The fire that destroyed the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019 was truly a tragedy on a global scale. Millions of people across the world began to pour out sympathy for Parisians, sadness at the loss of the historic landmark, and, inevitably, holiday photos snapped while visiting the iconic building. But among the sympathetic messages posted about Notre Dame Cathedral came another type of post – fake news, misinformation, and conspiracy theories about what caused the fire. As with most major tragedies in the last decade, misinformation about Notre Dame began to spread almost immediately. Within a matter of hours, conspiracy theories were flourishing online.
What we know about the Notre Dame fire at this point is limited. And as the blaze only abated roughly twelve hours ago, it will likely take days until we have a clearer picture. However, we can say unequivocally that any claims around arson, foul play, or racist plots are entirely baseless and unverified. But as long as the internet provides a climate for conspiracy theories to flourish, these false stories will continue to take hold. I urge you not to fall victim to these rumors and wait until we have more information before you form an opinion about the fire.