Fact checking methodology

How to corroborate information circulating on the web?

Although there is no specific methodology to check the veracity or otherwise of a news item, strategies based on journalistic expertise can be applied before replicating texts, images, audios or videos of dubious origin.

Perform a comprehensive web search

When information begins to circulate about a specific topic (death of a person, new decrees, resignation of politicians, etc.), the information can be placed in the Google browser to determine if there is an official site that has verified what has happened.

The search also makes it possible to determine whether the information is old or taken out of context. If the search engine does not return any results, the information provided is suspect. When it comes to senior officials issuing information, it is always necessary to review official communiqués and contrast the information with that offered by various media outlets.

Contact those who are related to the information

Whenever necessary, it is important to establish direct communication with the spokespersons or those affected by a problem or situation. For example, if it is said that a certain agency will cease to operate due to lack of personnel, it is necessary to contact that agency to corroborate whether the information is true. If it is a statement issued by any public figure, fragments of what he or she said can be taken and placed in various search engines. If it does not appear, the information may be questionable.

Statements made by senior officials, when true, are usually reported on breaking news portals, on Twitter accounts of news agencies and on the accounts of their own spokespersons.

Verify that the information was not taken out of context

Information is often circulated that, despite referring to a true fact, is often decontextualized or manipulated to give the impression that it is something new. Therefore, it is important to perform a Google search, since this platform shows the date on which the news was circulated.

Perform a comprehensive web search

In WhatsApp groups it is common for information to circulate with emoticons and keywords such as “alert”, “last minute”, referring to information such as the flight or political leaders, calamities, cure for serious diseases, among others, but without any link or contact to corroborate what is expressed. These are usually fake news.

When dealing with audios sent via WhatsApp, it is necessary to perform a keyword search on Google or Twitter to determine if there are any matches with the information.

Reverse search for photos

To check if an image is true or refers to a current event, you can use the Google Images option, where with the “reverse search” tool you can verify the origin of the photograph and when it was published.

For videos, the same tool can be used, taking a capture of several frames of the audiovisual and see if matches are found on the web.

Detail the url of the web pages

On several occasions, hackers often clone web pages to steal the identity of users (phishing) through the submission of forms. However, this practice can also serve to disseminate communications that appear to be true. Therefore, it is important to verify the web address of the sites from which the information originates.

Detection of fake profiles

One of the most used ways to make false information viral on Twitter is by using fake profiles, called bots. These can be detected with the tool provided by the same platform: Advanced X Search.

How to determine whether a piece of information is false, doubtful or true?

Any information that is corroborated that was not issued by the official source cited.
Any non-current information that has been manipulated and taken out of context (it is made clear why it is false).
When the image or video is not related to the text with which it is published.
WhatsApp chains without author and with information that has not been confirmed by reliable sources.
Images or videos that are verified to have been edited.