FactCheck Guidelines

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Faharas FactCheck Guidelines establish the comprehensive framework for verifying public information with accuracy, integrity, and transparency. As part of Faharas.net, an independent global news platform founded on September 14, 2019, these guidelines embody our core mission: “Global News. Human Checked. Transparent to Trust.”

Our fact-checking process is fundamentally human-led, ensuring that every claim published on Faharas.net undergoes rigorous verification by trained editors. We maintain complete editorial independence, operating without corporate ownership, central advertisements, or paywalls, which allows us to deliver unbiased, trustworthy information to readers worldwide.

These guidelines outline our meticulous verification workflow, classification system, and ethical standards that have enabled us to maintain a 96% accuracy rate across more than 10 million published articles. By following transparent, evidence-based procedures and providing clear attribution to original sources, we help readers distinguish truth from falsehood and understand what remains uncertain.

Whether verifying statements from public officials, viral social media claims, or reports from other publishers, Faharas FactCheck remains committed to delivering verified information through accountable, human-driven journalism that serves the public interest.

Purpose

The Faharas FactCheck Guidelines outline the principles, workflow, and ethical standards followed by the editorial team and contributors to verify the accuracy of public information.

Faharas.net, established on September 14, 2019, is an independent global news platform that operates without corporate ownership, central advertisements, or paywalls. Our core mission is “Global News. Human Checked. Transparent to Trust.”

These guidelines ensure that every claim published on Faharas.net is reviewed through a consistent, transparent, and human-led verification process, maintaining our 96% accuracy rate through rigorous verification.

The goal of Faharas FactCheck is to help readers understand what is true, what is false, and what remains uncertain through verified evidence and full editorial accountability.

For broader editorial standards, see the Editorial Policy.

Scope

Fact-checking applies to all reports, summaries, and claims published on Faharas.net, including:

  • Statements by public officials or organizations
  • Viral or trending claims on social media
  • Headlines or reports from other publishers
  • Information from government, business, or research sources

Faharas.net monitors 500+ trusted global sources and covers 195 countries worldwide. Our verification standards require that all content must be confirmed by official statements or minimum two reliable sources.

Verification is conducted in multiple languages, starting with Arabic and English, under one unified editorial and ethical framework.

Additional guidance for contributors is available in the Contributor Guidelines.

FactCheck Workflow

All fact-checked articles follow the Faharas Verification Workflow, a comprehensive six-stage process designed to ensure the highest standards of accuracy, neutrality, and accountability in our reporting.

Stage 1 – Automated Ingest

Our process begins with the systematic collection of content from verified news wires, official sources, and institutional statements. Advanced automation systems identify duplicate content and timestamp each intake, creating an organized foundation for the verification process.

Stage 2 – AI Triage

Faharas leverages trusted third-party AI tools including ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity to detect recurring narratives, compare factual details, and enhance language clarity. Importantly, AI serves exclusively in a supportive capacity for technical assistance and content organization—never for making verdicts or generating content. For detailed information on our AI usage policies, please refer to our AI Policy.

Stage 3 – Primary Verification

In this critical phase, our editors manually verify claims against primary evidence, including official data, original documents, and direct statements. We maintain a strict hierarchy where primary evidence always takes precedence over secondary reporting, ensuring the most reliable information forms the basis of our assessments.

Stage 4 – Secondary Review

A second independent editor conducts a thorough review of all findings to ensure neutrality and factual precision. When conflicting data emerges, our editorial team documents these discrepancies and works toward resolution through professional consensus, maintaining our commitment to balanced reporting.

Stage 5 – Classification

Each claim receives a final verdict based on the comprehensive evidence gathered (see Section 5 for classification details). All verdicts undergo rigorous scrutiny, being assigned and reviewed by at least two qualified editors before publication.

Stage 6 – Trust Score Update

The verified outcomes contribute to our ongoing Faharas Source Reliability Index, a dynamic system that tracks and displays the long-term accuracy of cited sources. This continuous evaluation process helps us maintain and improve our 96% accuracy rate while providing readers with transparent information about source reliability.

Workflow Status (FactCheck Progress)

Every fact-check includes a prominently displayed FactCheck Status Label, providing readers with real-time visibility into the current stage of verification:

  • Not Checked – The claim has been received but has not yet entered the verification process
  • Queued – The claim is awaiting assignment and verification by our editorial team
  • In Progress – Active human review and verification is currently underway
  • Partially Verified – Some elements of the claim have been confirmed, while others remain under investigation
  • Unverifiable – Insufficient data or evidence is available to confirm or deny the claim
  • Completed – The claim has been fully verified with a published verdict and supporting evidence

These status labels are integral to the Faharas transparency framework, ensuring readers can easily track the verification progress of each claim as outlined in our comprehensive Editorial Policy.

Classification System (Final Verdicts)

Each verified claim receives a precise editorial verdict based on the evidence gathered during our verification process. Our classification system provides clear, standardized assessments that help readers understand the nature and reliability of information:

Verdict Definition
True The information is accurate and fully supported by verified evidence from reliable sources
False The information contains significant factual errors and lacks support from credible sources
Misleading Combines elements of truth with false information presented in a deliberately deceptive manner
Selective Technically accurate but omits crucial context or counterbalancing information that would provide a complete picture
Exaggerated Overstates the significance, impact, or probability of events beyond what the evidence supports
Outdated Was once accurate but is no longer valid due to updated information or changed circumstances
Satire Content intended as humor, parody, or irony rather than factual reporting
Myth Information widely believed but factually incorrect, often rooted in cultural beliefs or folklore
Unproven Plausible or potentially accurate but lacks sufficient evidence for definitive confirmation

Editorial Assurance: All verdicts are exclusively human-assigned and undergo rigorous review by at least two qualified editors before publication. No automated tools participate in the verdict assignment process, ensuring human judgment and editorial accountability remain central to our verification system.

Transparency Indicators

Each published fact-check must include comprehensive transparency elements that enable readers to evaluate the verification process and sources for themselves:

Required Transparency Components

  • Clear Claim Summary: A concise, objective summary of the specific claim or statement being verified
  • Complete Source Documentation: A full list of all verified sources with direct links to original materials and evidence
  • Editorial Attribution: The names or professional roles of all reviewers and editors involved in the verification process
  • Publication Timestamp: The exact date and time of publication, including any subsequent updates
  • Correction Log: A detailed record of any corrections or updates made after initial publication, with explanations for each change

Framework Integration

These transparency requirements are fundamental components of the Faharas Editorial Transparency Framework, ensuring that every fact-check provides readers with the necessary information to understand:

  • How conclusions were reached
  • What evidence supports the verdict
  • Who conducted the verification
  • When the information was published and updated
  • How errors or omissions are addressed

This commitment to transparency builds trust and enables readers to engage critically with verified information while maintaining accountability throughout our editorial process.

Corrections and Updates

Faharas maintains an unwavering commitment to accuracy through our public Corrections Log, which documents any amendments to previously published fact-checks. This transparent approach ensures accountability and maintains the trust of our readership.

Correction Documentation Standards

Each entry in our Corrections Log includes:

  • Precise timestamp: The exact date and time when the update was implemented
  • Editorial accountability: The name or initials of the responsible editor overseeing the correction
  • Detailed explanation: A clear, concise note describing the specific change and the reason for the amendment

Submitting Correction Requests

We welcome feedback from our readers and encourage the submission of correction requests through:

All correction requests are reviewed within 24 hours by our editorial team, and substantive corrections are publicly logged with appropriate attribution and explanation.

Source Evaluation

Our fact-checking process relies exclusively on reliable, traceable, and independently verifiable sources that meet stringent credibility standards. This rigorous approach to source evaluation forms the foundation of our verification methodology.

Accepted Source Categories

  • Official documentation: Government publications, institutional records, and official statements
  • Academic research: Peer-reviewed studies, academic journals, and scholarly publications
  • Established media: Reputable news organizations with documented records of accuracy and journalistic integrity
  • Expert testimony: On-record statements from recognized subject matter experts, witnesses, or officials with direct knowledge

Source Verification Protocol

Before any source is utilized in our fact-checking process, it undergoes a comprehensive evaluation to assess:

  • Credibility and reputation
  • Methodological rigor
  • Potential biases
  • Track record of accuracy

Handling Unverified Claims

Anonymous or single-source claims are designated as “Unverified” and undergo additional scrutiny. Such claims remain in this status until supported by corroborating evidence from additional independent sources, ensuring our commitment to thorough verification before publication.

Independence and Impartiality

Faharas operates with uncompromising editorial independence, maintaining the highest standards of journalistic integrity throughout our verification process. Our commitment to impartiality is fundamental to our mission and operations.

Principles of Independence

  • Freedom from external influence: We accept no political, corporate, or financial interference that could compromise our editorial judgments or content
  • Conflict of interest transparency: All editors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that might affect their work
  • Financial independence: No financial relationships or considerations influence our verdicts, content, or editorial decisions
  • Non-profit structure: As a volunteer-driven organization, we operate without commercial pressures that might compromise our commitment to truth and accuracy

Organizational Integrity

Our non-profit, volunteer-driven model ensures that our verification work remains focused solely on providing accurate, unbiased information to the public. This structure eliminates conflicts of interest that might arise from profit motives or external funding sources, allowing our editorial team to maintain complete autonomy in their fact-checking work.

As detailed in our comprehensive Editorial Policy, this commitment to independence and impartiality extends to all aspects of our operations, from source selection to final verdict determination, ensuring that our readers receive information that is free from external influence or bias.

Use of AI in Fact-Checking

Faharas strategically integrates artificial intelligence tools—including ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity—exclusively for supportive functions that enhance our verification efficiency. These AI applications are strictly limited to:

  • Duplicate detection: Identifying and consolidating repetitive or overlapping claims
  • Metadata analysis: Comparing factual details, timestamps, and source information
  • Language support: Assisting with translation and linguistic clarity across multiple languages
  • Pattern recognition: Flagging statistical anomalies or unusual claims for human review

Fundamental Principle: AI tools never make factual determinations, editorial judgments, or verification conclusions. All AI-generated suggestions undergo mandatory human review, and final approvals rest exclusively with our trained editors. The scope and limitations of AI usage are comprehensively governed by our dedicated AI Policy, ensuring technology serves as a tool to augment—not replace—human editorial judgment.

Reader Engagement

Faharas values community participation in our fact-checking mission and encourages readers to contribute through several meaningful channels:

  • Claim submission: Suggesting statements, claims, or viral content for professional verification
  • Source enhancement: Submitting additional evidence or sources that may contribute to ongoing verifications
  • Correction oversight: Reviewing our public correction logs and reporting potential inconsistencies

Submission Process: Readers may engage through our official Contact Form or by direct email to [email protected]. All submissions receive acknowledgment within 24 hours and are evaluated by our editorial team for potential inclusion in our verification pipeline.

Accountability and Oversight

Faharas maintains rigorous accountability standards through a multi-layered oversight system that ensures the integrity of every published fact-check:

Editorial Review Protocol

Each fact-check undergoes examination by at least two qualified human editors before publication, creating a system of checks and balances that minimizes errors and biases.

Accountability Mechanisms:

  • Public correction records: Transparent documentation of all substantive amendments to published content
  • Named editorial attribution: Clear identification of editors responsible for verification work
  • Regular internal audits: Systematic reviews by senior editors to maintain compliance with established standards

Our oversight framework operates according to the same principles of transparency and independence outlined in our comprehensive Editorial Policy, ensuring consistent application of verification standards across all content.

This FactCheck Guidelines document functions as part of an interconnected policy ecosystem that collectively governs Faharas’s verification operations. For complete understanding, these guidelines should be read in conjunction with:

  • Editorial Policy: Comprehensive standards for content creation, verification, and publication
  • AI Policy: Detailed protocols governing the ethical and appropriate use of artificial intelligence
  • Author Guidelines: Specific requirements for content creators and contributors
  • Contributor Guidelines: Standards for participation in our verification network

Together, these documents form the Faharas Verification and Transparency Framework—an integrated system that establishes consistent methodologies, ethical standards, and accountability measures for all news, reports, and claims verified and published on our platform.

Contact

For fact-checking inquiries or collaboration:


  • Effective date: 07 October 2025
  • Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Last updated: 10 October 2025