FactCheckArmenia.com

FactCheckArmenia.com (@FCArmenia) is a website whose stated purpose is "exposing Armenian distortions and hypocrisies".[1] Despite the name, it is not a fact-checking website; it publishes false information denying the Armenian genocide.[2][3] Among the false claims made by the website is the assertion that "no Armenians were harmed" during the deportation of Armenian intellectuals on 24 April 1915 (most of the deportees were eventually murdered).[2]

According to Vice News, "FactCheckArmenia dispenses a view that is suspiciously similar to the Turkish government's line—and sometimes, perhaps more extreme".[4] According to genocide expert Samuel Totten, the website uses a misleading title to "snare the uninformed". He adds that "There is hardly any other way to describe Fact Check Armenia than to say it is an out and out denier of the Ottoman Turk genocide of the Armenians between 1915 and 1922."[5] The website is not transparent about its ownership or funding, but has links to the Turkish government.[2][4] According to Ab Kaan, involved in both organizations, "all data in Fact Check Armenia is produced by The Turkic Platform".[6]

In 2015, Vice News reported that FactCheckArmenia.com was buying Google ads in order to appear first in the search results for the search terms "Ermeni Kırımı" (a Turkish phrase for the Armenian genocide), and the English-language "Armenian genocide".[4] At the time, Google ad policy forbade "products or services that help users to mislead others".[4]

Billboards and ads

In April 2015, the website published a paid ad in Reuters, which was later silently deleted.[2]

In 2016, The Wall Street Journal published an advertisement by FactCheckArmenia.com denying the Armenian genocide.[3][7] Previously, The New York Times refused to run the ad based on its policy rejecting any "advertising that denies great human tragedies".[6] Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian proposed that the city stop buying the newspaper and any others that print ads denying the genocide.[8] Kim Kardashian took out an ad in The New York Times stating, "Advocating the denial of a genocide by the country responsible for it – that’s not publishing a ‘provocative viewpoint,’ that's spreading lies".[7][9][10]

In April 2016, the website was advertised on billboards in various places including Boston, Chicago, Texas, and Little Armenia, Los Angeles. Armenian National Committee of America launched a campaign against the billboards, encouraging companies to "stop profiting from genocide denial".[8][1] Some of the posters were advertised by local Turkish consulates.[1] Turkish historian Fatma Müge Göçek stated, "I have been following the story regarding the billboards in Boston and Chicago with great disappointment, but not surprise."[6]

Skywriting

On 20 April 2016, FactCheckArmenia.com paid GEICO Skytypers for skywriting over New York City stating "101 years of Geno-lie," "Gr8 ally = Turkey," "BFF = Russia + Armenia," and "FactCheckArmenia.com". GEICO Skytypers later apologized.[11][12] Although some Armenian-Americans were outraged, the skywriting otherwise attracted little attention from Americans.[1] Armenian-American novelist Nancy Kricorian stated that she was "appalled and disgusted" by the skywriting. Furthermore, she "was surprised to see that they are still peddling this tired and unconvincing strategy of calling Armenians liars". History professor Louis A. Fishman said, "Stunts like we saw Wednesday in New York only throw salt on the wounds of Armenians whose families died in the genocide". However, he also stated that most Americans were probably confused by the messages.[11]

Twitter

The website has an affiliated Twitter account, @FCArmenia.[1] On 24 April, 2020 (Armenian Genocide Memorial Day), the account tweeted "#ArmenianGenocide is a hoax! Armenian lobby fooled public opinion for many years".[13] This view is in contrast to that of historical research and scholarship, which considers the genocide a historical fact.[4][11]

References
  1. Sozeri, Efe Kerem (25 April 2016). "The story behind the Armenian genocide-denying skywriting above NYC". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  2. Sözeri, Efe Kerem (31 May 2017). "These fake 'fact-checkers' are peddling lies about genocide and censorship in Turkey". Poynter. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  3. Moshirnia, Andrew (2020). "Who Will Check the Checkers? False Factcheckers and Memetic Misinformation". Utah Law Review. 2020 (4): 1029–1073. ISSN 0042-1448.
  4. Merchant, Brian (28 April 2015). "How Google Searches Are Promoting Armenian Genocide Denial". www.vice.com. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  5. Totten, Samuel (2018). Teaching and Learning About Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity: Fundamental Issues and Pedagogical Approaches. IAP. p. 262. ISBN 978-1-64113-354-8.
  6. "Full-page ad denying the Armenian genocide in The Wall Street Journal spurs anger". Newsweek. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  7. "Kim Kardashian says denial of 'Armenian genocide' shameful". www.abc.net.au. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  8. "Genocide Denial Posters Reach Little Armenia". Asbarez.com. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  9. "Kim Kardashian completely takes apart the Wall Street journal over its Armenian genocide ad". The Independent. 20 September 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  10. Lippman, Matthew (2020). Law and Society. SAGE Publications. p. 381. ISBN 978-1-5443-9255-4.
  11. Cassano, Jay (22 April 2016). "GEICO-Sponsored Company Put a Sky Message Above NYC Denying Turkey's Genocide of Armenians". Vice News. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  12. Bearak, Max. "An American company is apologizing for 'denying genocide' in the sky above New York City". Washington Post. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  13. @FCArmenia (24 April 2020). "#ArmenianGenocide is a hoax! Armenian lobby fooled public opinion for many years. Enough! Well there's another side of the story that they can't deny or ignore! Please retweet to spread the truth!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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