TFC’s IFCN signatory certification renewed for the the fifth consecutive year

The Taiwan FactCheck Center (TFC)’s signatory certification with the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) has been renewed on August 30. TFC remains committed to upholding fact-checking principles of non-partisanship, fairness, and transparency. 

Established in 2018, TFC＇s mission is to promote a healthy information ecosystem in Taiwan through fact-checking and digital literacy, helping Taiwanese citizens build resilience against false information, which is crucial for the development of democracy in Taiwanese society.

Over the past five years, TFC has released numerous impactful fact-checks, debunking claims related to the 2018 Kansai Airport incident, the 2020 presidential election ballot video, and the altered Chinese military exercise photo in 2022. TFC also played a key role in initiating #CoronaVirusFacts, a global fact-checking collaborative project during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to debunking falsehood, TFC is committed to providing reliable information and tools to the public through various means, including in-depth analysis, digestible explainers of major issues, and fact-checking workshops.

Toward the end of 2020, TFC transformed into the “Taiwan FactCheck Foundation” and established an education department. Supported by Google.org, TFC launched the “Taiwan Media Literacy Program,” in September 2021. Spanning three years, the program is a collaborative effort by TFC and other Taiwan＇s fact-checking ecosystem partners to enhance media literacy, particularly among digitally disadvantaged groups, to reduce the harm caused by misinformation in Taiwan.

Shih-Hung Lo, Chairman of the Taiwan FactCheck Foundation and a professor in the Department of Communication at Chung Cheng University stated that through five years of diligent work, TFC has gained societal trust. 

Lo said, that TFC will continue to empower the society to establish rational public conversations in the abundant and robust information environment, enhance the public＇s ability to discern false information, and strengthen Taiwan＇s democratic resilience.

The IFCN Code of Principles is designed to enhance and regulate the credibility and quality of the fact-checking industry. Accredited fact-checking organizations must annually submit evidence demonstrating their non-partisanship, fairness, and transparency in fact-checking work and their financial and organizational structure for evaluation by external independent experts.

The fact-checking movement has flourished globally over the past decade. As of April 2023, 154 fact-checking organizations from 60 countries have been certified as signatories to the IFCN Code of Principles, including fact-checking teams of international news agencies such as Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

TFC was first accredited by the IFCN in its founding year in 2018, making it the 52nd IFCN signatory globally and the first in Taiwan and the Chinese-speaking world. 

Currently, there are five accredited fact-checkers in the Chinese-speaking world including Taiwan＇s “MyGoPen,” as well as Hong Kong＇s “Factcheck Lab,” “Annie Lab,” and “HKBU FactCheck.”