It has its roots, among other things, in the Johnny Depp movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Despite claims from conspiracy theorists that the substance causes hallucinations, it is not in any way a hallucinogenic or intoxicating substance.

Still, the Adrenochrome nonsense persists. And while it has died down, it has managed to rear its head once again. On X, users have been sharing an article with the headline “Special Forces-Spetznas Team Crushes Adrenochrome Cartel in Ukraine.”

“When the dark reality of adrenochrome finally hit me, it took me 2 weeks to emotionally process that truth,” one user wrote while sharing the article. “And I think we are finally shutting it down. The Spetznas and Special Forces (yes: Russians + Americans!).”

But the claim that Ukraine is running some sort of Adrenochrome cartel is just as baseless as the American-made conspiracy theory that biological weapons labs are located in Ukraine. Unsurprisingly, Russia has repeatedly amplified these far-right, American conspiracy theories critical of Ukraine.

Incredibly, the story even claims that “three dozen medical-grade refrigerators, often used to chill Adrenochrome, and 6,000 grams of fentanyl, one of several synthetic opioids common in Adrenochrome formulations,” were found during a raid in Ukraine.

Yet the site that reported the so-called news, known as Real Raw News, is a certified fake news website that even admits to spreading satire on its About page.

Despite the site being debunked on a daily basis, its ability to craft narratives that excite conspiracy theorists has allowed it to flourish for years under numerous names.

So, if your uncle from Facebook ever cites Real Raw News, you might want to let him know. In reality, Adrenochrome is a QAnon-based fantasy.

Why it matters

The Adrenochrome theory, while easily debunked, remains ever-popular among the far-right. Since the beginning of the Donald Trump era, conspiracy theories that once were relegated to the darkest corners of the internet are now believed by mainstream conservatives.

The post No, Russia didn’t just crush Ukraine’s ‘Adrenochrome cartel’ appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Conspiracy theorists think a ‘reptilian’ statue symbolizes the Clinton’s child trafficking empire

Mikael Thalen — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Conspiracy theorists believe that Bill and Hillary Clinton have ties to a statue in New York City that depicts a human trafficking “reptilian” abducting a child.

Seriously.

Users point to a small bronze sculpture at the 14th Street/Eighth Avenue subway station that shows an alligator with human hands coming out of a sewer while biting onto a small person with a money bag for a head.

Confused? Well, conspiracy theorists on Reddit believe that the imagery intends to glorify a human trafficking ring that uses underground tunnels to smuggle children out of the city.

“This sinister statue is conveniently located by the Clinton Foundation and the water where they abduct the children, take them straight underground, and out of the country via the tunnels under the water,” one user wrote.

Discussions on the topic have appeared on sites such as TikTok as well, where users similarly describe the statue as evil.

So is this statue, supposedly right next to the headquarters for the Clinton Foundation, signaling some type of devious operation run by the two political heavyweights?

Not so much.

For starters, the statue was built in 2001 as part of a public artwork project known as Life Underground. Developed by American sculptor Tom Otterness, the alligator sculpture, just one of numerous at the subway station, actually signifies a 1935 story surrounding an alleged alligator sighting by several boys.

The idea that the alligator represents the reptilian conspiracy theory, which claims that all the world’s most powerful leaders are actually lizard-like aliens intent on enslaving humanity, doesn’t hold water. Not even sewer water.

And what about the alleged ties to the Clintons? Well, the statue is about 2 miles away from Broadway where the Clinton Foundation building is located. It would take you around 40 minutes to walk from one to the other. Hardly next door.

The notion that the Clintons are secretly operating underwater tunnels in New York to smuggle children, which onlyconspiracy theorists are clever enough to know about, is also clearly absurd.

Rest assured that you will neither be abducted by the Clintons nor an alligator during your next visit to the Big Apple.

Why it matters

The alligator sculpture in New York City has been around for more than two decades. Yet just like the urban legend about legions of alligators swimming underground, the claims about the sculpture are also a work of fiction.

Nevertheless, the conspiracy theory persists, and will likely continue for as long as the statue (and the internet) exists.

The post Conspiracy theorists think a ‘reptilian’ statue symbolizes the Clinton’s child trafficking empire appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Vaccinated? Conspiracy theorists think you’ll turn into a zombie this week

Mikael Thalen — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 11:00:00 +0000

If you’ve received the vaccine and are reading this before October 4, you still have time. Time for what you ask? To enjoy your last hours as a human. At least that’s what anti-vaxxers believe.

An absurd conspiracy theory circulating on social media claims that every vaccinated individual on the planet will transform into a zombie on October 4. Luckily for those inoculated against COVID-19, however, the claim is utter nonsense.

In a video originally posted to Instagram, a user alleges that all COVID shots were secretly booby-trapped with the Marburg virus. The Marburg virus causes a severe hemorrhagic fever that has historically killed 70 percent of those infected.

The user continues by stating that the virus will be activated when three one-minute long 18 gigahertz pulse waves are sent out from, you guessed it, 5G cell towers.

“The government has been preparing for this for years now and will be released in October of 2023,” the user says.

And what proof does this conspiracy theorist provide? Claims from a purported attorney named Jeffrey Prather. A quick glance at Prather’s website shows your typical QAnon-style content, with podcast episodes containing titles such as “BREAKING: CHINA SATELLITES FIRED MAUI!” At least they aren’t blaming Jewish lasers, for once.

The Instagram video continues with footage of Prather himself detailing the imagined, devious plan to zombify the masses for some unexplained reason. But it’s not just Marburg in the shots. The dastardly Deep State also put some Ebola in there for good measure too, according to Prather.

Only it’s not the Marburg virus or Ebola that will turn you into a zombie. Prather concludes by stating that those who survive the initial onslaught will have certain genes deleted from their body, causing them to enter into a zombie-like state.

In other words, it’s going to be a rough week for the billions of people who have received a COVID-19 shot. Luckily, such claims have been made countless times and always fail to come to fruition. If conspiracy theorists were correct, the entire vaccinated population would have died 15 times over by now. It’s safe to say no one will become a zombie this week.

Why it matters

Despite being several years out from the release of the COVID-19 vaccine, none of the doomsday predictions made by conspiracy theorists have come true. Yet that hasn’t slowed down the nonsensical theories.

Many conspiracy theorists choose to double down when proven wrong. That’s why anti-vaccine content remains so prevalent. When no one becomes a zombie, expect anti-vaxxers to move the goalpost once again.

The post Vaccinated? Conspiracy theorists think you’ll turn into a zombie this week appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Newsmax host says Aaron Rodgers injury caused by choosing psychedelics over God

Mikael Thalen — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 11:00:00 +0000

A host on the far-right media network Newsmax believes that NFL player Aaron Rodgers’ recent injury was due to the quarterback choosing psychedelic drugs over God.

Greg Kelly, a prominent conspiracy theorist and vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, made the remark while discussing the recent tear of Rodger’s achilles tendon during his debut last week with the New York Jets.

“He lost the eye of the tiger,” Kelly said. “A competitive quarterback can't be all happy and goofy all the time and something happened to this guy and I think I know what it was: Drugs!”

Specifically, Kelly pointed to Rodgers’ admitted use of the psychoactive brew ayahuasca, which causes intense visions and hallucinations

"He got involved in psychedelics, this ayahuasca tea, something like that, that gives you this, you know, 'Oh, I love you, bro' kinda of mentality,” Kelly added. “It's not good."

After airing a short clip of Rodgers describing his positive experience with the drug, Kelly responded by acting confused before insinuating that the accident wouldn’t have taken place had the football star chosen God over drugs.

“How about going to church? Whatever the hell he's talking about, ayahuasca tea is a crummy substitute for God," Kelly concluded.

It goes without saying that Kelly’s insinuations are totally baseless. I think we can be fairly certain that the 39-year-old quarterback tore his Achilles tendon due to playing on wet astroturf and wasn’t struck down by a vengeful God upset about his consumption of plants.

While it’s unclear how conservatives view Kelly’s comments, a large portion of the response to Rodgers’ injury included jokes about his conspiratorial views towards the COVID-19 vaccine.

“What type of psychedelic toad venom will Aaron Rodgers use to heal his ankle injury?” one X user said.

Rodgers’ future remains uncertain, although the chance of him continuing to use psychedelics is likely higher at this point than his chances of continuing his football career.

Why it matters

The current state of politics has become so bizarre that even something as simple as a sports injury has turned into a political football, no pun intended.

Whether one agrees with Rodgers’ political views and use of psychedelic drugs, no evidence exists to link his issue to hallucinogens or God.

The post Newsmax host says Aaron Rodgers injury caused by choosing psychedelics over God appeared first on The Daily Dot.

No, the military didn’t arrest a FEMA employee over ‘mass grave site’ in Hawaii

Mikael Thalen — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Analysis

A sensational claim making its way around the internet alleges that a top administrator at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was arrested by the military for ordering employees to secretly put the bodies of Hawaii wildfire victims into a mass grave. Though spread by scores of people online, the claim is utter nonsense.

In one example, a video on TikTok claimed that the military arrested FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks earlier this month and charged him with treason alongside FEMA Director Deanne Criswell.

The video, produced by TikTok user @beautymrked, continues by alleging that a FEMA memo signed by Crimswell and Hooks not only "ordered agents in Maui to deny fire victims food and water” but to dispose of bodies as “discriminately as possible.”

The TikTok user even goes on to claim that U.S. Marines discovered 250 bullet-filled corpses at the site of the alleged mass grave in Hawaii, suggesting not only that the government staged the fires but that FEMA is murdering the island’s residents.

The video, which has been viewed an astonishing 3.3 million times, was quickly met with shock by countless users. The video appeared to be taken down as of Thursday afternoon.

“This made my stomach turn. So sad,” one user wrote.

Unsurprisingly, @beautymrked at no point in the video cites the source of the claims, which are based on a single online news article. It turns out that the source is Real Raw News, a notorious website well known for regularly curating fake stories.

Real Raw News has fooled conspiracy theorists for years despite admitting on its own website that it publishes "humor, parody and satire."

No evidence whatsoever shows either the government started the fires or that FEMA has been burying corpses in secret mass graves.

The debunked claim is just one of many made in recent days regarding the fires in Hawaii, which conspiracy theorists have blamed on everything from the government to laser beams from space.

Why it matters

Websites like Real Raw News continue to fool a great number of people online despite being debunked on a weekly basis.

While efforts to battle misinformation are important, many conspiracy theorists will outright ignore any facts that conflict with their worldview. Always make sure to check sources when coming across grandiose claims online.

The post No, the military didn’t arrest a FEMA employee over ‘mass grave site’ in Hawaii appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Conspiracy theorists think Obama murdered his personal chef

Mikael Thalen — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Analysis

Conspiracy theorists are blaming former President Barack Obama for the recent drowning death of his personal chef. But none of the claims being made are backed up by any evidence.

Late last month, the body of Tafari Campbell was located in the Edgartown Great Pond near a home owned by Obama in Martha's Vineyard.

Campbell had been paddle boarding and was witnessed by another paddleboarder dipping in and out of the water before ultimately disappearing. The chef was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.

The witness, who attempted to save Campbell but was unsuccessful, swam to shore and immediately alerted authorities. After a two-day search, Campbell’s body was located.

Yet conspiracy theorists have twisted the facts of the case to blame Obama. Countless users across social media questioned how Campbell could have drowned in the pond.

“So the verdict is in,” one Twitter user wrote. “Obama’s chef drowned in 3.5 feet of water, 100 feet offshore.”

Ian Miles Cheong, a prominent conspiracy theorist on Twitter, likewise described the body of water as a “shallow pond.”

Despite the claims, Campbell’s body was found 8 feet below the surface, not 3.5.

Another popular claim pointed to a photograph taken three days after Campbell’s death of Obama golfing. Conspiracy theorists pointed to bandages on the former President’s fingers as proof that he had been injured while killing his chef.

“Take a close look... There are bandages all over his fingers and his left eye appears to be bruised,” one pro-Trump account wrote. “It looks like Barack was in a physical altercation with someone.”

There’s just one problem: The Massachusetts State Police confirmed that Obama was not at home during the time of Campbell’s passing. Not only that, but the bandages on Obama’s fingers are for protecting against blisters while playing golf.

Obama has been wearing bandages during golf games for years and has been pictured wearing them as far back as 2015.

Obama’s left-eye is not bruised in the photo either, despite the allegations circulating online.

Once again, conspiracy theorists are taking advantage of a tragic death in order to push outrageous claims based on no evidence.

Why it matters

Any death even remotely linked to a figure that conspiracy theorists deem unsavory will always be exploited. Unsurprisingly, deaths of individuals tied to those that conspiracy theorists admire will never be questioned.

Either way, conspiracy theorists will ignore facts that challenge their views and invent their own facts in order to bolster their claims.

The post Conspiracy theorists think Obama murdered his personal chef appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Conspiracy theorists think government dropped deadly mosquitos on music festival

Mikael Thalen — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Analysis

Conspiracy theorists are claiming that the U.S. government dropped deadly mosquitoes from a helicopter last month onto music festival attendees in Maryland.

But none of the accusations being made are even remotely true.

Videos began circulating online last week of the AFRAM music festival that took place in Baltimore, Maryland on June 17th and 18th. In numerous posts across social media, users alleged that concert goers were seen fighting off deadly mosquitos that had been intentionally unleashed from the sky.

“Video just released ftom [sic] The AFRAM 2023 festival in Maryland saw visitors plagued with ‘deadly mosquitos,’ which were released from a helicopter which hovered overhead, online reports stated,” one tweet said.

The clip shows the crowd of attendees waving hats and other items around them in an apparent attempt to chase away something from their faces, although it is not clear from just the footage if insects are to blame.

Others attempted to blame the incident on billionaire Bill Gates, who for years has funded the development of genetically-modified mosquitoes. Gates is frequently at the center of numerous conspiracy theories.

“Is this another release of Bill Gates GMO modified fraken-squitos like in FL & TX?” another Twitter user asked.

Last month, four cases of malaria were detected in Florida and Texas, leading conspiracy theorists to similarly blame Gates. But the claim is easily debunked given that only female mosquitoes can spread disease, and the GMO mosquitos that were released in Florida (not Texas) are all male for this very reason.

The same goes for the festival in Maryland. For starters, those in attendance confirmed to multiple media outlets that it was gnats, not mosquitos, causing issues at the concert.

“They were stuck onto our skin, flying down people’s shirts, flying into people’s hair,” one attendee told the Associated Press. “They were completely stuck onto my sisters’ eyelashes— her eyelashes were filled with gnats! It was terrible!”

Secondly, no evidence whatsoever of a helicopter hovering above the festival has been shown. Not only that, the Baltimore Health Department confirmed that no insect-borne illnesses have been reported in the weeks following the event.

“I’m assuming they were the normal bugs you’d encounter in a City Park,” a spokesperson said. “We do know definitively that they were not killer bugs dropped from a helicopter— as evidenced by the lack of deaths from said suspected bugs.”

Although there is no proof that the government intends to kill off the public with GMO mosquitos, the claim continues to grow in popularity in conspiratorial circles.

Why it matters

Even a month-old video can be weaponized to spread fear and disinformation. While legitimate questions surrounding genetic modification can be raised, the notion that the technology is being used to kill the public with mutant mosquitoes is far from reality.

The post Conspiracy theorists think government dropped deadly mosquitos on music festival appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Conspiracy theorists now think nuclear bombs are fake

Mikael Thalen — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Analysis

As interest in nuclear weapons history grows ahead of the anticipated release of director Christopher Nolan’s film Oppenheimer, some conspiracy theorists have decided that such explosive devices never actually existed.

In a tweet last week, Owen Benjamin, a disgraced comedian known for his far-right politics and anti-semitic views, claimed that decades-old footage of a nuclear weapons blast was fake because cameras were able to film it up close without being destroyed.

“It’s weird that the nuclear blasts vaporized brick houses but not the old timey camera recording it. It’s because nukes are fake,” Benjamin wrote. “Hiroshima and Nagasaki never had any fall out radiation. The whole narrative and all the evidence is absurd.”

Thankfully, Benjamin’s claims proved too absurd for even the most hardened conspiracy theorists. In thousands of replies, the comedian was heckled for putting forward such a ludicrous claim.

Yet Benjamin doubled down. When asked how 9 nuclear-armed nations were all lying, the comedian suggested that the United Nations was responsible for the coverup.

“Ever heard of something called the ‘United Nations?’ It’s like the United States except it’s the United Nations,” Benjamin said. “You see how the entire world all acted in lockstep during Covid? Yeah there already is a one world government and has been since at least WWII. It’s very public.”

As always, such absurd claims are easily debunked when the most basic of research is done. The footage, which showcases the first ever detonation of a nuclear weapon, was filmed on July 16, 1945, as part of the Manhattan Project.

Despite Benjamin’s claims, the cameras that filmed the explosion were not as close to the destruction as they appeared but merely relied on telescopic lenses. Not only that, as documented in pictures and videos of the test site, the cameras were housed in specially-built bunkers over five miles from ground zero.

The comedian’s claims regarding Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the two Japanese cities hit by U.S. nuclear bombs during World War II, are also easily debunked. Benjamin correctly states that there was little radioactive fallout, which he believes proves no nukes were dropped.

Yet, contrary to popular belief, the majority of nuclear weapons are designed to detonate not on impact with the ground but well above their target. The bomb dropped on Hiroshima, for example, was detonated 580 meters or 1,870 feet above the ground for maximum damage. Radiation in such instances is quickly dispersed, whereas a nuclear explosion on the ground would cause a massive cloud of dirt and radiation to launch back up into the atmosphere.

Although there is much less fallout from an above ground detonation, countless people in the direct blast zone were still exposed to huge amounts of radiation. Cases of Leukemia skyrocketed in the following years for those who survived.

None of Benjamin’s claims are even remotely grounded in reality.

Why it matters

While the conspiracy theory that nuclear weapons are fake seems ridiculous to many, it wouldn’t be a shock if the claim, much like flat earth, caught on at some point.

For now, science, history, and reality have prevailed.

The post Conspiracy theorists now think nuclear bombs are fake appeared first on The Daily Dot.