An investigation found that prominent business and government figures circulated false or misleading claims about an attack on Brown University’s campus, reigniting questions about accountability for high-profile voices in online discourse. The spread of disinformation complicated campus communications and community safety responses. For campus leaders and communications offices, the episode underscores an operational challenge: rapid false narratives from influential accounts can impede emergency response, harm victims and demand faster, clearer verification protocols from universities and law enforcement.