In a blog post, “Check the facts with these Google features”, Nidhi Hebbar spells out the new fact checking features introduced by Google.
Tips for evaluating information
Sometimes when news is breaking or a new topic is trending, the information you're searching for isn't broadly available yet. In these moments, Search automatically shows a notice on your search results indicating that it can take time for a range of sources to publish information on a topic. These notices are currently available in more than 20 languages around the world.
For searches in English in the U.S., these notices will also include tips to help you evaluate information online, reminding you that you can check whether a source is trusted on a topic, or come back later when there’s more information available. You can also check out our new resource page with pointers to help you navigate the information you’re finding online, based on research from information literacy experts. Here, you can find helpful reminders for when you come across new information, like searching about the author of a piece of content to get a sense of their credibility, or checking the publication date to make sure it’s still relevant.
A new label for highly cited sources
When news stories get picked up by numerous media outlets, it can be difficult to find the original story. Google will launch a label on Top Stories to guide searchers to original reporting. It will appear on mobile devices in English and will roll out globally in the next few weeks.
Fact checks from independent fact-checking organizations
Fact check features on Google are another way to easily find information that has been verified by independent fact-checking organizations. When you search for a topic that may be disputed, you might see fact-check articles in your results. These results display snippets to help you get context about a claim that was made. Additionally, when you browse Google News on desktop, you can see recently fact-checked claims from independent publishers in your region, when related to the top stories of the day.
Looking to fact check a specific topic or story you heard about? Google’s Fact Check Explorer lets you search different topics you have questions about. This tool collects more than 150,000 fact checks from reputable publishers from around the world.
Learn more about any page online
Google had introduced the About This Result earlier in 2022. Tap the three dots on any search result, click the “more about this page” link to:
- Learn about the source to get a sense of how they describe themselves, in their own words
- Learn what others on the web have said about a site, to get a second look
- Learn additional context about the topic, like top news coverage, to see what a range of sources have to say.
These features will be available soon for all English-language searches worldwide.
Supporting fact checkers globally
Google is supporting a number of new efforts to bolster fact checking globally through the Google News Initiative. It is partnering with the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN) at the nonprofit Poynter Institute to provide training and resources to fact-checkers and industry experts around the world. The IFCN will establish a program to foster collaboration on emerging topics, support fact-checkers against harassment and host a series of workshops on digital tools and techniques. Support will also be given to help participants from underrepresented communities attend the Global Fact 9 event being held in Oslo later this year.
Additionally, Google is partnering with a number of other fact-check organizations:
- Chequeadoand Maldita in the United States to help launch FactChequeado, an initiative to identify new ways to fight misinformation in Latino communities.
- LatamChequeain Latin America to train 500 new fact-checkers in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.
- Comprova, in Brazil, the largest fact-checking coalition in the country that are focused on the presidential elections
- Agence-France Presse to create “Objectif désinfox,”a coalition of more than 20 newsrooms engaged in collaborative fact-checking the April 2022 French Presidential campaign.
- Australian Associated Press(AAP) to translate fact checks to 40 culturally and linguistically diverse publications.
- #FactsFirstPH, a coalition of more than 100 different groups in the Philippines to debunk disinformation ahead of the country’s May election.
Google is also partnering with think tanks and civil society organisations to conduct region-specific research into misinformation and disinformation regarding the war in Ukraine.