Fact Checker

Methodology

Our 5-layer AI investigation pipeline. Every verdict shows its evidence chain.

Layer 1: Existing Fact-Check Lookup

We check the Google Fact Check Tools database — a global index of IFCN-certified fact-checkers. If AFP, Full Fact, PolitiFact, or Rumor Scanner have already reviewed this claim, we surface their findings immediately.

Layer 2: Bilingual Source Search

We search in both Bengali and English across our curated whitelist of trusted sources — international wire services (Reuters, AP, AFP), Bangladesh national outlets (Prothom Alo, Daily Star), government sources, and fact-checking organisations. Only whitelisted sources are used.

Layer 3: Absence Analysis

When little evidence is found, we analyse why. Did the event never happen? Is it too recent for coverage? Is the claim deliberately vague? Understanding the absence of evidence is as important as the evidence itself.

Layer 4: Image Forensics

When images are submitted, we analyse them for signs of manipulation — editing artifacts, inconsistent lighting, text overlays, social media formatting inconsistencies, and AI-generated image characteristics.

Layer 5: Pattern Detection

We check for common misinformation patterns: urgency language, vague attribution, recycled content from previous events, emotional manipulation, and tribal framing. High-risk patterns are flagged for careful review.

Human Review

AI investigates. Humans decide. Every verdict requires admin review before publication. Claims with a confidence score below 60% are automatically flagged for deeper investigation and are never auto-published.

Verdict Categories

  • Verified (সত্য) — Multiple sources confirm the claim
  • False (মিথ্যা) — Sources directly debunk with evidence
  • Misleading (বিভ্রান্তিকর) — Contains truth but distorted
  • Fabricated (বানোয়াট) — No evidence the event occurred
  • No Evidence (প্রমাণ নেই) — Extensive search found nothing
  • Satire (ব্যঙ্গ) — From a satire or parody source
  • Out of Context (প্রসঙ্গবিহীন) — Real content, wrong framing
  • Outdated (মেয়াদোত্তীর্ণ) — Was true but no longer accurate

Trusted Sources

We maintain a public whitelist of trusted sources across categories: international wire services, Bangladesh national outlets, government sources, fact-checking organisations, and academic/NGO sources. Our source list is available on the sources page.