Our Commitment to Accuracy and Methodical Verification

At Rumour Detector, our primary commitment is to provide our readers with accurate, impartial, and evidence-based information. This Fact-Checking Policy outlines the systematic process we follow to investigate claims, verify information, and publish our findings. Our methodology is designed to ensure the highest standards of fairness, transparency, and precision in all our work.

We are committed to upholding the principles set forth by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).

1. How We Select Claims for Fact-Checking

The digital world is flooded with information. We prioritize claims that are:

• Viral and Widely Circulated: Claims spreading rapidly on social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, WhatsApp) and other online platforms.

• Significant and Impactful: Claims that relate to public health, safety, governance, or social harmony, and could cause real-world harm if left unverified.

• Verifiable: Claims that are presented as factual and can be proven or disproven with objective evidence. We do not fact-check opinions, but we may investigate the factual basis of an opinion.

• Reader-Submitted: We actively encourage our readers to send us claims for verification through our Submit a Claim page.

2. Our Research and Investigation Process

Once a claim is selected, our fact-checkers undertake a rigorous research process:

• Identifying the Source: We first make a diligent effort to identify the original source of the claim to understand its context and intent.

• Seeking Primary Evidence: We always strive to use primary sources for verification. This includes official government data, peer-reviewed academic research, court documents, and direct statements from involved parties.

• Consulting Experts: When a claim requires specialized knowledge, we consult with impartial experts in the relevant field to ensure our understanding is accurate.

• Contacting the Claimant: We make a reasonable effort to contact the person or organization that made the original claim to ask for their evidence and give them an opportunity to respond.

• Using Multiple Sources: We do not rely on a single source. We cross-reference information using multiple, independent, and credible sources to corroborate our findings. We are transparent about any sources that may have a potential bias.

• Global and Local Context: We analyze the claim within its local (Bengali/Bangladeshi) context while also considering any global precedents or information.

3. Our Rating System

To make our findings clear and easy to understand, we use a simple and consistent rating system. Every fact-check report concludes with one of the following ratings:

• True (সত্য): The central claim is accurate and supported by all available evidence.

• False (মিথ্যা): The central claim is inaccurate and contradicted by evidence.

• Misleading (বিভ্রান্তিকর): The claim contains some elements of truth but is presented out of context, omits crucial information, or is framed in a way that creates a false impression.

• Unproven (অপ্রমাণিত): There is not enough available evidence to either prove or disprove the claim conclusively.

• Satire (ব্যঙ্গাত্মক): The claim originates from a satirical source and was not intended to be taken literally, but is being shared as if it were true.

• Altered (বিকৃত): An image, video, or document has been manipulated or fabricated to deceive.

4. Our Writing and Editorial Process

Our goal is to present our findings in a way that is fair, unbiased, and easy to follow.

• Evidence-Based Reporting: Our articles present all the key evidence we gathered during our investigation, with clear links to the sources. We guide the reader through the steps we took to reach our conclusion.

• Simple and Accessible Language: We write our reports in clear, accessible Bengali, avoiding jargon so that they can be understood by a broad audience.

• Rigorous Editorial Review: Every fact-check report is reviewed by at least one editor before publication. This “two-person rule” ensures our reports meet the highest standards of accuracy, fairness, and clarity. The editor checks the research, scrutinizes the evidence, and refines the language.

5. Our Commitment to Impartiality

We fact-check claims, not people. Our process is guided by the evidence, regardless of who made the claim or their political affiliation. Our sole mission is to serve our readers with the truth. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy page.

If you believe we have made an error, we encourage you to inform us by following our Corrections Policy.