AAPOR Condemns Continued Fabrication of Polling Data
10/21/2026
Another organization acknowledged Tuesday that it produced fake polls. They contend that this was part of “an experimental project” to generate conversations about data integrity and accountability.
At least two major news outlets and some online polling aggregators included the data in their reporting before one of the polling aggregators (FiftyPlusOne) became suspicious, launched an investigation, and discovered the data provided by Wedgwood Polling were not legitimate survey results.
The American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), the leading association of public opinion and survey research professionals, strongly condemns fabrication of data in any polling or public opinion research. There is no basis for intentionally fraudulent behavior that misleads the public. Such activity is a serious breach of ethics and undermines legitimate polling and public opinion work.
Legitimate polls are based on responses from the public. Once again, the responses in this case were simply made up. No individuals responded to survey questions.
As we have seen over the past several months, phony pollsters and made-up data can be difficult to identify. Use of AI to generate not only fabricated data but fabricated organizational documentation is creating significant challenges to traditional means of confirming legitimacy.
Journalists and others need to use extra caution and good judgment when vetting every polling organization. One way to do that is to ask questions about poll methodologies and the organizations purportedly conducting them. AAPOR has suggested examples in its Journalist’s Guide to Understanding Polls & Surveys. Legitimate polling firms conduct their work consistent with the AAPOR Code of Professional Ethics and Practices and will accurately disclose information about their identities, their methods, and their data.
“We are once again experiencing bad actors producing and distributing fabricated data and organizational information that undermines trust in public opinion and election polling,” said Mary Losch, President of AAPOR. “As we have emphasized previously, professional polling organizations are transparent, ethical, and work hard to provide critical information to the public and other stakeholders. It is important that we don’t conflate fraudulent activity like this with legitimate election polling.”
AAPOR champions sound and ethical practices in the conduct of survey and public opinion research and the use of that research for policy and decision making. AAPOR also seeks to improve public understanding of public opinion research methods and the proper use of research results.