By: baybars orsek
jaskirat singh bawa
April 2 2024
One year of Logically Facts: The journey so far and the mission ahead
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Logically Facts turns one today! (Source: Logically Facts)
As we commemorate the first anniversary of Logically Facts, we celebrate and reflect on the incredible journey we've undertaken. In an era where misinformation spreads faster than accurate and reliable information, Logically Facts has stood steady against the tide, championing the principles of accuracy, credibility, and transparency in public discourse.
Over the past twelve months, Logically Facts has established itself as a trusted source of information, having matured to operate independently from its parent company, Logically. Our unwavering commitment to rigorous fact-checking — employing a blend of cutting-edge technology inherited from Logically and human expertise spanning from Ireland to India — has not only set new benchmarks in the domain of fact-checking but has also reaffirmed our commitment to leading the fact-checking community by example in transparency and adherence to high standards.
During the last year, Logically Facts has published over 2,400 fact checks, alongside more than 200 analyses and articles in seven languages globally. We remain steadfast in our mission to cultivate an online environment that facilitates informed decision-making. We deal with misinformation across a spectrum of topics, including public health, climate change, conspiracies, election integrity, and more.
Our fact-check and media literacy videos have amassed an impressive 17 million views on TikTok and nearly 600 hours of viewing time on YouTube.
We also published hundreds of fact-check reports on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Our in-depth investigations into the viral "Pallywood" trend and the utilization of disinformation by political parties in India prior to the elections were cited by several prominent international organizations such as Rolling Stone, NPR, and France24. Members of our editorial team were recognized and quoted as subject matter experts in the field of disinformation by reputable news organizations in India, Europe, and the U.K. Additionally, an article addressing the misleading claim that circulated regarding the Swedish PM's alleged statement saying 'Israel had the right to genocide' was quoted in several other media outlets.
Logically Facts has forged partnerships with social media platforms, media organizations, educational institutions, and civic bodies, amplifying our reach and impact. We are proud to be a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), a member of the Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA) in India and the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) in Europe. Additionally, Logically Facts is the trusted safety and fact-checking partner for TikTok and Meta in Europe.
In this mega-election year of 2024, we take pride in our involvement in crucial election integrity projects on a global scale. In India, we collaborate with the Misinformation Combat Alliance to contribute to 'Project Shakti' and the Deepfake Analysis Unit. In Europe, we participate in the ‘Elections24Check’ project in partnership with our colleagues from the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN).
Furthermore, Logically Facts has announced partnerships with renowned Indian news organizations ABP and Eastmojo, empowering them to establish their fact-checking units without reinventing the wheel. Leveraging their networks, we detect and combat hyperlocal misinformation while providing verified information and fact-checks to their readers.
Logically Facts has also made significant efforts to enhance the offline and real-world impact of our work. This includes conducting specialized media literacy and fact-checking workshops for journalists in Africa and Europe, as well as for media and policy students in India.
Innovation has been the cornerstone of our journey. Our technological capabilities have evolved, integrating AI tools to detect and analyze misinformation on a large scale. This commitment to innovation has enabled us to stay ahead of misinformation spreaders, delivering timely and precise information to our audience. Working in close collaboration with technologists at Logically, we are developing tech solutions to empower the global fact-checking and Trust & Safety communities. Logically Facts® Accelerate aids fact-checkers in swiftly analyzing multimodal content, reducing the time spent identifying claims within them, thereby enhancing workflow efficiency and mitigating the harm caused by mis and disinformation spread through video content online. It is currently in the development stage, and we want to take this opportunity to invite potential end-users to test this tool.
Yet, our journey has not been one without challenges. The landscape of misinformation is ever-changing, with new threats emerging in the guise of deepfakes, manipulated media, and sophisticated disinformation campaigns.
As we look to the future, we are driven by a vision of a world where truth prevails. Our mission for the coming years is to expand our reach further, delve into new territories of misinformation, and continue to innovate. We are committed to empowering individuals and communities with the tools they need to discern truth in a post-truth world. To that end, we are launching a new editorial project this week that highlights the human cost of misinformation. By amplifying the voices of those whose lives were upended due to being the target of misinformation directly or indirectly, we aim to build more empathy on this issue and illustrate the real-world impact of malicious online acts.
To our readers, partners, and supporters, our journey thus far has been possible because of your trust and support. As we celebrate this milestone, we renew our pledge to promote fact-checking, no matter the challenge. Together, we stand as advocates in the fight against misinformation, dedicated to a future where our commitment to freedom of speech empowers the safety of our information ecosystem.
Here's to a year of achievements, learning, and relentless pursuit of truth!