Level of compliance with the IFCN Code of Principles in Spain. A qualitative analysis of four fact-checking platforms
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26441/RC22.1-2023-2971Keywords:
fact-checking, IFCN, disinformation, accountability, journalism, Maldita.es, Newtral, Verificat, EFE Verifica, SpainAbstract
Ethics and accountability have proved to be crucial aspects in fact-checking, which can only be understood in connection with social responsibility and public service. This research aims to provide a new scope of analysis by taking the code of principles of the International Fact-checking Network as a reference to observe the level of compliance and accountability of several fact-checking platforms. The study focuses on the Spanish context, where four fact-checking initiatives are verified signatories of the aforementioned code: Maldita.es, Newtral, EFE Verifica and Verificat. To carry out the analysis, the basic principles of the IFCN code were included in a list of 37 items related to fairness, transparency and accountability. The study has two objectives. On one hand, it measures the level of compliance to international fact-checking standards and, therefore, the quality of the service offered by the platforms examined. On the other hand, it provides comparisons between the platforms while highlighting their strengths and weaknesses as well as addressing common trends among them. This qualitative approach offers new and significant evidence of how the main Spanish fact-checking platforms are achieving most of the accountability principles established by the IFCN, especially in the implementation of a standard methodology within the verification process. It also shows that there is room for improvement in terms of transparency, mostly in the area of economic and business-related data: annual balances and alliances with third parties, such as Google or Facebook; as well as the purpose of those relationships.
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