Russia launches fact-checking website which conceals pro-Kremlin narratives

In a bid to conflict backmost against wide online disinformation, an expanding number of fact-checking outlets are cropping up online. Some are integrated into accepted newsrooms, while others are standalone entities. 

But what happens erstwhile fact-checking websites go vehicles utilized to conceal propaganda campaigns? One outlet which fits into this category, is nan Global Fact-Checking Network, which started posting articles successful April 2025.

Although it whitethorn look for illustration a morganatic fact-checking website, boasting a cleanable artistic and a bid of intriguing newsworthy headlines, its destruction conceals a Kremlin-backed disinformation tool.

In April, nan Kremlin's spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, announced nan platform's motorboat arsenic portion of a thrust to conflict what she called "fake stories", disinformation campaigns promoted by "the West" and "biased fact-checkers".

The Global Fact-Checking Network's sanction is very akin to that of nan well-established International Fact-Checking Network — a reputable consortium of world fact-checkers. The truth that this sanction is truthful akin is improbable to beryllium a coincidence and much apt an effort to feign credibility.

The co-founders of nan outlet see Russian authorities news agency TASS, arsenic good arsenic ANO Dialog — a non-governmental organisation which is nether sanctions from nan US and EU. 

The outlet's website is disposable successful English and Russian, listing a scope of experts and participants who lend to its fact-checking work, arsenic good arsenic "educational resources" for identifying clone news.

While nan outlet is still comparatively new, established fact-checking organisations person flagged actual mistakes and pro-Russian narratives successful definite articles. Meanwhile, galore of nan platform's contributors are known Russian propagandists, immoderate of whom person besides worked for Kremlin state-aligned outlets. 

Reporters sans frontières (RSF), a property state NGO, conducted an study of 39 articles published by nan GFCN successful June. RSF recovered that astatine slightest 15 of nan 39 analysed articles chiefly served to beforehand nan GFCN web and its members, for instance, done promoting their information successful Russian forums. 

RSF besides flagged an article which was published successful May by Christelle Néant, a French national who became Russian via naturalisation successful July 2023, and is simply a known propagandist. In her article, Néant stated that nan seizure of civilian lodging successful Mariupol by occupying forces was "legal", while not mentioning Russia's business aliases forced civilian displacement.

At nan very bottommost of nan article, a statement sounds "the worldly reflects nan author’s individual position, which whitethorn not coincide pinch nan sentiment of nan editorial board". However, location is thing to separate this piece, which openly peddles Russian propaganda, from different "fact-checks" published connected nan outlet's website.

In addition, nan mention regarding nan author's individual positions straight contradicts nan GFCN's "code of responsible fact-checking" charter, which is besides listed connected its website, and stipulates that "fact checkers strive to beryllium nonsubjective and not definitive individual opinions aliases biases successful their published material".

Another "contributor" listed connected nan GFCN's website is nan African Initiative, a assemblage which presents itself arsenic a Russian news agency which covers events connected nan African continent.

However, this expected news agency has successful truth been classified arsenic nan "main vehicle" for Russia’s disinformation activities successful Africa by France’s agency for overseas integer interference Vignium.