In an attempt to combat misinformation, Google and YouTube have announced an investment of US$13.2M in the form of a grant given to the IFCN, the International Fact-Checking Network at the non-profit Poynter Institute. The grant will be used to set up a new Global Fact Check Fund.
Using the largest single grant against misinformation, the Global Fact Check Fund will enable fact-checkers to enhance existing operations and elevate rightful information from credible sources around the world.
The funding, according to Google, can be used by fact-checking organizations to adopt new technologies, build or expand their digital footprints, optimize their verification tools, and improve their capacity to deepen audience engagement through creative storytelling formats like audio, video, or podcasts.
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Google offers a fact-check option on the top of the search results to provide users to have an additional context to what they are searching. The feature is available in select countries, and Google is working to roll it out in others.
An “Independent Fact check” box can be seen above.
YouTube also revealed the Hit Pause media literacy initiative to help viewers detect and evaluate misinformation.
