We’ve all seen the fact-checkers at work and what a great job they’ve done. Snopes is now fact-checking Babylon Bee satires, the chair of our short-lived Disinformation Governance Board believed the Trump campaign colluded with Russia and that the Hunter Biden laptop story was Russian disinformation, and our president keeps telling audiences his son died in Iraq, and we get nothing.
Google and YouTube have announced they’re giving $13.2 million to the International Fact-Checking Network to support fact-checking organizations from 65 countries. The International Fact-Checking Network, by the way, is part of the nonprofit (and “nonpartisan”) Poynter Institute.
Today, @Google & @YouTube are announcing a $13.2 million grant to the International Fact-Checking Network @factchecknet to launch a new Global Fact Check Fund to support 135 fact-checking organizations from 65 countries covering over 80 languages → https://t.co/9ZqgUFqROn pic.twitter.com/8GAiacghmf
— Matt Cooke (@mattcooke_uk) November 29, 2022
So, how does it work?
Imagine you see a viral story about dolphins and swans returning to the canals of Venice. A family member sends you a story about a local politician’s colorful past. Or you read a health claim online. Are they true? How do you know? People are often unsure about what information to trust. In fact, interest in the topic of misinformation reached an all-time high worldwide in October this year, according to Google Trends data.
Instead of dolphins, how about if we imagine a presidential candidate’s son’s laptop turning up a bunch of information about the “big guy”?
Google and YouTube remain dedicated to keep doing our part to help you find what you’re looking for and give you the context you need to make informed decisions about what you see online. And we’re committed to continuing to support the journalists and fact-checking organizations on the front lines of the fight against misinformation.
“Misinformation.”
This is fantastic Matt. It is so important for these fact checkers to continue their important work and to create sustainable business models as well.
— David Clinch (@DavidClinchNews) November 29, 2022
— Doctor of Coding Thinkology (@bradcundiff) November 29, 2022
More censorship incoming
— Maschine 📉 (@tuliparbitrage) November 29, 2022
— EN (@kedilobisi_cfo) November 29, 2022
Subjective fact-checking is impossible even w best of intentions. Only freedom of expression can allow people to sort out truth for themselves.
— Lucky’s Mom .. Lynda Stokes (@pvbLynda) November 29, 2022
Welcome to newthink.
No thank you.— ERock (@ERocky66) November 29, 2022
The Ministry of Truth is expanding…
— Brian Ross (@brewmeone) November 29, 2022
Honestly, what happened to fact checking BEFORE an article is published???
— Hi! I'm Sarah (@closetconsrvtiv) November 29, 2022
You mean like reporting that Russia had fired a missile into Poland?
— Andy Scott (@AndyJScott) November 29, 2022
Not fact checkers. They are narrative enforcers, but because they are on your side you’ll tell yourself otherwise
— Mostly Peaceful Alien (@mattd75) November 29, 2022
Authoritarians everywhere be like: pic.twitter.com/stxfC606Gr
— yuletide granter (@trentgibbs87) November 29, 2022
I'm more curious about the fact checking orgs that you're blacklisting
— Doug Kenney 🇺🇸 (@Acyalone) November 29, 2022
— Ner vod (@thedihn) November 29, 2022
Hard pass and go f yourself.
— MAGA Cum Laude (@chasinnova1) November 29, 2022
If they had any credibility left, this might mean something, but they’ve squandered it all.
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Related:
Politico finally corrects its false tweet on Justice Thomas shared by WaPo Fact Checker Glenn Kessler https://t.co/OankNph9yG
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 1, 2022
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