Fact check: Doctored image of a CNN article falsely reports on age of consent change

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Devon Link, USA TODAY
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The claim: Biden lowered the age of consent

Throughout the 2020 campaign, QAnon supporters pushed baseless accusations of pedophilia among elites. In the early weeks of Joe Biden's presidency, online viral misinformation shares similar themes. Among them are false and satirical posts making the claim that Biden has lowered the age of consent to legalize sex with children.

“News: Joe Biden has officially lowered the age of consent to 5 years old,” reads an image posted to Instagram Feb. 2.

“#BreakingNews new age of consent Bill has just passed congress... It will be taking effect as soon as February 14, via @wikipedia ‼️,” the poster captioned the image.

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The page that posted the claim discloses its satirical nature in its Instagram bio, stressing that “nothing is real” and urging viewers to “take a joke.”

At the same time, social media users are spreading a similar false claim that Biden lowered the age of consent to 8 years old. This claim was widely spread as an image of a fake CNN article.

President Joe Biden meets with Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y., and other Democratic lawmakers to discuss a coronavirus relief package, in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021.
President Joe Biden meets with Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y., and other Democratic lawmakers to discuss a coronavirus relief package, in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021.

USA TODAY reached out to the social media users referenced above and did not hear back.

A fake CNN report

The image attributes the doctored CNN article, “Biden Administration lowers age of consent to 8,” to CNN reporters Jennifer Hansler, Michael Conte and Devan Cole. The fake article is dated Jan. 27 and it says was updated at 3:40 p.m.

The image is edited from a CNN article published that same day with the same update time and reporters. The doctored image has a fabricated headline and copy as well as a different image of Biden speaking in a mask at an Oct. 13 campaign event.

In this file photo, then-Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden wears two face masks as he arrives at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Oct. 13, 2020.
In this file photo, then-Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden wears two face masks as he arrives at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Oct. 13, 2020.

CNN head of strategic communications Matt Dornic confirmed the image was doctored in an email to USA TODAY.

“CNN did not report any such story,” he wrote. “The image of that article is fake and quite frankly, appalling."

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USA TODAY could find no record of CNN ever having that article on their website or social media.

Biden didn't lower the age of consent

There is no single age of consent dictated by the federal government, and there is no evidence Biden has changed that.

The Department of Health & Human Services office of the assistant secretary for planning and evaluations dictates that age of consent is determined by states' statutory rape offenses. That means it's up to each state to determine the allowed age of consent, minimum age of victims, age differential and the minimum age of defendants for prosecution to decide how each state defines statutory rape.

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HHS defines age of consent as "the age at which an individual can legally consent to sexual intercourse under any circumstances."

The age of consent is 16 in 34 states and 17 or 18 in all others.

President Joe Biden on Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington, D.C.
President Joe Biden on Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

USA TODAY could find no White House announcements or credible news reports that Biden has enacted any measure to change states' age of consent.

Our rating: Altered

We rate this claim ALTERED because our research shows President Joe Biden did not lower the age of consent. An image of a CNN article reporting that claim is doctored.

Our fact-check sources:

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Doctored image spreads false claim on age of consent

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