Methodology

1. Choosing a Claim to Fact Check

We focus on false claims that have the potential to go viral. We monitor Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and traditional media platforms to find claims to fact check. We encourage readers to send claims for verification by emailing us at factcheck@sochvideos.com  or through the ‘submit’ page. We also encourage readers to submit complaints and feedback about our fact checks.

We specifically keep an eye out for: 

  • Pakistan specific content in local languages. 
  • Dubious claims that have the potential to go viral across platforms.
  • Claims regarding vulnerable minority groups that have the potential to incite violence against those groups.
  • Claims regarding individuals that may put their lives in danger.
  • Claims that cast doubt on matters of scientific or historical consensus.
  • Statements, speeches, and social media posts made by politicians and government officials that have the potential to impact public opinion.
  • Trending hashtags on Twitter that might have been launched specifically to spread misinformation.
  • Pictures and videos being circulated through WhatsApp.
  • Content submitted by users via Twitter or our website.

2. Fact Checking the Claim

  • We check reliable local and global news websites and gather all information regarding the claim that is available online.
  • We will contact the person or organization who made the claim or to whom the claim has been attributed. 
  • If claims are made regarding government actions, we will contact politicians, government institutions, and other relevant officials. 
  • If a claim involves a regional language besides Urdu or English, we will contact translators.
  • If we are unable to verify the information we need through online research and phone calls, we will go to the field and investigate further. 
  • If the claim is in the form of a dubious image or a video, or a if a suspect claim is made regarding the source of an image of video, we will attempt to ascertain the origin of the image or video by taking a close look at details such as billboards in the background to verify if the image/video was actually taken in the place that the claim states. 
  • We will also use tools such as Way Back Machine to access digital archives and Reverse Google Image Search to locate the source of an image and check if it has been doctored or altered.

 

Corrections policy

 

Soch Fact Check believes in prompt acknowledgement and correction of errors. If a mistake is made in a fact check article, it will be updated and the correction will be clearly stated at the foot of the article.

If you believe Soch Fact Check is violating the IFCN Code, you may inform the IFCN of this through their complaints page.

Appeals

 

If we flagged your content on Meta’s platforms, refer to these guidelines, and send us an email at appeals@factcheck.com. If you delete the flagged post, we will not be able to process an appeal.