Tech giants dole out $13 million for ‘fact-checking’

Google and subsidiary YouTube announced last week a $13.2 million fund for “fact-checking” initiatives until 2025, which will be headed by the Poynter Institute’s International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN). The Poynter Institute, which also runs Left-leaning PolitiFact, said in a statement that the projects will “reduce misinformation.” 

“The world needs fact-checking more than ever before. This partnership with Google and YouTube infuses financial support to global fact-checkers and is a step in the right direction,” said IFCN Executive Director Baybars Örsek. “And while there’s much work to be done, this partnership has sparked meaningful collaboration and an important step.” 

$12 million of the fund will go to the Global Fact Check Fund, which will disburse money to fact-checking groups around the world which adhere to its Code of Principles. Countries affected include the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Nepal, Ukraine, Norway, Spain, Taiwan, South Africa, India and the United Kingdom. 

“Combating misinformation is an ongoing global challenge for society,” said Google Global News Programs and Ecosystem Managing Director Olivia Ma. “We take seriously our role in helping to fight misinformation by continually investing in products, programs and partnerships that help people access high-quality information. Expanding Google and YouTube’s work with the IFCN means that more independent fact-checkers around the world will have the tools and capacity to help people make informed decisions.” 

According to a study by Media Research Center, PolitiFact is eight times more likely to defend Joe Biden than fact-check his statements.

Furthermore, Media Research Center found that PolitiFact fact-checked Donald Trump 52 times during the first 100 days of his presidency, and just 13 times for Joe Biden in the first 100 days of his occupation of the White House. 

“Overall, Biden’s PolitiFact page shows he’s been put on the ‘Truth-O-Meter' 169 times in the website’s history beginning in 2007, and was found to be on the True/Mostly True side 67 times (almost 40 percent) and Mostly False or worse 78 times (46 percent),” notes Media Research Center. “By contrast, Donald Trump has 931 of these fact-checks, and 692 of them Mostly False or worse (74.3 percent). Trump has 161 ‘Pants on Fire’ ratings. Biden has six.” 

An independent analysis by America’s Frontline News found that fact-checkers such as PolitiFact are not held accountable when making false and misleading claims, particularly regarding medical science.