The CEDMO hub’s fact-checking activities are based on an experienced and extensive ecosystem of fact-checkers, disinformation analysts, media literacy organisations and academics who detect, analyse, and expose emerging harmful information disorders. Therefore, the project pays special attention to disinformation targeting Central European and EU issues and policies. Through a rapid-alerts network, fact-checking and investigation, reports are sent to the relevant target group (media, public institutions, civil society and government) to minimise the impact of disinformation campaigns. Immediate disinformation responses and daily fact checking is delivered by seasoned professionals of the international news agency AFP , Demagog.cz, Demagog.sk, Konkret24 and Infosecurity.sk .
AFP, a global leader in digital verification, is a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) code of principles. These include a commitment to: non-partisanship and fairness, transparency of sources, transparency of funding and organisation, transparency of methodology and an open and honest corrections policy. Our work is carried out by fact-checking editors and a worldwide network of journalists, following the editorial standards and key guiding principles of the AFP global news agency. As well as traditional journalism skills, we use a number of simple tools to verify online information, some common sense and a lot of caution. Starting out with a specific question, we seek to investigate and report dubious stories and claims that may or may not end up on our newswires. We seek non-partisan, publicly available information in our investigations, and link to it online. Our journalists monitor online content in local languages, from Amharic to Hindi, German or Dutch. They take into account local cultures, languages and politics and work with AFP’s bureaus worldwide to investigate and disprove false information, focusing on items that can be harmful, impactful and manipulative.
Demagog.cz is a dedicated fact-checking platform launched in 2012. Its primary focus is in fact-checking Czech politicians in speeches, debates, interviews or on social media. Demagog.cz also maintains promise trackers for Czech governments, runs educational workshops and acts as a third-party fact-checker for Facebook. As a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network’s Code of Principles, Demagog.cz strictly adheres to principles of non-partisanship, transparency and other journalistic standards.
Demagog.sk has been fact-checking Slovak political debates since 2010. Their team follows statements of politicians in TV and broadcast debates, social media, and interviews and compares them to verified sources, data, and facts. They are committed to non-partisanship, fairness, and transparency. They believe that political debate should be based on verifiable facts and arguments, not only on feelings and emotion. Demagog.SK strives for positive change – to motivate young people and the society to take interest in political affairs and reliable information. Since 2010, Demagog.SK has fact-checked more than 700 debates and 15 000 statements.
Konkret24 is a leading Polish fact-checking website dedicated to verifying content from social media, online sources, and political and other public-opinion directed statements. The team also analyses current affairs from broader perspectives and explains complicated political and judicial processes. The website was launched in October 2018 and since then has established a respected market position and was awarded the Grand Press Digital in 2019. Konkret24 is part of TVN24 news websites department.
Infosecurity.sk is a project aimed at monitoring the information space with regard to disinformation, cybersecurity, and privacy online, which stands in opposition to the activities of disinformation actors. The aim is to expose and debunk dangerous and false content, to make the information space healthier, and to build awareness of important societal issues.