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| Full Fact | |
|---|---|
| Name | Full Fact |
| Type | Non-profit fact-checking charity |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Services | Fact-checking, research, media literacy |
| Leader title | Chief Executive |
| Leader name | Caroline Orr |
Full Fact is a United Kingdom–based independent charitable organisation that verifies claims made in public life and the media. It produces factchecks, tools, and guidance aimed at improving public debate and reducing misinformation across journalism, politics, and online platforms. The organisation works with research institutes, technology companies, and media outlets to promote evidence-based reporting and accountability.
Founded in 2010 during a period of intense public scrutiny of media accuracy, the organisation emerged amid debates sparked by the 2010 United Kingdom general election, the expenses scandal surrounding Members of Parliament, and rising concern about the 2011 United Kingdom riots. Early influences included the rise of digital newsrooms exemplified by BBC News Online, the growth of social platforms like Twitter and Facebook, and initiatives such as FactCheck.org and PolitiFact in the United States. Initial activity intersected with inquiries into press standards led by figures associated with the Leveson Inquiry and regulatory debates involving the Independent Press Standards Organization. Over time it expanded its remit in response to events including the Brexit referendum, the 2017 United Kingdom general election, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2020s debates around disinformation tied to geopolitical events like the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
The organisation operates from a central office in Westminster, coordinating a team of researchers, editors, and technologists. Governance structures are influenced by charity law in the United Kingdom Charity Commission, and trustees have included individuals with experience in institutions such as King's College London, London School of Economics, and University College London. Funding sources have comprised philanthropic foundations such as the Open Society Foundations, the Hewlett Foundation, and the Knight Foundation, along with grants from bodies like the European Commission and contracts with technology firms including Google and Meta Platforms, Inc.. Additional income streams have included donations from members of the public, support from media organisations such as the Guardian Media Group, and collaboration grants involving think tanks like the Institute for Public Policy Research and the Chatham House.
The organisation’s methodological framework blends journalistic verification with computational analysis. Researchers apply techniques drawn from investigative reporting practised at outlets such as The Guardian, The Times, and Financial Times while employing data science methods used at institutions like The Alan Turing Institute and Oxford Internet Institute. Typical steps include sourcing primary documents from authorities such as the Office for National Statistics, the National Health Service, and parliamentary records like Hansard, consulting peer-reviewed literature published in journals such as The Lancet and Nature, and contacting claimants for response. The team also uses automated monitoring tools and natural language processing approaches influenced by work at Google DeepMind and OpenAI to surface claims circulating on platforms like YouTube, Reddit, and TikTok.
Outputs include standalone factchecks, live briefings during events such as Prime Minister's Questions, explainers around policies from ministries like the Department of Health and Social Care and the HM Treasury, and databases that track recurring falsehoods. Impact has been observed when corrections influenced coverage in outlets ranging from Sky News and ITV to broadsheets like The Daily Telegraph and The Independent. The organisation has provided evidence to parliamentary committees including the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee and contributed to cross-platform interventions coordinated with bodies like the European Broadcasting Union and the International Fact-Checking Network. Its work during the COVID-19 pandemic addressed claims about vaccines and public health guidance, intersecting with institutions such as Public Health England and the World Health Organization.
Criticism has come from political actors across the spectrum, journalistic commentators, and academics. Some commentators associated with Conservative Party and Labour Party circles have accused the organisation of bias or selective focus, while media critics writing for outlets such as Daily Mail and The Spectator have questioned its editorial judgments. Methodological critiques have referenced debates in academic venues like Columbia Journalism Review and universities including University of Oxford and Harvard University about transparency, sourcing, and the limits of fact-checking for complex policy claims. Disputes have also arisen over funding from major tech firms and philanthropic foundations, echoing wider controversies involving entities such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and MacArthur Foundation.
The organisation has partnered with international fact-checking networks and media organisations. Collaborators include the International Fact-Checking Network, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, and platforms such as Twitter (now X), Google News Initiative, and Meta Platforms, Inc. for work on content labelling and debunking. Academic partnerships have involved University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, and interdisciplinary centres including Data & Society Research Institute and Reuters Institute. It has also worked with public bodies like Ofcom and non-governmental organisations including Amnesty International on thematic projects.
The organisation has received awards and nominations from industry bodies and media institutions. Accolades include recognition at ceremonies organised by the British Journalism Awards, shortlisting by the European Press Prize, and commendations from academic forums such as the Royal Society and the Academy of Social Sciences. Its projects have been cited in policy reports by think tanks like the Institute for Government and honoured in technology-focused categories at events associated with SXSW and the Web Summit.
Category:Non-profit organisations based in the United Kingdom Category:Fact-checking organizations