Fact-checking methodology

The AkhbarMeter team believes that professional and ethical violations are not the only threats to public awareness and social peace. Fake news and rumors have a significant impact on social stability and can create public confusion. Based on this belief, in 2020 the team established a special unit called "Untrue News" to monitor fake news and rumors spreading across social media platforms and news websites. The unit is comprised of three fact-checkers who verify rapidly circulating claims online, supervised by the Head of the False News Verification Department at the observatory.

How Are News Items Selected?

• The importance of the news and its potential impact on the public—politically, socially, or economically.

• The extent of the claim's circulation or its likelihood of spreading. This is sometimes measured by shares/views on social media platforms, supported by view counts referenced in the fact-check.

• Claims are selected without discrimination based on political, ideological, gender, or ethnic affiliation.

• The potential consequences of misinformation on public well-being, such as health-related issues.

• The availability of reliable sources to confirm or refute the claim.

• The team occasionally covers light news that is popular among the public to serve an educational purpose in promoting critical thinking.

• Regional events that receive broad attention from the public are also prioritized.

• Verification requests are also accepted via the observatory’s official email: [email protected], provided they fall within the selection criteria.

What We Do Not Verify:

• Claims with limited circulation to avoid inadvertently spreading them further.

• Religious-related claims.

• Predictions, personal opinions, or commentary on events.

• Corruption allegations that are under judicial investigation with no final ruling.

• Content explicitly created for satire or humor.

Fact-Checking Methodology:

The team seeks out data, facts, and the best available evidence from open sources and through outreach to individuals and institutions when possible.

• Verifies the accuracy of data, numbers, and context surrounding the claim.

• Avoids using unofficial or anonymous sources.

• Uses clear, replicable steps so that the public can independently verify claims.

• If updates or new information affect the rating, the article is updated, noted in a box below the report, and the update date is added next to the original publication date.

Verification Steps:

1. Use of keywords in search engines and advanced search tools to filter by date, publication time, and geographical area.

2. Referencing official websites of ministries, institutions, NGOs, and international organizations for data and official statements.

3. Monitoring sources, individuals involved, and eyewitnesses through their verified social media accounts and websites. Known political affiliations are disclosed when relevant.

4. For images and videos, reverse image search tools and technical analysis are used to detect manipulation and verify authenticity.

5. Contextualizing claims with precise social, political, historical, and cultural background to help the reader understand the full picture.

The team avoids assumptions and relies solely on factual evidence. When complete or current information is unavailable, this is clearly noted while still striving for maximum accuracy.

Sources are clearly attributed, including personal accounts, government records, official documents, and videos of public figures. If a secondary source is used, this is disclosed.

• Secondary sources are only used when primary ones are inaccessible. These include published interviews or televised appearances and are cross-referenced with other sources for accuracy.

• Secondary sources are also used for established historical background, provided they are credible and accurate (e.g., news agencies, international outlets).

Whenever possible, the fact-checker responsible for the report is named. Both the head of fact-checking and the assigned verifier share responsibility for ensuring that no external influence affects the selection or content of the final report.

AkhbarMeter adheres not only to its internal methodology for selecting and verifying claims but also to the codes of principles set by the Arab Fact-Checkers Network (AFCN) and the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).

Verification Classifications:

• False: A report is deemed fabricated when it is not based on any verifiable facts. This includes manipulated images, videos, or AI-generated content designed to mislead.

• Partly True: A report or statement is classified as partly true when it contains some factual information but lacks important context or includes inaccuracies that change its meaning.

• Misleading Context: This applies when factual content is presented out of its original context, altering the intended meaning (e.g., correct quotes placed in a false time or place).

• Unverified: Assigned to claims where available evidence is insufficient or inconclusive to confirm or refute the statement.

• True: A report is verified as true when supported by reliable primary sources, and all data, statements, or statistics align with verified, credible references. This label is only applied when doubt exists around a widely circulated claim.

Note: These updated classifications have been in use since January 2025. Prior to this, all articles were labeled as "False."

Public Verification Requests:

The team accepts public requests for verification via email: [email protected], provided they align with the defined selection criteria. Requests can be submitted through Contact Us.

If the request meets the criteria, the team commits to responding within 48 hours to a maximum of five business days.

Requests submitted by unidentified individuals will not be processed. A valid name and email address must be provided.