The rapid expansion of fact-checking initiatives in Asia
We hope you've had a good week. In this issue of The Checklist, we take a look at the rapid expansion of fact-checking initiatives and innovation in Asia. An update from Nigeria looks at conspiracy theories related to the Covid-19 vaccine and how that is stalling the vaccination progress in the country. In Pakistan, press freedom is being threatened with the Taliban coming to power in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Do read highlights from our blog posts on claim matching in multiple languages and strategies for triaging responses to health misinformation.
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From our blog
Claim matching global fact-checks at Meedan
By Ashkan Kazemi
Meedan’s Research team has recently published the paper “Claim Matching Beyond English to Scale Global Fact-Checking” at the 2021 Association for Computational Languages conference. This paper describes how we built equitable technology through a public dataset of WhatsApp messages and fact-check headlines to claim match in multiple languages.
The latest top stories
COVID-19: Misconceptions, conspiracy theories stall vaccination progress in Nigeria (Vanguard)
Misinformation around the Covid-19 vaccine in Nigeria has led to an infodemic in the country, with many Nigerians vowing not to be vaccinated due to unfounded fears around the origins of the vaccines and the intentions of those administering it.
"Fake news accentuated by trust deficit has become deeply imbibed by ordinary Nigerians and that is the reason we are struggling with getting the people to comply with advisories. The current approach adopted by government towards addressing the impact of fake news is inadequate and inappropriate, and as such may not get us the desired result. It is not about sanctions. It should be more about giving out timely information; it is also about government being more responsive and responsible — Dr Casmier Ifeanyi, Nigerian Medical Laboratory Scientist and Public Health Analyst
Press freedom in Pakistan is in further peril after the re-Talibanisation of the region (Scroll)
With the coming to power of the Afghan Taliban, their militant cousins across the border have started identifying their targets in Pakistan. Journalists have been the first to feel the heat. A statement issued to the media has gone viral on social media: the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have warned journalists to avoid using the term ‘terrorist’ for the group, or else they would be treated like ‘enemies’
"The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has also expressed concern which underscores not only the seriousness of the threat but also the need to analyse what future lies in store for press freedom in the context of the region’s recent re-Talibanisation." — Syed Irfan Ashraf, Assistant Professor at University of Peshawar
Faster facts: The rapid expansion of fact-checking (Masato Kajimoto)
As the world grapples with an ‘infodemic’, Asia has seen a proliferation of fact-checking initiatives and innovation. 'Faster facts: The rapid expansion of fact-checking' focuses on three areas that have significant implications for the future of fact-checking in Asia: government-led initiatives; the role of tech platforms; and emerging opportunities in audience education, automation, crowdsourcing and university collaborations.
Fact-checking is quickly becoming one of journalism’s most vibrant and collegial areas of work. Its ongoing expansion across Asia is likely in the foreseeable future. As new initiatives launch in the region, there will be more players with differing degrees of skills, ethical standards and even motivations. The field will inevitably become more entangled, especially with government-supported projects, and risks becoming more fragmented, and less unified, in the long run. Asian fact-checkers will inevitably be at the forefront of efforts to keep public conversations grounded in established facts." — Masato Kajimoto
What’s new at Meedan
Strategies for triaging responses to health misinformation online
Over the last 18 months, Meedan Digital Health Lab’s team of health experts have been reviewing and collating the most relevant risk frameworks for monitoring and moderating misinformation, summarizing how they may be beneficial when applied to addressing specifically health-related misinformation in order to highlight some of the strengths, benefits and tradeoffs of each when it is used to prioritize health misinformation response.