European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN)

VERIFIED MEMBERS

Membership in the EFCSN signifies an organisation’s rigorous commitment to provide accurate information ethically and transparently, without bias or prejudice and focus on matters in the public interest as well as a proven track record of excellence, integrity and accountability as definied in the European Code of Standards for Independent Fact-Checking Organisations.

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EFE Verifica

Website

https://verifica.efe.com/

Date

25/01/2024

Please, answer the following questions:

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

Seven journalists specialised in fact-checking make up the EFE Verifica team, which also has the support of Agencia EFE's international network of professionals.

Sergio Hernández, head of EFE Verifica, and three fact-checkers — Elizabeth López, Jorge Ocaña and Beatriz Naya — work in Madrid.

Ares Biescas, based in Bogotá, is the coordinator of EFE Verifica in Latin America, a team that also includes fact-checkers Daniela Gastón, also based in Bogota, and María Julia Castañeda, in Mexico.

Find out more about the EFE Verifica team here.

EFE Verifica also benefits from the contributions of the agency's editorial staff, which includes specialists in politics, economics, international relations, science, technology, health and culture, as well as an international network of 2,000 journalists around the world.

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 20/12/2023

It would be helpful to know how the applicant's team relates with the international network it belongs to, if there is any dependency in the decision-making to take into account.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 01/12/2023

The relevant information about the team is provided in https://verifica.efe.com/equipo/

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

As a member of the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO), a consortium promoted by the European Commission that brings together fact-checkers, university researchers and media literacy specialists, EFE Verifica contributes to the analysis of misinformation and disinformation trends in Europe.

Likewise, through its membership in Iberifier, a misinformation and disinformation observatory in Spain and Portugal that depends on EDMO, EFE Verifica plays an active role in the analysis of mis- and disinformation in these two countries, as well as in the media literacy of society.

This study of disinformation is also carried out in the Forum against Disinformation Campaigns in the Field of National Security, set up by the Spanish government, which brings together members of the public administration and representatives of civil society to study falsehoods promoted in an organised way, an initiative that follows the recommendations of the European Union.

As part of the training activities promoted by Agencia EFE, EFE Verifica offers paid courses to train fact-checking professionals.

In addition, EFE Verifica is working with the Microsoft Democracy Forward Initiative to identify emerging disinformation narratives and study the channels used to disseminate them in Latin America.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 01/12/2023

The activities developed by EFE Verifica besides its fact-checking operation are consistent with the goals of the organization.

Article 3.1: Non-Partisanship and Impartiality

In order to be recognised as a verified member of the European Fact-checking Standards Network (EFCSN), operations must:

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

On the EFE Verifica website, we provide detailed information about the structure, agreements, funding and working methods, as well as our compliance with the Editorial Statute establishes the impartiality of the information provided by our agency, the absence of an ideological line and the rejection of external influences, mechanisms that guarantee our editorial independence.

The aforementioned Editorial Statute, which is "a mandatory rule for EFE employees" as itself prescribes, states:

"Agencia EFE is a public news agency, owned by society as a whole and regulated in accordance with the procedures of a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Freedom of expression and the right to truthful information are two inseparable realities in our legal and constitutional system and are the inalienable principles that inspire and commit the journalistic work of Agencia EFE.

EFE's mission is to provide a public service in the field of information. One of its tasks is to contribute to the effective exercise of the right of citizens to accurate, relevant, high-quality and reliable information that is not subject to particular interests, be they political, economic or any other".

It also adds:

"As a public information service, EFE does not have an ideological line, nor does it express its own opinions, but rather it transmits news, chronicles, reports and journalistic analyses, in whatever medium, based on the truth of the facts, the consultation of all sources, the rejection of any manipulation and the respect of the ethical principles that govern the protocol of obtaining and editing information. In particular, we accept the principles of professional journalistic ethics laid down by UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the International Federation of Journalists.

In order to contribute to guaranteeing the citizens' right to information, we wish to provide ourselves with the means to guarantee the effective exercise of freedom of expression and the independence of journalists in the professional performance of the public service entrusted to us. For this reason, the editorial staff, the Intercentres Committee and the management of Agencia EFE have agreed on this Editorial Statute, which aims to reconcile the exercise of maximum journalistic independence with the management and organisational needs of a modern international communications company. Both aspects, journalistic independence and professional management of the public service, guarantee the relevance of Agencia EFE and its usefulness to the citizens".

In point 4, it stipulates:

"Impartiality, accuracy, lack of bias and honesty are inescapable principles to achieve objective and rigorous information in any media".

Point 8 states:

"EFE rejects any pressure from institutions, political parties, economic, cultural, religious, social, ideological or other groups that seek to alter or influence information to benefit their interests. In the event of such pressure, journalists may report it to the Editorial Board or management".

Point 66 says:

"Management shall ensure scrupulous respect for the veracity of all information, reject any attempt to influence reporting or the direction of information, and facilitate the right of rectification when a news item is shown to be untrue".

Furthermore, point 69 clarifies:

"The management shall ensure that no commercial agreement or contract concluded with public or private bodies includes any consideration unrelated to the interest of the news".

The same document states that the Editorial Board "protects the journalists of Agencia EFE from possible external pressure or from the management, as well as persons and institutions that may be harmed by information from Agencia EFE that violates this Statute or the ethical principles of journalism".

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with this standard.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Needs more info

Date: 07/12/2023

EFE Verifica's policy, as stated in its website, ensures the editorial independence of their news operations.
However, some would argue that the fact that the recent appointment of the former Government's secretary of communication as president of EFE news agency could undermine its editorial independence. Although there are no evidence of this political interference or lack of independence so far. However, we would need some more information on this issue.
Regarding EFE Verifica's funding:
It has been part of Meta's external verification programme in Spain since May 2020.
EFE Verifica also collaborates with the Microsoft Democracy Forward Initiative to identify emerging disinformation narratives and study the channels used to disseminate them in Latin America.
In addition, EFE is a content provider for the Microsoft Start internet portal, formerly called MSN (The MicroSoft Network).
The Agency also has an agreement with Google for advertising revenue from EFE's YouTube channel.
Could there be a conflict of interest regarding the coverage of Microsoft, META and Google by EFE Verifica as they get funding from these companies? Please, clarify this point.

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

In the "What is EFE Verifica?" section of our website, we explain that EFE is a public news service that belongs to whole society and contributes to the effective exercise of the citizen's right to accurate, relevant, quality and reliable information. As a public news service, EFE has no ideological line and does not express its opinions. These principles are included in its Editorial Statute.

In addition, we recall some of the points made in the previous section we believe are also valid to illustrate our policy of not endorsing or advising the public to vote for any political party or candidate for public office:

This Editorial Statute states in its preamble:

"As a public information service, EFE does not have an ideological line, nor does it express its own opinions, but rather it transmits news, chronicles, reports and journalistic analyses, in whatever medium, based on the truth of the facts, the consultation of all sources, the rejection of any manipulation and the respect of the ethical principles that govern the protocol of obtaining and editing information. In particular, we accept the principles of professional journalistic ethics laid down by UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the International Federation of Journalists.

In point 4, it stipulates:

"Impartiality, accuracy, lack of bias and honesty are inescapable principles to achieve objective and rigorous information in any media".

Moreover, in point 5 says:

"EFE journalists must present significant points of view, presenting facts in context, without deliberate omissions and with the appropriate words, without repercussions for their beliefs or ideologies, and act with diligence and dignified methods in the gathering and processing of information".

We point out in our "Methodology" section that "we work with due impartiality and independence, principles that are the basis for offering a public information service and are protected by the Editorial Statute and the Editorial Board of EFE".

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with this.
It is clear, and I think it should be noted, that as a public institution, the applicant has recently been in the middle of a political turmoil in Spain: the Government has chosen a new executive director, a journalist that has worked for the government during the last years. This has been rejected by the opposition but also by the journalists of the institution.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 07/12/2023

I found no evidence that EFE or EFE Verifica have openly supported a political candidate.

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

In addition to other rules cited above, we recall in this section point 69 of EFE's Editorial Statute, which prescribes:

"The management shall ensure that no commercial agreement or contract concluded with public or private bodies includes any consideration unrelated to the interest of the news".

Several points in the Editorial Statute also govern how EFE staff and management should behave in relation to commercial agreements and interests:

17. "EFE journalists may not accept gifts, money or compensation for the performance of their work. Exceptionally, as a courtesy, they may accept items whose value, as a guideline, does not exceed 30 euros. The materials provided for the preparation of information are not considered gifts".

18. "EFE journalists may not use for their own benefit equipment or other items that sources have loaned for their evaluation.
These must be returned within one week".

19. "Members of the editorial staff may not simultaneously work in advertising, public relations, press and image consultancy or similar activities".

20. "EFE journalists may not have direct investments or economic interests related to their field of work, nor may they benefit from privileged information".

21. "Those involved in EFE's news operations may not produce news that directly or indirectly affects their private interests or those of their relatives up to the second degree".

70. "While the delegates simultaneously carry out informative and commercial tasks, the management shall prevent commercial interests from taking precedence over news reporting".

With regard to ideological independence or the interests of political parties, we refer to the rules already mentioned in the sections "What is EFE Verifica?" and "Methodology" of our website, as well as the points refered in the Editorial Statute.

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with this.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

I have verified the applicant's compliance by examining its disclosed partnerships in the website:
https://verifica.efe.com/financiacion/

I also checked in the available information in the web and found no evidence of any agreement or partnership of EFE Verifica with a political party or any other public relations and similar activities.

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

As we have already pointed out in previous sections of this form, EFE's Editorial Statute stresses the importance of impartiality as one of the guiding principles of the work of the agency's professionals.

Thus, among the obligations of its journalists, EFE's Editorial Statute states in point 4:

"Impartiality, accuracy, lack of bias and honesty are inescapable principles to achieve objective and rigorous information in any media".

Point 8 expresses:

"EFE rejects any pressure from institutions, political parties, economic, cultural, religious, social, ideological or other groups that seek to alter or influence information to benefit their interests. In the event of such pressure, journalists may report it to the Editorial Board or management".

Earlier, in its preamble, this statute declares:

“EFE's mission is to provide a public service in the field of information. One of its tasks is to contribute to the effective exercise of the right of citizens to accurate, relevant, high-quality and reliable information that is not subject to particular interests, be they political, economic or any other".

It also adds:

"As a public information service, EFE does not have an ideological line, nor does it express its own opinions, but rather it transmits news, chronicles, reports and journalistic analyses, in whatever medium, based on the truth of the facts, the consultation of all sources, the rejection of any manipulation and the respect of the ethical principles that govern the protocol of obtaining and editing information. In particular, we accept the principles of professional journalistic ethics laid down by UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the International Federation of Journalists".

We also recall in our "Methodology" section that "we work with due impartiality and independence, principles that are the basis for offering a public information service and are protected by the Editorial Statute and the Editorial Board of EFE".

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with this standard. Both the Statute and the profiles presented in the web support this assessment.
In any case, it should be noted that the profile info is presented in a confusing way: the list of names is properly offered, but the short bios (no photos) are presented in a confusing way with other content. Perhaps this could be clarified.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

I have checked the information publicly available about all of EFE Verifica's employees and I have found no evidence that any of their employees holds a prominent position in a political party, government, state or public company under the direct control of a political party or government.

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

We explain in our "Methodology" section that "we work with due impartiality and independence, principles that are the basis for offering a public information service and are protected by the Editorial Statute and the Editorial Board of EFE".

The EFE Editorial Statute also states in point 5:

"EFE journalists must present significant points of view, presenting facts in context, without deliberate omissions and with the appropriate words, without repercussions for their beliefs or ideologies, and act with diligence and dignified methods in the gathering and processing of information".

In point 4, it stipulates:

"Impartiality, accuracy, lack of bias and honesty are inescapable principles to achieve objective and rigorous information in any media".

Point 8 says:

"EFE rejects any pressure from institutions, political parties, economic, cultural, religious, social, ideological or other groups that seek to alter or influence information to benefit their interests. In the event of such pressure, journalists may report it to the Editorial Board or management".

Earlier, in its preamble, this statute declares:

“EFE's mission is to provide a public service in the field of information. One of its tasks is to contribute to the effective exercise of the right of citizens to accurate, relevant, high-quality and reliable information that is not subject to particular interests, be they political, economic or any other".

It also adds:

"As a public information service, EFE does not have an ideological line, nor does it express its own opinions, but rather it transmits news, chronicles, reports and journalistic analyses, in whatever medium, based on the truth of the facts, the consultation of all sources, the rejection of any manipulation and the respect of the ethical principles that govern the protocol of obtaining and editing information. In particular, we accept the principles of professional journalistic ethics laid down by UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the International Federation of Journalists.

In order to contribute to guaranteeing the citizens' right to information, we wish to provide ourselves with the means to guarantee the effective exercise of freedom of expression and the independence of journalists in the professional performance of the public service entrusted to us. For this reason, the editorial staff, the Intercentres Committee and the management of Agencia EFE have agreed on this Editorial Statute, which aims to reconcile the exercise of maximum journalistic independence with the management and organisational needs of a modern international communications company. Both aspects, journalistic independence and professional management of the public service, guarantee the relevance of Agencia EFE and its usefulness to the citizens".

Other points in the Editorial Statute also govern how EFE staff and management should behave in relation to commercial agreements and interests:

17. "EFE journalists may not accept gifts, money or compensation for the performance of their work. Exceptionally, as a courtesy, they may accept items whose value, as a guideline, does not exceed 30 euros. The materials provided for the preparation of information are not considered gifts".

18. "EFE journalists may not use for their own benefit equipment or other items that sources have loaned for their evaluation.
These must be returned within one week".

19. "Members of the editorial staff may not simultaneously work in advertising, public relations, press and image consultancy or similar activities".

20. "EFE journalists may not have direct investments or economic interests related to their field of work, nor may they benefit from privileged information".

21. "Those involved in EFE's news operations may not produce news that directly or indirectly affects their private interests or those of their relatives up to the second degree".

70. "While the delegates simultaneously carry out informative and commercial tasks, the management shall prevent commercial interests from taking precedence over news reporting".

We have not had any such cases and therefore cannot provide the example requested.

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with this standard.
The applicant duly notes that it is part of the META verification program and how this work it is properly explained.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

Their policy explicitly addresses any reasonable conflict of interest or political bias in publications , including from experts or organisations cited. We found no evidence of such cases, as the applicant argues.

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

In the aforementioned Editorial Statute, as part of the obligations of journalists, it is stipulated in point 4:

"Impartiality, accuracy, lack of bias and honesty are inescapable principles to achieve objective and rigorous information in any media".

It also prescribes in point 5:

Point 8 states:

Earlier, in its preamble, this statute declares:

It also adds:

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with this standard.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

EFE's statutes bar employees from making partisan statements in the name of the parent organisation (AGENCIA EFE) and also in the name of EFE Verifica.

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

In the "What is EFE Verifica?" section of our website, we explain:

EFE Verifica is part of the Digital Content Division of EFE, an international, multilingual and multimedia news agency with a worldwide network of journalists.

EFE, a leading Spanish-language news agency, has always had as its raison d'être to tell the facts as they are.

This is enshrined in its Editorial Statute, which is overseen by an autonomous Editorial Board.

As stated in the aforementioned Editorial Statute, a mandatory rule for the agency's employees, EFE is a public news service, owned by society as a whole, which contributes to the effective exercise of the citizen's right to accurate, relevant, quality and reliable information.

As a public news service, EFE has no ideological line and does not express its own opinions.

Its information is based on the truthfulness of the facts, the consultation of all sources, the rejection of any manipulation and the respect of the ethical principles that govern the protocol of obtaining and editing information.

The agency adheres to the principles of professional journalistic ethics laid down by Unesco, the Council of Europe and the International Federation of Journalists.

For this reason, the Editorial Statute establishes the independence of EFE and its staff, as well as a code of conduct that prevents the agency's journalists from accepting gifts, favours or services under favourable conditions.

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with this standard.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

The information on non-partisanship policies is easily accessible on EFE Verifica's website.

Article 3.2: Privacy and Safety

In order to be recognised as a verified member of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN), operations must:

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

This is not a problem that we normally face at EFE Verifica.

However, at EFE Verifica we are committed and willing to protect the identity of the subjects of an investigation if there are reasonable concerns for their safety, a practice that we already apply in other areas of journalism, as expressed in the aforementioned Editorial Statute.

If necessary, we will blur or obscure the faces of people involved in the debunked content as long as the identity is not relevant and in every case if there is a risk of that person being harassed or suffering from overexposure.

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant explains well how it complies with the standard.
I have reviewed several pieces of content and found this to be consistent.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

We found evidence that EFE Verifica complies with this policy. They blur or pixel the faces of people involved in the debunked content as long as the identity is not relevant, and in every case if there is a risk of that person being harassed or suffering from overexposure.

https://verifica.efe.com/el-asesino-de-un-sacristan-en-jaen-no-era-musulman-magrebi-ilegal-ni-mena/

https://verifica.efe.com/deepfakes-pornograficos-silenciar-mujeres/

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

When we reproduce misinformation or disinformation in our articles, we avoid revealing the identity of the authors of these posts by cropping or blurring the image and the name of the profile.

Occasionally, we have quoted the name of recurrent disinformers when we felt it was important to better understand the context of a fact-checked claim.

This allusion was accompanied by an explanation of the disinformer's background, an admission in court of previous claims without evidence, or references to fact-checks of other of their publications.

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with the standard.
In this case, ie, the source of the disinformative content is not shown: https://verifica.efe.com/no-personas-saqueando-tienda-deportiva-barcelona-video-grabado-ee-uu/, as neither in this case: https://verifica.efe.com/actores-gaza-victimas-pallywood/.

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

In this other case, https://verifica.efe.com/armengol-triplicar-sueldo-presidenta-congreso/, as the disinformant is well known his name is included as well as his role.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Needs more info

Date: 15/12/2023

I checked several examples and I found that when reproducing misinformation or fake news, they do not usually reveal the identity of the authors of these posts by cropping or blurring the image and the name of the profile.

However, I found some exceptions where this is not the case. Several Twitter (X) accounts appear without blurring the name of the profile.

See for example:
https://verifica.efe.com/mentiras-antivacunas-rechazaramos-inmunizarnos-2021/

https://verifica.efe.com/vox-no-obispo-restaurar-oficina-nacional-clasificadora-espectaculos/

https://verifica.efe.com/video-fuegos-artificiales-victoria-lula-croacia/

https://verifica.efe.com/mujer-voto-no-apoderada-de-adelante-andalucia/

So they need to explain these exceptions and clarify their working methods.

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

EFE's Editorial Statute, a mandatory rule for all employees of the agency, including the members of the EFE Verifica team, lists among the duties of journalists the obligation to avoid any form of discrimination, to respect people's right to privacy, honour and their own image, as well as to be sensitive when dealing with issues that involve elements of pain or suffering.

Compliance with the Editorial Statute in EFE Verifica's information appears on our website as one of our basic rules, both in the section "What is EFE Verifica?" and in the description of our "Methodology".

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with this standard.
In this piece, ie, it makes clear that the claims against a well-know journalist are false, https://verifica.efe.com/elisa-beni-violadores-justificar-tuit/
Her social media profiles are included as part of the research.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

I found that in their publications they anonymise any personal information that could allow the harassment of people (concealing telephone numbers, IDs or passports, bank account numbers, email addresses, etc.).

For example:
https://verifica.efe.com/almendralejo-inteligencia-artiificial-machismo-menores/

https://verifica.efe.com/ucrania-recluta-menores-guerra-video-militar/

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

In the explanation of our "Methodology", in section "2. Verification", we say:

"When we investigate a statement, we narrow down the meaning of the sentence.

We contact the original source to ask for additional information and the context in which the statements were made.

If it is a photo or video, we try to locate the original to check if it has been manipulated. If necessary, we will interview the first user who posted the content or look for clues in the images.

If someone is the subject of allegations that are not debunked the review of the investigated facts and are considered relevant to the fact-check, we offer the right of reply".

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with the standard.
In this case, https://verifica.efe.com/pp-no-retrasar-edad-jubilacion-72-toda-poblacion/, the political party involved has been quoted as source to answer a false claim against them.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

EFE Verifica's policy in its website states that when appropriate and possible, a right-of-reply is offered to any named person or organisation who is the source of the inaccurate claim and is the subject of significant criticism or allegations. They can fill in a form to do so.
I checked with compliance in several publications, for example:

https://verifica.efe.com/dni-animales-no-vigor-5-de-enero/

https://verifica.efe.com/es-falso-que-no-se-pueda-votar-por-correo-en-vacaciones/

Besides, there is a section where corrections are published: https://verifica.efe.com/correcciones/

Best Practices

In addition to the required standards listed above, the Code identifies the following as a best practice that is encouraged but not required to join the EFCSN.

Article 3.3: Honest corrections

In order to be recognised as a verified member of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN), operations must:

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

All pieces of information on the EFE Verifica website are editable. However, as part of a news agency, our information is also distributed to EFE subscribers. In this case it is not editable.

In order to correct any errors that may be made in these pieces of information, EFE's general corrections policy will be applied, as stated above in the "Corrections and Rectifications" section of the Editorial Statute (Articles 53 to 56):

53. EFE will correct without delay any error found in its information, specifying the error.

54. If the error is the source's and the source requests that it be corrected, the new text will state: "At the request of the source" or "due to an error by the source".

55. Any correction, rectification or deletion of a news item should, wherever possible, be agreed in advance with the author.

56. If, contrary to the opinion of the author of the information, EFE corrects, rectifies or cancels a news item, the editor may refer the matter to the Editorial Board, which shall study the case and issue a report as a matter of utmost urgency.

Here is a link to the requested example published by a media subscriber of EFE.

We also apply this corrections policy to our social media posts. Here is an example of a recent update. In this case, there was no mistake, but events changed the meaning of a fact-check, and we went ahead and explained it.

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with this standard.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

I found that the correction policy ensures that when the original publication in which the mistake was made is not editable, disseminate the correction in the same format and channel as the original so that as far as possible users of the original see the correction and the corrected version.
I checked the two examples they provide to ensure they complied with this policy:

https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200415/48548839607/video-de-casado-tuiteado-por-psoe-responde-criticas-del-pp-sobre-crisis-ebola.html

https://twitter.com/EFEVerifica/status/1715392714135482742?s=20

Best Practices:

In addition to the required standards listed above, the Code identifies the following as best practices that are encouraged but not required to join the EFCSN.

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

As part of our Corrections Policy, we offer an opportunity to seek review from an independent third-party, such as the International Fact-Checking Nework (IFCN) or the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN), in cases where the person or organisation who filed a complaint is not satisfied with the results of the internal complaints review.

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant is compliant with this standard.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

They offer an independent review of a complaint if the subject of an article is not satisfied after an internal complaints process has been followed:
"In the event that a complaint has not been satisfactorily addressed, the affected person or entity can request a review from the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), which safeguards good practice in the practice of fact-checking.

In addition, EFE Verifica has applied for membership of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN), another association to which those affected can request an independent review of a complaint whose outcome they consider unsatisfactory".

Article 4.1: Organisational transparency

In order to be recognised as a verified member of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN), operations must:

Proof of registration/legal status:

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with this standard.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

The applicant provides detailed information on the legal status of EFE, the parent company.

Proof of ownership:

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with this standard.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

The applicant provides detailed information on the ownership of EFE, the parent company.

Proof of governance structure:

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with this standard.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

In these documents, the applicant provides detailed information on the governance of EFE, the parent company.

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

This information is available in the "What is EFE Verifica?" section of our website.

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with this standard.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

I found that section provides detailed information about these issues:
EFE Verifica is an area of the Digital Content Division of EFE, an international, multilingual and multimedia news agency with a worldwide network of journalists.

EFE, a leading Spanish-language news agency, has always had as its raison d'être to tell the facts as they are.

As a public news service, EFE has no ideological line and does not transmit its own opinions.

The information is based on the truthfulness of the facts, the consultation of all sources, the rejection of any manipulation and the respect for the ethical principles that govern the protocol of obtaining and editing information.

The Agency adheres to the principles of professional journalism ethics laid down by Unesco, the Council of Europe and the International Federation of Journalists.

The Editorial Charter therefore prescribes the independence of EFE and its employees and imposes a code of conduct that prevents the Agency's journalists from accepting gifts, favours or services on advantageous terms.

Article 4.2: Financial transparency and conflicts of interest

In order to be recognised as a verified member of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN), organisations or parent organisations must:

Applicant

Date: 10/01/2023

All this information is available in the "Funding" and "What is EFE Verifica?" sections of our website.

Charo Sadaba (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 22/12/2023

The applicant complies with this standard.

Jose Alberto Garcia Aviles (assessor)

Compliant

Date: 15/12/2023

All the information is available at: https://verifica.efe.com/financiacion/
The verification service is financed from the Agency's general budget. EFE's revenues come mainly from the compensation it receives from the State for providing a Service of General Economic Interest, recognised by the European Commission, as well as from the sale of text, photo, audio, video and multimedia news services, which reach more than two thousand media outlets around the world on a daily basis.

In 2022, it had a net turnover of EUR 86.5 million, 62.2% of which is state funding for providing a public service in the field of communication, while 37.7% is revenue from sales of services. This information is detailed in the notes to the annual accounts for the financial year 2022 (note 19.1, page 46).

Some of the clients of EFE's news services are RTVE, European Pressphoto Agency (EPA), Atresmedia, Associated Press TV News, Canal Sur Radio y Televisión, Junta de Comunidades de Castilla y la Mancha, SER, Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Generalitat Valenciana, El País, Unidad Editorial de Información General (Unedisa), Generalitat de Catalunya, Radio Televisión Madrid, Xunta de Galicia, COPE, La Vanguardia, Audiovisual Española 2000 and the Junta de Andalucía.

Among the clients of the above-mentioned news services are some public institutions. The Agency has subscribers of this type in different countries, a list that includes ministries, regional governments, city councils, embassies, parliaments and universities.

EFE also receives income from the EU for the work of EFE Verifica in Iberifier, the digital media and verification observatory in Spain and Portugal, funded by the European Commission and linked to the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO). These observatories bring together verifiers, universities, multidisciplinary research centres and experts in media literacy to analyse disinformation and collaborate in the fight against this threat.

In addition, EFE participates in the European Newsroom, a collaborative project between news agencies across Europe that includes the fight against disinformation.

Other EU-funded projects include Panodissey, Rising Stars, Stars4Media, CoFoE, closer to your region, SysFlex, as well as the Life programme initiatives Wetlands4Climate, Invasaqua, Kantauribai, Renaturwat, Terra, Watercool and Urbaso.

It also has partnerships with several technology companies:

Meta

EFE Verifica has been part of Meta's external data verification programme in Spain since May 2020. The aim of this agreement, in which only organisations with the IFCN seal participate, is to combat misinformation and the spread of false messages on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

As far as Facebook and Instagram are concerned, Meta provides verifiers with a continuously updated database of articles, photos and videos suspected of being fake. EFE is free to decide which content it verifies and the rating it assigns to it based on the verified facts.

You can read about how this collaboration works in detail here.

As for WhatsApp, users can alert the circulation of possible misinformation and disinformation to EFE Verifica, which then has the ability to respond with a verification article. Without such prior submission, it is not possible to access such content because WhatsApp messages and calls are protected by end-to-end encryption, meaning that only the people sending or receiving the messages can read or listen to them.

Read more here.

Microsoft

EFE Verifica collaborates with the Microsoft Democracy Forward Initiative to identify emerging disinformation narratives and study the channels used to disseminate them in Latin America.

The agreement builds on the US multinational's expertise in data intelligence and strengthens the fight against disinformation operations in Latin America by providing mechanisms to expose them and limit their effectiveness.

This collaboration is part of Microsoft's commitment to create a healthier information ecosystem and strengthen the promotion of democracy.

In addition, EFE is a content provider for the Microsoft Start internet portal, formerly known as MSN (The MicroSoft Network).

Google and YouTube

The Agency also has an agreement with Google for advertising revenue from EFE's YouTube channel.

In the past, it has also obtained several grants to, among other things, boost video verification, fight vaccine-related misinformation and promote consultations on its WhatsApp channel, with funding from the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), YouTube and Meta, among others, and has also received funding from the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).

Best Practices

In addition to the required standards listed above, the Code identifies the following as a best practice that is encouraged but not required to join the EFCSN.

I. ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY In order to apply to the EFCSN, your fact-checking operation must first meet the criteria outlined in Chapter 5.2 of the Code.

1. When and why was your fact-checking operation started?

2. How many people work or volunteer in the operation and what are their roles?

3. Please list any activities besides fact-checking that your operation engages in.

4. What are the goals of your fact-checking operation over the coming year?

5. Please explain the geographical scope of your fact-checking operation and how you fit the Code’s requirement to “have a substantial and demonstrable focus on one or more of the countries of the Council of Europe, Kosovo, Belarus or Russia”.

5.b Please provide all the relevant information to demonstrate the existence of “a meaningful connection with the country or countries where the mis- and disinformation your organization fact-check originates from”.

6. Please attach a list of an average of four original fact-checks per month from the past year if this is your first time applying to the EFCSN or from the past two years if you are renewing your application.

7. Please note which policies you have had to change, if any, over the past 6 months in order to comply with the Code.

2.A. Make available and easily accessible on their website an explanation of the process used to select, research and complete investigations, including a definition of any rating systems used.

2.B. Assess the merits of the evidence found using the same standards applied to evidence on equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim.

2.C. Primarily focus on topics that are in the public interest, defined here as issues that concern the welfare of society or individuals, and be willing to explain, if requested by an assessor, how various investigations fit this definition.

2.D. Make available and easily accessible on their website a channel through which the public can submit possible claims for verification and encourage users to send claims to check, while making it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable.

2.E. Identify and include in publications, when possible, access to all evidence or other required information for a reader to replicate the verification process.

2.F. Provide evidence for every pertinent factual statement made in an investigation, relying on primary sources where possible. Set out in its fact checks relevant evidence that appears to support the claim as well as relevant evidence that appears to undermine it.

2.H. Name all sources except when their safety is at risk. In such exceptions, anonymous sources may only be included if the information they provide is corroborated by named sources or material evidence.

2.I. When quoting experts, establish their credibility in the relevant topic.

2.J. Ensure each investigation undergoes at least one round of editing by someone other than the author before publication.

2.K. Present findings in precise, factual and non-emotive language, while taking care not to overstate conclusions.

2.K. Present findings in precise, factual and non-emotive language, while taking care not to overstate conclusions.

3.1.A. Be editorially free and politically independent.

3.1.B. Not endorse or advise the public to vote for any political parties or candidates for public office.

3.1.C. Not conclude any agreement or partnership with a political party or any other public relations and similar activities that could compromise the operation’s reputation for independence and impartiality

3.1.D. Not focus investigations unduly on one particular political party or side of the political spectrum.

3.1.E. Not employ anyone who holds a salaried and/or prominent position in a political party, government, state or public company under the direct control of a political party or government.

3.1.F. Explicitly address in publications any reasonable conflict of interest or political bias, including from experts or organisations cited.

3.1.H. Have internal policies that bar employees from accepting in a professional context any gifts, favours, or services with advantageous conditions that go beyond common social and courtesy items, and have procedures in place to take action if they do.

3.1.I. Make available and easily accessible on their website these and any other non-partisanship policies (See template in Annex 3)

3.1.J. Only advocate for issues that are relevant to the mission of fact-checking and are compatible with a reputation for independence and impartiality. Organisations that engage in advocacy must set out public guidelines on how they adhere to these standards.

3.2.A. Obscure the image and/or identity of subjects of an investigation when there is a reasonable concern for their safety.

3.2.B. Take measures to avoid exposing the source or identity of user-generated disinformation content to undue public scrutiny.

3.2.C. Be restrictive, respectful and considerate when mentioning or identifying minors and make efforts to protect their privacy.

3.2.D. Anonymise any personal information that could allow the harassment of people (i.e. at least partially concealing telephone numbers, IDs or passports, bank account numbers, email addresses…).

3.2.E. When appropriate and possible, a right-of-reply should be offered to any named person or organisation who is the source of the inaccurate claim and/or is the subject of significant criticism or allegations.

3.2.F. Put in place measures that aim to address the risk of trauma or harassment experienced by staff as a result of the operation’s activities, including but not limited to providing training to prevent and identify symptoms.

3.3.A. Correct every known mistake promptly with a correction note in the same publication in which the error was made; if the error is only typographical, grammatical or stylistic, a correction note is not needed.

3.3.B. When the original publication in which the mistake was made is not editable, disseminate the correction in the same format and channel as the original so that as far as possible users of the original see the correction and the corrected version.

3.3.E. Make available and easily accessible on their websites a corrections policy and a record of the corrections published over the previous year in the first application for EFCSN membership and of the previous two years upon renewal.

3.3.F. Include in their corrections policy, available and easily accessible on their websites, a detailed account of how they assess requests for corrections.

3.3.G. Offer audiences direct channels to request a correction, within the corrections policy on their website.

3.3.I. Undergo an internal and documented annual review of published corrections to determine whether methodological and procedural changes should be made to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.

3.3.H. Inform audiences of the possibility of submitting a complaint to the EFCSN under the terms of article 6 with a link to the complaint form.

4.1.A. Make available and easily accessible on their website a statement that sets out the applicant’s organisational structure and makes clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised.

4.1.B. Make available and easily accessible on their website regularly updated information related to the ownership and legal status of the operation and/or parent organisation. People or entities holding over 5% of the shares must be disclosed (see template in Annex 4).

4.1.C. Make available and easily accessible on their website regularly updated information related to the governance of the operation and/or the parent organisation (see template in Annex 5).

4.1.D. Provide proof of the ownership, legal status and governance of the organisation to the external assessors

4.1.E. Make available and easily accessible on their website regularly updated information about the identity of the editors or decision makers behind the operation, including any relevant previous roles.

4.1.F. Make available and easily accessible on their website regularly updated information about the positions held by all staff involved in the fact-checking operation’s editorial output, including any relevant previous roles.

4.1.G. Make available and easily accessible on their website a statement setting out the operation’s mission, values and internal guidelines in place to protect its independence.

4.1.H. Make available and easily accessible on their website the organisation’s bylaws, understood as the rules or statutes that govern the members of an organisation.

4.2.A. Disclose all income sources contributing 1% or 5.000 euros (whichever the higher), from the most recent annual accounts when joining and the last two annual accounts when renewing membership, to external assessors and the Governance Body

4.2.D. Make available and easily accessible on their website an updated declaration of all unpaid significant commitments made to other organisations (see Annex 9).

4.2.F. Make available and easily accessible on their website goods and services they receive from external sources, including paid subscriptions or free access to tools, software and/or advertising, that make a material difference to their finances (5% of net income).

4.2.H. Make available and easily accessible on or from their website the full annual accounts of their organisation for each year since joining the EFCSN.