May 8, 2024

Introducing a Comprehensive 'Fact-Check Search-Engine'

Have you ever been frustrated when falling for misinformation? Or had a hard time finding a fact-check for something you know was too good (or too bad) to be true?  Well, you're in the right place. I've been there too -- and decided to do something about it.

Click Here for the Fact-Check Search-Engine or read on for the details.

Instead of jumping between fact-checking sites or appending "fact check" to a google query about a questionable topic, I thought it would be helpful to have a search-engine that queried a collection of fact-checking sites.

I considered the quality of fact- checking sites and ran across references to the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN). This organization sets high standards for fact-checking organizations and certifies those that comply, establishing a gold standard (see here for more about IFCN).

To be certified, an organization must:

  • Demonstrate nonpartisanship and fairness.
  • Be transparent with sources, methodology, funding, and organization.
  • Maintain a commitment to open and honest corrections.

Sites that want to maintain certification with the IFCN must prove yearly that they comply with these standards.

With this in mind, I identified all the certified, USA-focused sites. Most are in English, but some also support Spanish. I omitted some sites because their fact-checks weren't centralized, making it too difficult to create search parameters that could distinguish fact-checks from other content.

I then crafted a custom search-engine using Google search technology to query roughly one-dozen top-notch fact-checking sites and their appropriate sub-directories. After testing, I believe this search-engine to be a comprehensive resource for fact-checking topics of concern.

Give it a try. Note that sometimes, google adds "Sponsored" links at the top of the results.

Click Here to access the Fact-Check Search-Engine

If you notice any issues, please point them out.

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