International Fact-Checking Day: Challenges for Fact Checking in the age of AI and Way Ahead

Today is International Fact-Checking Day. Every year this day is celebrated on April 2nd and is promoted by the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN) and its partnering fact-checking organizations around the world. The day is meant to create awareness about the perils of misinformation and highlight the importance of fact-checking. IFCN’s code of principles serves as the guiding principle for fact-checking organizations across the globe, including Climate Fact Checks.

The day is also celebrated to acknowledge the efforts of fact-checkers across the globe who are fighting different kinds of fake news. The problem of fake news has existed for a very long time. However, in today’s times, with the combination of easy access to the internet, smartphones, and social media, the scale of the problem has just expanded beyond limits.  With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based tools, the problem seems to be getting worse. Thus creating more challenges for the fact-checkers and making their work more relevant.

Misinformation can be spread for various motives. Defaming a political leader/party, promoting unscientific cure or pseudoscience, miscreants trying to create tensions between two communities, etc., are some examples. Based on these motives, we can categorize fake news into political, medical, communal, etc. 

Disinformation is a more harmful form of fake news which can cause immediate harm to an individual or a community. Disinformation is usually spread to promote hate against the victim/s. Some disinformation can be spread simply to create panic among people. 

The format of misinformation/disinformation is also varied. Fake news can be spread simply through WhatsApp forwarded text messages or by creating deepfakes using AI. The most common form of misinformation is sharing a photo/video with a false narrative or a completely unrelated context. Other forms of disseminating information include editing photos and videos, which can now become tougher to distinguish, thanks to AI.

However, the biggest challenge that Fact-Checkers have to face is confirmation bias. How can you explain the truth to someone who doesn’t accept empirical evidence and refuses to see rationally? The impact of misinformation, in the long run, is dreadful. Constant consumption of inaccurate information corrupts the thought process of an individual and instills severe distrust in their minds. The hate and distrust combined with ignorance leave an individual incapable of processing information objectively. 

How are Fact Checkers Tackling These Challenges?

Fact Checkers have always found a way to stay a step ahead of misinformation peddlers. The same tools that are used for spreading misinformation can also be used for debunking them. The following are some of the methods fact-checkers are using to overcome challenges presented by modern-day misinformation:

1. Technology: Fact-checkers have also adopted advanced technology like AI. In fact, fact-checkers have been ahead of the fake news peddlers in embracing AI. If AI can be used to create misleading media, then it can also be used to identify such media. Fact-checkers across the world have developed tools using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to identify text-based misinformation in different languages. This allows fact-checkers to process enormous amounts of text-based information on social media platforms and identify fake news. Claim Hunter, a multi-lingual AI language model developed by the Spanish fact-checking organization Newtral is one such example. Even though these tools may have challenges initially, eventually, these tools have the potential to revolutionize the process of fact-checking.
2. Eliminating Language Barriers: Misinformation is not limited to a few languages. In a diverse country like India, misinformation is disseminated in all the major languages. Hence, it is imperative to publish fact-check reports in the regional language. If misinformation has no language barriers, then why should fact-check? In order to overcome this, Climate Fact Checks has its fact checks translated into Hindi, Sinhala, Bangla, Assamese, Gujarati, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, and Tamil. Climate Fact Checks have a dedicated website for all the above-mentioned languages for the convenience of the readers.
3. Media Literacy: To tackle the issue of confirmation bias, the ignorance and information gap in the minds of individuals must be addressed. At the same time, instilling trust in information backed with empirical evidence is also crucial. This can only be achieved through ensuring digital literacy among the public. There is widespread digital illiteracy in India and Sri Lanka. The internet boom opened up the world of unlimited information to the masses in these countries. But, the majority of the masses were not trained in identifying the right information from misinformation. Hence, fact-checking organizations have started media literacy campaigns to educate the masses. Climate Fact Checks and its parent organization Fact Crescendo too, have media literacy programs designed to educate people belonging to different groups, such as students, officials, rural folks, etc.
4. Engaging People: It is not true to say that all individuals are unaware of the phenomenon of fake news and fact-checking. Many individuals identify fake news and also save their known ones from falling prey to it. Sometimes people identify fake news but are unable to verify the content. Or people can find any content suspicious. Fact-Checkers are engaging such individuals and encouraging their participation in fighting the menace of fake news. WhatsApp Chatbots are great examples of how individuals and organizations participate in fighting misinformation. Climate Fact Checks recently launched its own Chatbot, Climate Buddy, solely dedicated to debunking misinformation on climate change in India and Sri Lanka. All the user has to do is forward any suspicious content to our WhatsApp number, +91 7045366366, and our team of journalists and experts will verify it for the user. Climate Buddy also supports the following languages: English, Hindi, Sinhala, Marathi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Assamese, Bangla, and Tamil.

Though the challenges for fact-checkers are getting tougher, fact-checkers are prepared to take on any challenge. However, educating and engaging people in fact-checking is equally important in the fight against misinformation.