The Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA), a cross-industry collaborative to combat spread of misinformation, has announced the framework for an independent Fact Checking Network (FCN).
The initiative is to develop self-governing standards and best practices for fact checking organisations in India, enabling them to become trusted partners in the fight against the weaponisation of misinformation and disinformation, informed an MCA statement.
It added that the FCN has adopted a Code of Principles that is meant to provide Indian fact checkers with the guidance they need to ensure their work is of an unimpeachable standard. The Code includes commitments to non-partisanship and fairness (including not unduly targeting any side), transparency of methodology (including explaining how fact checks are done and what evidence is used) and transparency of funding (to ensure readers are aware of any relevant bias).
Fact checking organisations that sign up to the Code have to commit to ensuring that their checks are easily accessible and are not hidden behind a paywall, and that their checks can be used for non-commercial purposes like awareness campaigns under a creative commons licence. They also have to demonstrate a commitment to privacy and safety, including considerations under Indian law for protecting the identities of children and victims of heinous crimes, as well as protecting personal data under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023.
Organisations that are willing to sign up to the Code of Principles will become part of a standard framework for fact checking in India, overseen by the FCN Board. The Board is a self-governing body established under a special charter to verify whether an organisation’s processes and workflow is compliant with the FCN Code of Principles. Organisations which meet the standards will be accredited as ‘verified signatories’ to the Code. This can be viewed as a certification to the public as well as platforms and government authorities that the organisation can be trusted to employ the highest standards in the conduct of fact checking, the statement explained.
The FCN Board will comprise eminent persons from the field of media, broadcasting, journalism, human rights or law. They must be Indian citizens. A retired Supreme Court or High Court judge will be its Chairperson. The Board will obtain reports from expert assessors to determine whether an organisation should be accepted as a verified signatory. These assessors need to be Indian citizens with extensive experience and qualifications, and will need to demonstrate their political neutrality to perform this role. The Board will also ensure any signatories which violate the Code face consequences, including in serious cases losing their status and being barred from applying for it again. Any member of the general public can file a complaint about such violations against a verified signatory, ensuring that Indian citizens can keep their trusted fact checkers accountable.
Any fact checking organisation with a demonstrable focus on India, and which publishes fact checks in English or any of the 22 languages recognised by the Indian Constitution, is eligible to apply to become a verified signatory. It will not be necessary for a fact checker to join the MCA to become a signatory.
As part of these efforts, MCA has launched an email ([email protected]) that will serve as a hotline where posts or messages containing potential or suspected misinformation can be sent for fact checking and verification by its member fact-checking newsrooms.
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