The Safer Internet Association (SIA), the parent organization of JFC, was founded in 2013 to prevent the spread of illegal and harmful information online, such as child pornography, advertisements for illegal drugs, and information that could lead to crime and other illegal activities.

It took me a while to get past the first assessement but it seems we are assessing Japan Fact Check (not the parent organization Safer Internet Association) which mainly aims at finding and prosecuting illegal activities on the  internet (slander, phishing sites, revenge porn, sale of illegal drugs and other criminal activities).

Japan Fact Check is the fact-checking institution as we know at IFCN. 

https://factcheckcenter.jp/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwla-hBhD7ARIsAM9tQKtZy0M5gTUVAqtllYpLC50aP6A-_0mmVnr6GVLmlNXghzbB1L7xLvIaAjA0EALw_wcB

It is here where many of the important fact-checked criteria are clearly indicated online. 

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/ne2c802afa5e0

The PDF included is of the parent organization's legal status and it is a general incorporated association form of non-profit own and supported by a large comglomerate of mainly internet companies such as Amazon, Yahoo Japan, et al. It does not seem to have any political affliations or alliances judging from the documents available online. 

1. JFC launched its website in September 2022 and publishes fact-checks at a rate of 10+ per month.

The impetus for its establishment was the growing seriousness of the spread of misinformation and disinformation on the Internet. At the same time, the fact that there were few organizations conducting fact checks was a major challenge to Japan's information environment. In response, SIA established the Disinformation Countermeasures Forum in June 2020 to gather experts to discuss countermeasures against disinformation, and based on its report, JFC was established to practice fact-checking and promote media literacy.

https://www.saferinternet.or.jp/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/20220928pressSIA001.pdf

2. JFC currently has 12 staff members (1 editor-in-chief, 1 deputy editor, 2 editors, 3 research team members, and 5 interns). In addition, three SIA staff members are involved in this work as secretaries, as of March 1, 2023.

3. In addition to fact-checking, JFC also works to promote media literacy and collaborates with research institutions to combat disinformation. Prior to the establishment of JFC, SIA, the parent organization of JFC, had been engaged in monitoring illegal and harmful information such as child pornography and advertisements for unlawful drugs on the Internet by informing platforms of such information and promoting countermeasures, training teachers in the safe use of the Internet, and creating a safe environment for e-commerce.

4. In addition to the dozen or so fact-checking articles per month, we will increase the number of articles distributed via video to expand our reach, especially to the younger generation. And we will conduct training courses for people who want to become fact-checkers, create educational materials and hold seminars to promote media literacy, and conduct research in cooperation with research institutes and other outside organizations.

I have met with the Editor-in-Chief Furuta in person, and he is well-known in Japan as a journalist with a good reputation and who is often visible in the media talking about the news.  The Chair of the Steering Committee Masahiro Sogabe is very well known in Japan as a leading media law expert. SIA, the parent organization, advertizes on its websites Net Safety and Advisor course in order to promote internet literacy. https://www.saferinternet.or.jp/edu/

I am very impressed that JFC has 12 staff members seemingly working exclusively on fact checking  I am not aware of any other locally based organization in Japan that has that many people working on fact-checking full time. 

JFC is publishing at least 10 fact-check articles per month from launch through February 2023, for a total of 63 fact-check articles.

I have also counted 78 fact checks in the last six months (through Apr 5). Which averages to more than 3 per week, well above the one a week requirement. They only started fact checks six months ago but Japan does not have more than five verified signatories yet. 

Over 75% of fact checked articles in the last three months were related to serious news articles or stories that could impact public safety including food safety (cricket flour scare), diplomacy (Russia Ukraine war), politics (Japanese internal politics).  However I did like the fact that even "lighter" fake news was used as an educational opportunity to teach viewers about the dangers of CGs and how fake news can be anywhere.  

SIA is not funded by any particular politician or political party; SIA's main sources of funding are annual membership fees from member companies and support from companies that endorse JFC's activities.

Other divisions of SIA are commissioned by local governments to provide "Internet literacy education for children" on a non-profit and very limited basis; JFC is not influenced by the commissioners.

JFC follows the rules in its fact-checking guidelines and policies to ensure fairness, impartiality, and transparency in its activities. In addition, JFC will ensure fair and impartial fact-checking by establishing a steering committee and an audit committee composed of experts to make decisions about activities, oversee operations, and conduct evaluations.

Double checking the sources, SIA and JFC are in compliance and do not seem to be funded by any one other than the members (many major internet companies). Japanese non-profits are often funded by local government for educational purposes. I have not heard of local government trying to influence NPOs in any way. 

JFCs fact-checking guidelines are clearly indicated on their website and follow IFCN standard. 

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/ne2c802afa5e0 

Most fact checked article also refers back to the guidelines when possible. 

SIA is not funded by any particular politician or political party; SIA's main sources of funding are annual membership fees from member companies and support from companies that endorse JFC's activities.

Other divisions of SIA are commissioned by local governments to provide "Internet literacy education for children" on a non-profit and very limited basis; JFC is not influenced by the commissioners.

JFC follows the rules in its fact-checking guidelines and policies to ensure fairness, impartiality, and transparency in its activities. In addition, JFC will ensure fair and impartial fact-checking by establishing a steering committee and an audit committee composed of experts to make decisions about activities, oversee operations, and conduct evaluations.

Maintaining fairness and transparency in relationships with funding sources is described in the JFC Fact-Checking Guidelines here.

JFC Fact-check guidelines

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H9TCU01zuNh8sHpYL81FJ8_pOUd1WsoH/view

JFC Fact-check policy

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/ne2c802afa5e0

The SIA (parent organization) clearly publicizes its finances here 

https://www.saferinternet.or.jp/about/disclosure/

Its member companies are listed here 

https://www.saferinternet.or.jp/about/member/

Japanese NPO indeed do get funding from local government for 'educational purposes' but rarely if ever are they influenced by these commissions. 

1. "Covid-19 vaccination for all in fall or winter of FY2023" is incorrect.

The headline of an article published in the medical industry magazine "Nikkan Yakugyo" on February 8, 2023, was "Covid-19 vaccine to be given to all in fall and winter of FY2023".

It triggered the spread of misinformation that everyone would be compulsorily vaccinated. However, JFC contacted the Immunization Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and learned that it was only to "ensure the opportunity for all" and not to force vaccination.

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/n95c0c86fead0

2. Video "Tsunami Caused by Major Earthquake in Turkey" is False

A video has been circulated claiming that "a tsunami was caused by a major earthquake in southern Turkey" on February 6, 2023. JFC found out that it was filmed in South Africa in 2017. In addition, the Turkish Agency for Disaster and Emergency Management announced on Twitter on February 6 that there was "no tsunami danger along the eastern Mediterranean coast."

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/na34f5eb798f5

3. "The countries people hate the most" image is false

On January 17, 2023, a tweet with the text "The countries people hate the most" and an image of a world map with the flags of China, the United States, Israel, Argentina, and other

countries superimposed went viral. The image is labeled "Source: Alliance of Democracies," but the official Twitter account of the Alliance of Democracies issued a statement on August 18, 2022, denying any connection to the verified image. The account that shared the image was also found to be satire, suggesting that the image was baseless.

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/n6bfba5907858

4. "There is a law that says national officials and Diet members do not have to be vaccinated" is false.

A tweet was circulated saying "There is a law that says national public officials and members of the Diet do not have to be vaccinated," but there is no provision that specifically exempts only national public officials and members of the Diet. We asked the MHLW's Office of the Counselor in Charge of Immunization to confirm that all citizens are required to make efforts to be vaccinated, there is no law that gives special treatment, and there is no government regulation that specifies the designation that was in the Supplementary Provisions, and we found that each was incorrect.

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/ndf9134416f1c

5. "Soka University Athletes Sneak Physical Contact at Hakone Ekiden" is False

At the 99th Hakone Ekiden (relay race) held on January 2-3, 2023, a live video of a Soka University athlete making contact with a Kokugakuin University athlete went viral with the words "Soka University's sneak physical contact. However, the JFC judged it to be false because the scene was a slight right turn and the course was about to change to the left side of the road, and the Soka University runner who was running along the road made contact with the Kokugakuin University runner who had passed him from the right rear, and there was no evidence of intention.

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/n7a48ea094fa1

6. "Snow Brand Hokkaido Butter actually contains 30% margarine" is unfounded

A tweet saying "Snow Brand Hokkaido Butter actually contains 30% margarine" went viral. Since butter and margarine are produced in completely different ways, it is difficult to mix them at all. JFC contacted the Food Surveillance and Safety Division of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, and they replied, "We are not aware of any such information or inquiries, nor do we know on what basis they are making such claims". Since the source's account has been deleted and further verification is difficult, we have determined that the tweet is baseless.

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/nbaababe83918

7. "Japan's locker room was left dirty after the match against Costa Rica at the World Cup in Qatar" is incorrect.

During the 2022 World Cup, an image of a garbage-strewn locker room with the English text "Japan's locker room after the match against Costa Rica" was circulated around the world.

However, JFC verified that the image was taken from the article "Italy - North Macedonia, Azzurri (Italian national team) leave locker room in terrible condition," published by the Italian online media on March 26, 2022.

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/nd33ecd900935

8. "Sowing seeds from one's own field is punishable by up to 10 years in prison" is inaccurate.

Due to the partial revision of the Law on Seeds and Seedlings, a law on agricultural seeds and seedlings, the information that "sowing seeds from one's own field can result in a penalty" has been spread. We contacted the Intellectual Property Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The person in charge said, "This is inaccurate information. It is not a blanket ban, but limited to registered varieties. Also, the conspiracy charge applies to organized criminal groups that aim to commit illegal acts. Since self-propagation is something you do in your own backyard, it does not fall under the conspiracy charge that applies to organized criminal groups".

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/n7f645e656aff

9. Numerous Errors in Images Criticizing LDP Policies and the Abe Administration's Performance

Information spread that the Abe administration was the worst among all previous administrations in many areas, including the rate of decline in GDP, the number of suicides, and the unemployment rate. However, when we checked the actual statistical data one by one, we found that most of them were wrong, and we judged them as " false" as a whole.

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/n4963e84cf243

10. "Shizuoka Prefecture Disaster Captured by Drone" is a Fake AI-Created Image

Images purporting to be drone-captured images of Shizuoka Prefecture, which was hit by record-breaking rainfall from Typhoon 15 in 2022, spread on Twitter. JFC verified that the photos were not real, but AI-generated. When we zoomed in and checked the details of the images, we noticed unnatural representations. In addition, when we contacted the Shizuoka Prefectural Crisis Information Division, they told us, "There was no flood damage to the extent that most villages and towns were submerged. Even in places where there was flood damage, the water has receded," they said. Based on the totality of the information, we determined that the images in the tweets to be verified were fake images created by AI, and that it was incorrect to say that they were images of the Shizuoka disaster.

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/nd46b7aeed7f4

As mentioned above, JFC investigates a wide range of topics, including coronaviruses, vaccines, disasters, incidents, politics, etc., and examines the discourse, altered images, and misleading videos by interviewing experts, using reliable statistical data, digital tools, etc.

Not only is JFC very dilligent in reaching out to the original source (when possible) they use maps, google view and all sorts of visuals to debunk fake news, especially were the news is visual. I also really like how they also educate the reader at the end to explain the structure of misleading information (misleading headlines, one source stories, or complete fabrication, or use of old information taken out of context) sometimes even explain how to debunk information too (use of Google Lens et al)  

JFC has established guidelines and policies, and operates in accordance with these rules. As in the IFCN Code, JFC selects fact-checking targets based on impartiality and fairness. These are also publicly available on our website. In addition, a steering committee and an audit committee of outside experts have been established to ensure that the daily fact-checking activities of the editorial team are conducted in accordance with these rules, and that fairness, impartiality and transparency are maintained.

JFC Fact-checking Policy

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/ne2c802afa5e0

JFC Fact-checking Guidelines

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H9TCU01zuNh8sHpYL81FJ8_pOUd1WsoH/view

JFC steering committee

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/n50986dc9216c#51da940a-b316-4234-9660-a06ecd7d38ea

I have mentioned this several times above but JFC is very dilligent to ensure that there is a link to the guidelines after every article. The guidelines are based on the IFCN code, and the steering commitee is certainly major point in their favor too. 

Article 14 and 15 of its Guidelines (link below) do clarify that staff should not having conflicting interests et al 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H9TCU01zuNh8sHpYL81FJ8_pOUd1WsoH/view

But while there seems to be no indication that JFN does any of this, I do not see any clarification that the SIA commercial members can not influence the selection or editorial process of the fact check.  While not something that would disqualify, it would be good to see clear rules that members do not interfere with JFC editorial as there is no way we can know if articles detrimental to any of the commerical members of SIA are being ignored or treated differently. 

Article 12 of the guidelines mentions information source and commercial interests but it is unclear whether this is about the members of SIA or outside commercial interests. 

From a review of the fact checks over the last six months the applicant does not seem to have an affliation to any party or candidate and advocate any political position. The language of its articles are very neutral and stick to debunking facts and does not give its opinion, except when explaining how fake news is created. 

The JFC Fact-Checking Guidelines, in Section 2: Impartiality and Transparency, provide as follows

Article 6 (Relations with Governments, Political Parties and Politicians)

No aspect of JFC fact-checking, including research, case selection, verification, writing, and dissemination, shall be subject to the control of governments, political parties, or politicians.

Article 13 (Declaration of Political Positions)

The JFC shall not express support for any state, political party, or politician (including candidates for public office), nor shall it express approval or disapproval of any policy on any issue, except with respect to transparency and accuracy in public debate.

Article 14 (Staff Views on Political Issues)

No person engaged in writing fact-check articles for the JFC shall advocate or publish the views on any political issue on which JFC may conduct fact-checking, except on issues of accuracy and transparency, in a manner that might cause a reasonable member of the public to view the JFC's activities as biased.

JFC Fact-check guideline

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H9TCU01zuNh8sHpYL81FJ8_pOUd1WsoH/view

I concur on this and mention this in previous sections. 

The applicant identifies the source of most of the evidence used in their fact checks, and provides relevant links where the source is available online. From my background in Western media, I would prefer to see named quotes from officials contacted in ministries and government sources. However I know that this is not normal Japanese media practice. Nevertheless, named sources especially named official sources do lend more credibility to those sources. 

JFC's use of primary sources when the source of the news is in Japan is very good and dilligent. However it has a tendency to use secondary news fact checking sources for overseas sources. This is probably an issue of not having enough staff with sufficient language skills or local staff in those said overseas source areas. While this does not disqualify, this could be an area of future improvement. 

Judging from random samples JFC does approach more than one source, often directly when in Japan and therefore meets with the criteria  that the applicant checks all key elements of claims against more than one named source of evidence save where the one source is the only source relevant on the topic. Again overseas claims would do much better if due diligence was also done more thoroughly. 

Article 12 of their guidelines seems to indicate the need to clarify the relevant interests of the sources it uses where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided. However a random check did not come up with any particular clear evidence of this.  That said every article does come with an explainer of how some sources are distorted and why and that could help clarify the relevant interests. 

The Safer Internet Association (SIA), which operates JFC, consists of four regular members and 22 supporting members from Internet businesses, as of March 1, 2023

. In order to maintain editorial fairness and independence, JFC's fact-checking is overseen by a steering committee and audit committee composed of outside experts.

Click here to view the bylaws of SIA

https://www.saferinternet.or.jp/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/20221101SIA_article-of-association.pdf

For JFC installation instructions click here

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F6Pmumq00SL7sObcgs4ZD_Yqy5JWsNMe/view

SIA as a parent organisation is very clear on the JFC home page and the audit and steering committee are outside experts. It would be good in the future so see some sort of clear public indication of JFC independence from the members of the SIA especially as many are powerfully large corporate entities that the public can suspect of wanting to control what information is out there (however erroneous those suspicions could be). 

SIA is not funded by any particular politician or political party; SIA's main sources of funding are annual membership fees from member companies and support from companies that endorse JFC's activities.

Other divisions of SIA are commissioned by local governments to provide "Internet literacy education for children" on a non-profit and very limited basis; JFC is not influenced by the commissioners.

JFC follows the rules in its fact-checking guidelines and policies to ensure fairness, impartiality, and transparency in its activities. In addition, JFC will ensure fair and impartial fact-checking by establishing a steering committee and an audit committee composed of experts to make decisions about activities, oversee operations, and conduct evaluations.

Click here for the latest financial information.

https://www.saferinternet.or.jp/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/SIA_financial-report2021__.pdf

The SIA financial report (which is on its website) does not detail each source of funding accounting for 5% or more of total revenue for its previous financial year as this is not a requirement by Japanese law. A seperate report (attached in criteria 1.1) does set out the legal form in which the organization is registered (e.g. as a non-profit, as a company etc).

Meanwhile in the JFC Guidelines 

Article 7 (Relationship with Funding Sources)

　No aspect of the Center's fact-checking, including research, case selection, verification, writing, and dissemination, shall be influenced by such funding sources by virtue of receiving funding.

Article 8 (Funding from Government and Political Sources)

　If the Center receives funding from political sources, the source, amount, purpose, and use of the funding must be disclosed, and the Center must not post any information on its website (including on social networking platforms operated by parties other than the Center, hereinafter the same) in a manner that ensures that the Center's fact checking will not be affected by such funding. (including on social networking platforms operated by parties other than the Center, the same applies hereinafter) The Center will explain on its website (including on social networking platforms operated by parties other than the Center, hereinafter the same) how it will ensure that the Center's fact checking is not affected by the funds.

While this is good, it would be nice to see this more than just buried inside the guidelines in my opinion as the SIA members are powerful corporates and the public needs to be reassured they are not influencing the fact-checking process. 

In addition to an editorial board led by an editor-in-chief with extensive experience as a journalist and fact-checker, JFC has a steering committee of experts and an audit committee to ensure fairness and impartiality. Both committees review guidelines and policies to ensure that fact-checking is done properly.

About JFC

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/n50986dc9216c

JFC Fact-check guidelines

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H9TCU01zuNh8sHpYL81FJ8_pOUd1WsoH/view

JFC Fact-check policy

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/ne2c802afa5e0

The JFC's structure and processes are clear and publicly available online in the links mentioned. 

The composition of the fact-checking editorial team is listed here.

JFC Editorial Team

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/ne624362a20b8

I have read them all. I have met Furuta in 2018 when he was still in Buzz Feed Japan and can vouch for him and his profile.  I may have met with Mr Miyamoto when he was in NHK as they were our close clients at the time. 

JFC provides a point of contact for fact-checking requests, article correction requests, and user questions.

Contact point for inquiries

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/ned13f703fff7

This contact form is easily accessible on the landing page. 

JFC publishes the JFC Fact-Checking Guidelines and the JFC Fact-Checking Policy. Daily fact-checking is based on these methodologies.

JFC Fact-check guidelines

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H9TCU01zuNh8sHpYL81FJ8_pOUd1WsoH/view

JFC Fact-check policy

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/ne2c802afa5e0

The applicant clearly publishes on its website a detailed explanation about the methodology it uses to select, research, write and publish its fact checks.

The applicant does explain their reason for selecting the claim on nearly every article. This is very commendable. 

All of the fact checked evidence seen in random checks by the assessor indicate that relevant evidence was used to support or undermine their the original information.                                                                                                            

The applicant seem to be equally thorough in its fact checks assessment regardless of where the original information came from and seem to apply the same high standards to all equivalent claims

The applicant in most Japanese sourced claims seeks where possible to contact those who made the claim to seek supporting evidence. They do mention when sources do not immediately respond and for what reason. There is still this issue of overseas claims mentioned before and a high reliance on overseas fact-checking organization such as Reuters, AFP or others for their 'confirmation'.  

JFC provides a contact point for users to make fact-checking requests, ask questions about JFC, or request corrections to articles.

Contact point for inquiries

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/ned13f703fff7

The applicant encourages users to send in claims to check though it is not always clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable.

JFC has established the JFC Fact Check policy and has rules on corrections. JFC has also established a contact point to receive requests for the correction of articles.

JFC Fact-check policy

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/ne2c802afa5e0

Contact point for inquiries

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/ned13f703fff7

The applicant's corrections or complaints policy is easily accessible on its contact page and an option on the form. While its correction policy is on its fact check policy page. 

The applicant only mentions covering "wide topics" and does not set out a clear definition of what it does and does not cover. It does however mention how mistakes are managed. However all in all, this could do with clearer guidance for future assessments. 

FACT CHECK: "Happy Swedes Even When Typhoon Floods A Station" is a Real Image (Corrected)

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/n27231db09c05

Although the fact-checking result was originally reported as "accurate," we have corrected the result to "nearly accurate" because it was pointed out that some of the wording was incorrect. The reason for the correction, including how the article was originally labeled "accurate," has been added to the article.

Fact Check: "This year's flu vaccine is mRNA" is incorrect

https://factcheckcenter.jp/n/n9fdc862d0ff6

Regarding the above article, a user pointed out that the word "mRNA" was mentioned in the body of the article and that the word "mRNA vaccine" should be mentioned instead of "mRNA," so we corrected the wording and added a note to the article stating that the correction was made.

JFC is good at providing an explanation of the correction and why they corrected and the original. It seems the corrections they highlighted came from active readers who reached out to correct JFC.  

N/A due to new membership application.

Not applicable as they are new. 

N/A due to non-media company

They are not a media company and neither is their parent company.