[english] https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp

[french] https://factuel.afp.com/propos

This page is available in every language we publish.

AFP Factuel  (https://factuel.afp.com/) is the distinct fact-checking section of the legally registered French press aggency AFP (https://www.afp.com/).

All the evidence of the AFP’s legal registration are presented in the “A propos” through a reference to the french law:

https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000000315388/

1. We started our fact-checking operations in early 2017 within the CrossCheck collaborative project with First Draft and other newsrooms. We launched our own fact-checking website in November 2017, in French: factuel.afp.com. During spring 2018, we launched in English (factcheck.afp.com), Spanish (factual.afp.com) and Portuguese (checamos.afp.com). As of January 2021, our site is available in 18 languages : French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Polish, Catalan, Malaysian, Indonesian, Thai, Slovak, Czech, Dutch, Burmese, Serbian, German, Korean & Romanian. 

2. We have nearly 100 full time journalists working for our fact-checking network. Two thirds are local journalists working in more than 30 AFP bureaus around the world, and one third are editors. Our editors are experienced journalists who oversee the entire production process, ensuring copy follows our editorial standards. They work closely with all our regional chief editors in Paris, Hong Kong, Beirut, Washington and Montevideo. In Paris, where the Agency's HQ is based, the entire fact-checking network is supervised by the digital verification editor in chief and two deputies.

3.  AFP is a global news agency producing text, photos, videos and graphics. It has more than 5,000 clients worldwide. AFP's 201 bureaus cover 151 countries, with 100 nationalities represented among its 2,400 collaborators. 

For more, see our last annual report.

4. We want to continue to evolve and grow while tackling new challenges in sometimes difficult or even hostile environments. We wish to strengthen our network with new hires and work on improving the impact of our fact-checking to reach more people in new formats, particularly video. We also believe it is important to keep developing training in basic fact-checking and verification techniques, for journalists and other people, within and outside AFP.

AFP Factuel has been doing fact-checking since 2017. In 2021, the website (100 full time journalists) is available in 18 languages : French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Polish, Catalan, Malaysian, Indonesian, Thai, Slovak, Czech, Dutch, Burmese, Serbian, German, Korean & Romanian.

The team wants to continue to grow with new hires and to work on improving the impact of our fact-checking to reach more people in new formats, particularly video. It believes it is important to keep developing training in basic fact-checking and verification techniques, for journalists and other people, within and outside AFP.

We published 7,020 stories in 2020 in our 18 working languages. We published the most in English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Portuguese respectively.

1. French
   
   Coronavirus : la liste des prétendus conseils "simples et accessibles à tous" à ne pas suivre
   Non, le coronavirus détecté en Chine n'a pas été créé puis breveté par l'institut Pasteur
   Non, les "étrangers n'ayant jamais travaillé" ne touchent pas "1.157 euros de retraite"
   
   
2. English
   
   World Health Organization refutes viral claims that holding your breath can test for COVID-19
   Black people aren’t more resistant to novel coronavirus
   Melania Trump’s dress did not feature drawings by child sex abuse victims
   
   
3. Spanish
   
   Beber mucha agua y hacer gárgaras con agua caliente y sal no elimina el coronavirus
   En Chile, si una persona fallece su jubilación se hereda y no queda a manos de la empresa aseguradora
   False claims around George Floyd’s arrest and death
   
   
4. Portuguese
   
   This video shows a firefighting technique, not firefighters causing a fire in the Pantanal 
   Bolsonaro incorrectly compares the size of the Amazon with Europe and minimizes burning and deforestation
   Expenses of Lula, Dilma and Bolsonaro with corporate cards do not correspond to the numbers going viral on social networks
   
   
5. Arabic
   
   No, a Turkish warship was not destroyed by the Egyptians off the coast of Libya
   There is no evidence that coronavirus stays harmful in polluted seawater as claimed by the Lebanese Interior Minister 
   This does not show Chinese people consuming wild animals. 
   
   
6. Polish
   
   

   False EU-sponsoring of language courses
   Fake warning on Tinder advising foreign travellers in Poland to not reveal their LGBT orientation
   The polling company Ipsos Mori does not produce Covid-19 tests and its name does not mean “they will die”
   

7. Catalan
   
   False or misleading advice on how to treat covid-19
   In the original picture, the girl was carrying a Spanish flag
   The level of protection from masks cannot be precisely determined 
   
   
8. Malaysian
   
   

   The picture has circulated online since 2019 and shows an abandoned theme park in Japan
   This photo has circulated in reports about a Filipino man burning a Malaysian flag in a protest 
   Health experts say there is no evidence that eating alkaline foods can prevent or cure Covid-19 

9. Indonesian
   
   

   This video shows a boy reciting the Koran in Zanzibar, not Indonesia's Papua region
   These photos show two Portuguese churches decorated with the bones of devotees
   House Speaker Fadli Zon wore a T-shirt wore a T-shirt that says he is "spokesperson" of controversial Muslim group the Islamic Defenders Front 

10. Thai
    
    Fake Twitter accounts impersonate Thai pro-democracy group
    Old photos of Aung San Suu Kyi shared in false posts about her ‘showing support for Thai pro-democracy protesters’
    German Foreign Minister’s comments about Thailand’s anti-government protests misrepresented in social media posts
    
    
11. Slovak
    
    False claim a 15-year-old was struck by a police rubber bullet on the sidelines of a demo
    Alex Jones video spreads virally on Slovak Facebook despite being blocked on the platform
    The Roma don't receive free drugs. This disinformation is at least 9 years old
    
    
12. Czech
    
    Polio vaccine in India financed by Bill Gates didn't cause paralysis in almost 500,000 children
    Tissue from aborted human foetuses isn’t an ingredient in Covid-19 vaccine
    NATO didn't secretly move troops to provoke Russia
    
    
13. Dutch
    
    These stock photos were created to illustrate the pandemic, not to exaggerate or fake it
    Bill Gates quote in 2011 newspaper is about decreasing population growth, not decreasing the population
    The government doesn’t approve parties, only a judge can ban them
    
    
14. Burmese
    
    Thai soldier's Facebook Live video misused to make false claim over 'shoot to kill' orders for Myanmar migrants
    False claim circulates on Facebook in Myanmar that chewing betel quid can prevent Covid-19 infection
    These photos actually show ballots from the 2015 Myanmar election
    
    
15. Serbian
    
    Croatian authorities deny attacks by Roma people on humanitarian aid
    Social services will not take away children due to parents’ refusal to vaccinate them against Covid-19
    Misleading posts show bridesmaids at a mass wedding in Gaza and not child brides
    
    
16. German
    
    

    Allegations politician staged images involving migrants on Lesbos
    Fake paramedic during anti-coronavirus demos in Berlin
    Debunk of a main player of Germany's organized anti-coronavirus movement
    

17. Korean
    
    Anti-parasite medication ivermectin is not a scientifically proven treatment for Covid-19
    Facebook posts share misleading ‘fraud’ claim after Chinese courier package spotted at US election ballot count 
    Misleading claim circulates online that restored photo of Korean independence activist shows evidence of torture
    
    
18. Romanian
    
    First vaccine against Covid administered with an empty syringe in Romania
    Romania’s emergency department is not preparing fake syringes for Covid vaccinations: the video shows a special effects syringe used in movies
    Those photos show vaccination against diphtheria in Peru, not forced vaccination against Covid-19 in Mexico
    

AFP Factuel  journalists publish 1 to 4 fact-checks in French per day on its website. 

The fact-checks are gathered on the website section called "France" here: https://factuel.afp.com/list/38329/all/all/all/11?page=1

But AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages and published more than 7000 stories in 2020. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website, here:

https://factuel.afp.com/

https://factcheck.afp.com/

AFP has a unique status as an autonomous organization enshrined in a French law that you will find in full here.
AFP is not a public service media and has no connection with public institutions, politicians or political parties, in France or elsewhere. AFP is 100% independent. AFP resources are provided by the sale of its production to its clients, as well as financial compensation from the French state for costs generated in the fulfillment of its general interest missions, as defined in article 2 of the above-mentioned law. 
Within the EU, AFP has received funds from the Commission through calls for tenders for development projects. None of these have so far been affected to fact-checking. 

AFP and its "AFP Factuel" section explain funding or support received from foreign as well as local state or political actors over the previous financial year.

It evokes "financial compensation from the French state for costs generated in the fulfillment of its general interest missions". 

Article 2 of the law mentioned here [French] and here [English] states that AFP should not "under any circumstances" take into account any kind of influences that are likely to compromise the accuracy or objectivity of information, or come under the control of an ideological, political or economic group.

The AFP Factuel team explain the editorial independance of its work here:

https://factuel.afp.com/propos

https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp

"AFP should not "under any circumstances" take into account any kind of influences that are likely to compromise the accuracy or objectivity of information, or come under the control of an ideological, political or economic group."

NB:

AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages and published more than 7000 stories in 2020.

This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

ENGLISH

 1) This fact check uses multiple sources for prescription drug price data to show that the one source cited in the claim is misleading. The process for this fact check followed the standard protocol: conducting a search to determine the veracity of the claim and then finding evidence from multiple sources to highlight why this claim is misleading. The sources cited are clear, and experts are cited, allowing a reader to draw their own conclusions, based on the data. This article follows the traditional format of our fact checks: summary of findings presented in the first paragraph, examples of claim shared on social media, evidence (quotes, data, and links) refuting the claim.

https://factcheck.afp.com/misleading-claim-about-us-prescription-drug-prices-spreads-social-media

2) The claims in this fact check were not supported by any scientific evidence, but AFP Fact Check drew on multiple experts and scientists to show that no scientific study backs up the claims from this press conference. By citing multiple doctors, as well as the FDA and WHO, this fact check presents evidence and does not rely on one individual or organisation. This article follows the traditional format of our blog posts with the conclusion of our findings presented in the first paragraph, followed by examples of the places where we found the claim across social media, followed by quotes and links showing the evidence refuting the claim. The fact check also cited previous claims made by Trump that AFP Fact Check had already debunked. In addition, the event was a political stunt (funded by a conservative political group). The video's virality made this aspect important, and our reporting provided the context of what was really taking place.

https://factcheck.afp.com/trump-spreads-video-doctor-who-falsely-claims-hydroxychloroquine-cures-covid-19

3) For evidence, we show the current and previous version of the health law and quote the spokesman for a government minister, an independent legal expert and publicly available comments from meetings and press appearances by the government officials. This article follows the traditional format of our stories with the conclusion of our findings presented in the first paragraph, followed by examples of the places where we found the claim across social media, followed by quotes and links showing the evidence refuting the claim. I like this example because the screenshots shared by people on social media are of a real legal document that could potentially grant the power to mandate immunization, and we had to determine that this power had never been used nor was the government planning to use it during the pandemic.

https://factcheck.afp.com/albertas-health-laws-used-make-misleading-claims-about-mandatory-vaccination-during-covid-19

4) In May 2020, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said in a televised speech that his country had administered more COVID-19 tests per million people than any other country in Africa. The story was covered not only by Ghanaian outlets but also international media like the New York Times. The claim caught the attention of one of our fact-checkers, who has a background in economics journalism and thought the numbers did not add up. We compared available data from Ghana to that of five other countries, including African power houses Nigeria and South Africa. Our investigation showed that three countries ranked higher than Ghana in Covid-19 tests per million people. For this blog post, we followed the traditional format of our fact checks: summary of findings presented in the first paragraph, examples of claim shared on social media, evidence (quotes, data, and links) refuting the claim. The debunk went viral and was reported on in national media.

https://factcheck.afp.com/ghana-leader-falsely-claims-his-country-fronts-africas-covid-19-testing

5) In June 2020, South Sudan's president and senior ministers appeared in public wearing so-called “virus removal cards” - clip-on tags marketed as prevention against infectious diseases. AFP Fact Check found the items for sale online around the world, including in countries where they were banned such as the US, Thailand and the Philippines. In some places, the cards are sold at a steep cost. Manufacturers claim that virus removal cards can kill bacteria and viruses thanks to their key ingredient, chlorine dioxide, a disinfectant used to treat drinking water and sterilise medical equipment. However, various scientists interviewed by AFP Fact Check dismissed the gadget as futile in the fight against COVID-19 or other diseases. The WHO has also repeatedly warned against untested products marketed as drugs to prevent or treat COVID-19. South Sudan's government officials eventually stopped wearing the cards. For this blog post, we followed the usual format of our fact checks: summary of findings presented in the first paragraph, examples of claim (photos of officials wearing these virus cards), evidence (quotes, data, and links) refuting the claim.

https://factcheck.afp.com/scientists-warn-against-bogus-covid-19-removal-cards

6) Although we often fact check the pro-government propaganda in India, this fact check also shows we are willing to fact check anti-Modi claims when there is clear evidence. Thus, AFP Fact Check has a commitment to unbiased journalism as we will report on all sides. We were able to track down the original image (with reverse image search) and found multiple media reports from 2014 to demonstrate it was old. This fact check followed our usual format: summary of findings presented in the first paragraph, examples of claim shared on social media, evidence (quotes, data, and links) refuting the claim.

https://factcheck.afp.com/image-narendra-modi-mumbai-hospital-has-circulated-online-2014

7) We also debunked this claim against Indian opposition politicians. These claims have been circulating frequently during the pandemic when tensions are high. We tracked down the original Instagram post with the photo and linked to an original tweet from the time too. This is very strong digital evidence to counter the claim in the misleading posts. This fact check followed our usual format: summary of findings presented in the first paragraph, examples of claim shared on social media, evidence (quotes, data, and links) refuting the claim.

https://factcheck.afp.com/photo-shows-indian-politician-celebrating-diwali-2019-coronavirus-pandemic

8) In the Philippines (where we often debunk pro-government propaganda) this hoax circulating during the pandemic caused panic. By debunking the claim, we were able to cite the government's clarification about the real restrictions at that time and hopefully reduce the anxiety/confusion within the local population. This blog post followed our usual format: summary of findings presented in the first paragraph, list of locations named in the hoax, examples of claim shared on social media, evidence (quotes, data, and links) refuting the claim.

https://factcheck.afp.com/philippine-department-health-refutes-hoax-warning-about-visiting-shopping-malls-and-hotels-during

9) This is a strong fact check out of New Zealand. This debunking was a bit time intensive, as it took a while to dig up the original proceedings in parliament and compile the different edits that Advance NZ used to as false evidence in their claims that the Ardern govt had introduced mandatory vaccinations. This fact check resulted in Advance NZ being referred to the parliamentary privileges committee. This blog post followed our usual format: summary of findings presented in the first paragraph, examples of the claim shared on social media, evidence (quotes, data, and screenshots of relevant New Zealand law) refuting the claim.

https://factcheck.afp.com/new-zealand-political-partys-misleading-campaign-video-makes-false-forced-coronavirus-vaccination

10) Fact check from the Myanmar team that required both digital sleuthing and original reporting. This fact check helped debunk potentially inflammatory claims of election fraud by showing the ballots in the pictures were actually from the 2015 not the 2020 poll. This blog post followed our usual format: summary of findings presented in the first paragraph, examples of claim shared on social media, evidence (quotes, data, and links) refuting the claim. We used screenshots to compare the original footage from the election in 2015 and the one in 2020 to show that the photos are from 2015 and thus not fraud during the 2020 election. The ballots were different colors in 2015 and 2020. All of the photo evidence helps make our fact check stand independently with unbiased evidence.

https://factcheck.afp.com/these-photos-actually-show-ballots-2015-myanmar-election 

FRENCH

1) https://factuel.afp.com/covid-19-oui-les-masques-etaient-bien-dans-le-debat-public-debut-mars-0 (Macron)

2) https://factuel.afp.com/testez-testez-testez-une-recommandation-qui-ne-sadressait-pas-la-france-loms-sadressait-pourtant (Jérôme Salomon)

3) https://factuel.afp.com/non-loms-na-pas-commence-en-avril-appeler-tester-de-maniere-massive (S. Ndiaye)

4) https://factuel.afp.com/covid-19-non-la-france-nest-pas-le-pays-qui-deplore-le-nombre-de-morts-le-plus-important-deurope (MLP)

5) https://factuel.afp.com/covid-19-60-des-contaminations-en-france-au-travail-ou-dans-les-etablissements-scolaires-impossible (Mélenchon)

6) https://factuel.afp.com/lhiver-est-propice-certains-virus-mais-la-chaleur-printaniere-ne-les-tue-pas OU https://factuel.afp.com/cinq-choses-que-lon-ne-sait-toujours-pas-sur-le-coronavirus

7) https://factuel.afp.com/les-tests-detectent-bien-specifiquement-la-presence-de-sars-cov-2

8) https://factuel.afp.com/la-maison-de-carlos-ghosn-detruite-apres-les-explosions-beyrouth-son-entourage-dement (Médias 1)

9) https://factuel.afp.com/frappes-iraniennes-en-irak-attention-aux-images-detournees / https://factcheck.afp.com/iranian-strikes-iraq-decontextualized-videos-abound (Médias 2)

10) https://factuel.afp.com/oui-cette-photo-dun-bus-charge-de-passagers-bien-ete-prise-marseille-durant-le-confinement

Indépendance/Non-partisanship : l'AFP est en partie financée par des fonds publics. Cela ne nous empêche jamais de vérifier et exposer des propos faux ou trompeurs d'hommes ou de femmes politiques. Nous mettons un point d'honneur à rechercher et vérifier des affirmations de politiciens et responsables au pouvoir (fact checks n°1, 2, 3) comme dans l'opposition (4, 5). En tant qu'agence de presse, l'AFP compte parmi ses clients de nombreux médias à travers le monde. Si une fausse information trouve son origine ou est diffusée dans un média, nous l'écrivons dans nos fact checks, que ce soit média soit client ou non des fils de l'Agence (9, 10).

High standards of evidence/Follow the same process : pour chacun de nos articles, nous remontons à la source de l'affirmation. Si des publications sur les réseaux sociaux affirment qu'une phrase a été prononcée, par un élu par exemple, nous retrouvons une vidéo le prouvant et nous l'intégrons à l'article pour que tout le monde puisse vérifier notre point de départ. Pour la vérification en elle-même, nous ne nous contentons jamais d'une seule source. Si l'on doit faire appel à des experts, sur un sujet complexe, nous en interrogeons toujours plusieurs (6,7). S'il s'agit d'une affirmation chiffrée, nous recherchons toujours des sources fiables et indépendantes, et nous fournissons des liens vers toutes ces sources, pour que les lecteurs puissent vérifier notre démonstration. Si le fact check nécessite une vérification sur le terrain, nous essayons d'envoyer un journaliste sur place (fact check 8). Tous nos fact checks, sans exception, sont relus par un éditeur senior, chargé de vérifier à la fois la solidité de la démonstration et le respect de nos règles éditoriales, y compris lorsqu'il s'agit d'une traduction d'un papier déjà validé dans une autre langue.

Let the evidence dictate the conclusion : si nous partons dans l'idée qu'une photo est présentée de manière trompeuse, mais que notre recherche démontre qu'elle ne l'est pas, nous l'écrivons (10). Avec l'épidémie de Covid-19, nous sommes particulièrement confrontés à des affirmations difficiles à vérifier, ou au sujet desquelles la science doit encore se prononcer. Si une publication contient des affirmations que l'on ne peut pas, ou pas encore vérifier, nous le disons (5, 6).

The "AFP Factuel" fact-checks seem to use the same high standards of evidence and judgement for equivalent claims regardless of who made the claim. We didn't find any example of obvious unfair treatment...

The team explains how the fact checks they selected show that they use the same high standards of evidence for equivalent claims.

NB:

AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages and published more than 7000 stories in 2020.

This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/propos 

This methodology page is available in every language we publish.

https://factuel.afp.com/propos 

"We choose the content we investigate on the basis of several criteria, including their editorial interest, their virality depending on the date of publication and the platform on which they are broadcast. We pay particular attention to false statements conveying a speech that is hateful, racist, dangerous for health and / or which may affect the integrity of a person or a group of people."

https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp

"We select content to investigate based on criteria including editorial interest, how widely something has been shared and whether it has entered public debate.We pay particular attention to misinformation that could endanger people's health or lives, or damage democratic processes, as well as potentially harmful hate speech and racism."

NB:

AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages and published more than 7000 stories in 2020.

This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

NB:

AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages and published more than 7000 stories in 2020.

This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website

NB:

AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages and published more than 7000 stories in 2020.

This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website

Our work follows the editorial standards and key guiding principles of AFP global news agency. These state that "AFP journalists are expected to provide accurate, balanced and impartial news coverage, and to correct errors quickly and transparently." They state that "AFP journalists must speak with an independent voice, free of prejudice, bias or external influence." Failure to respect these principles can lead to sanctions.

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/propos  

This page is available in every language we publish.

"Our work follows the mission described by the charter of Agence France-Presse, which undertakes to "provide accurate, impartial and trustworthy information at all times on current affairs around the world"."

https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp

"Our work is carried out by fact-checking editors and a worldwide network of journalists, following the editorial standards and key guiding principles of the AFP global news agency."

The team evokes the editorial standards and key guiding principles of AFP global news agency:
https://www.afp.com/sites/default/files/paragraphrich/202011/22_jun_2016_afp_ethic.pdf

NB:

AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages.

This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website

In view of what we have observed, the "AFP Factuel" team identifies the source of significant evidence used in its fact checks.

NB:

AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

In view of what we have observed, the "AFP Factuel" team checks all key elements of claims with more than one source of evidence.

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

We are the fact-checking section of AFP.

"AFP Fcatuel" is the fact-checking section of AFP. The explaination is here:

https://factuel.afp.com/propos

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp 

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/propos  

This page is available in every language we publish.

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp 

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/propos  

We have specified who the AFP top executives are, including the CEO and the Global News Director, as well as the composition of the managing board. 

AFP’s management team is led by a CEO (currently Fabrice Fries), a Global News Director (currently Phil Chetwynd), and a Managing Director (currently Dalila Zein). The full organizational chart can be found here.

AFP also has a managing board made up of representatives of the media, public services (including government departments), employees, and five independent members chosen by AFP’s council based on their experience and knowledge. The full list of board and council members can be found here.

This page is available in every language we publish.

As a fact-checking section of AFP, "AFP Factuel" shares a link to the statement on its website about its ownership :

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/propos  

But this link does not allow us to get an idea of the person or the company to which AFP belongs. This information lacks precision.

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

As a fact-checking section of AFP, "AFP Factuel" shares a link to the statement on its website about its ownership :

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/propos  

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

AFP's fact-checking activities are overseen by the digital verification chief editors, based at the agency's headquarters in Paris, with regional editors in Hong Kong, Washington DC, Beirut, Johannesburg and Montevideo.

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp 

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/propos  

This page is available in every language we publish.

AFP Factuel presents its organizational structure and makes clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised (Chief editor, deputy-chief editor, etc.) here:

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/propos

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/about-us

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/qui-sommes-nous 

This page is available in every language we publish.

The "Checknews" team presents a page detailing the name and surname of the team members, and their biographies,  here:

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/about-us

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/qui-sommes-nous 

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/contact

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/contact

We also have a contact button at the top of the home page of our websites (see attached screenshot).

We do not encourage people to submit individual claims to fact check on the websites in order to avoid spam. The vast majority of audience submissions come directly from Twitter (DMs or replies), Facebook (comments or Messenger) or WhatsApp (notably in Brazil and India). 

This page is available in every language we publish.

It’s easy for readers to contact the "AFP Factuel" team.

The link to do that, in the menu, is here:

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/contact

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/contact

And they have a contact button at the top of the home page of the website.

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

Our methodology is explained on this dedicated page [here in English], while this page also highlights how we select our fact checks.  

These pages are available in every language we publish.

The "AFP Factuel" team gives precisions about its fact-checking methodology, here:

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-how-we-work

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/fact-checking-comment-nous-travaillons

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

In view of what we have observed (20 fact checks selection), the "AFP Factuel" journalists select claims to check based primarily on the reach and importance of the claims, and sometimes explains the reason for choosing the claim to check.

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

Our teams make every effort to review all questions submitted to us. If users wish to get in touch with editors to make a suggestion for a fact check, comment or point out an error, they can leave a message. They are also invited to look at our page "Fact-checking at AFP" to know more about how we select content.

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/contact

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/contact 

Our teams make every effort to review all questions submitted to us. If users wish to get in touch with editors to make a suggestion for a fact check, comment or point out an error, they can leave a message.

We have specified that visitors can submit any content that they believe needs verifying (photos - videos - articles - statements by political/public figures – claims that they’ve come across, etc.)

They are also invited to look at our page "Fact-checking at AFP" to know more about how we select content.

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/contact

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/contact 

There’s no dedicated page to invite readers to submit claims to fact-check on AFP Factuel website. There's only a page with a contact form:

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/contact

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/contact 

And there's a page where readers can find an explaination about which claims are fact-checkable or not:

https://factuel.afp.com/propos

https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp

But, in the website, there is no explanation as to why users cannot send a sentence to fact-check.

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

After corrections, there’s a page to invite readers to submit claims to fact-check on AFP Factuel website here :

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/contact

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/contact 

And there's a page where readers can find an explaination about which claims are fact-checkable or not here:

https://factuel.afp.com/propos

https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp

But, in the website, there is no explanation as to why users cannot send a sentence to fact-check.

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

We have a dedicated page in every language (here in English, here in French), compiling all the corrections made on our stories. In each case, the date of the correction, its nature and the link to the story are indicated.

The "AFP Factuel" blog gives precisions about its corrections policy, here:

https://factcheck.afp.com/corrections

https://factuel.afp.com/corrections

"If we make a factual error we will correct it and note it on the original item. This will be clearly marked as "CORRECTION" at the bottom of the article, with the date of the modification and an explanation. If the mistake is significant we will take down a story and leave an explanation."

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

The policy sets out clear definitions of what it does and does not cover, how major mistakes, especially those requiring revised conclusions of a fact-check, are handled. 

But it does't sets clearly that some complaints may justify no response.

The "AFP factuel" journalists seems to follow this corrections policy quite scrupulously.

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

Most of the time, our errors are detected internally - during a translation from one language to another, for example - or by internet users who point out a lack of precision via a comment, tweet or email. In almost all cases, these are minor errors which do not affect the overall validity of an article. It is extremely rare that we have had to correct one of our fact checks following a formal and official complaint.

French

3 mars 2020 : précision du statut d'une publication scientifique, qui est une "lettre", un type de publication différent d'un article ou d'une étude

26 novembre 2020: remplace "les tests antigéniques" par "les tests d'anticorps, ou sérologiques" dans la partie sur les tests PCR 

English

September 28, 2020: This story was corrected to say that Netflix withdrew a promotional photo for the film 'Cuties'; a previous version of the story incorrectly said Netflix had withdrawn the film itself. 

January 22, 2021: This article was corrected to change a link to a Google Maps view of the India Gate. The link previously showed a different monument.

https://factuel.afp.com/coronavirus-la-chloroquine-une-piste-tres-preliminaire-prendre-avec-prudence-selon-des-experts

https://factuel.afp.com/pandemie-terminee-aucune-surmortalite-tests-pcr-pas-valables-les-fausses-informations-de-cette

https://factcheck.afp.com/posts-falsely-claim-netflix-ceo-has-been-arrested-child-pornography

The fourth link doesn't work.

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

It's stated that "if you believe AFP has not respected the code of principles, you can directly inform the IFCN" with the relevant link. 

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/propos   

The "AFP Factuel" website has a page where it declares itself an IFCN signatory here;

[English] https://factcheck.afp.com/fact-checking-afp

[French] https://factuel.afp.com/propos

The website informs users that if they believe its journalists are violating the IFCN Code, people may inform the IFCN, with a link to the IFCN site.

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.

The AFP Editorial standards and best practices (available on the company website here) making it clear that "AFP must correct errors quickly and transparently. The Agency does not set a time limit on corrections - even if days or weeks have passed, factual errors must be corrected and if necessary, the story killed and removed from the database".
The fact-checking unit strictly applies the same rules and reports corrections directly on stories as well as on a dedicated page (here in English, here in French). 

NB: AFP Factuel uses 18 working languages. This assessment is only available for the French and the English sections of the website.