Methodology

Which claims we check

• Factual, verifiable statements — not opinions or predictions.
• Claims that spread widely or could cause harm if believed.
• Claims submitted by readers, when they meet the points above.

Research

We look for primary sources first: official statistics, court records, original documents, peer-reviewed studies and statements from the people involved. We note who made the claim and where it first appeared. Tools, including AI assistance for search and drafting, are used to speed up research, but every verdict is decided and reviewed by a human editor, and every source is linked so you can check it.

Verdicts

True

The claim is accurate and nothing significant is missing.

Mixed

Parts of the claim are accurate and parts are not, or it depends on how it is read.

Misleading

The facts may be correct, but they are presented in a way that gives a false impression (missing context, cherry-picked numbers, old material presented as new).

Unsupported

There is no reliable evidence for the claim. It may not be proven false, but the burden of proof has not been met.

False

The claim is inaccurate according to the best available evidence.

Refuted

The claim has been clearly and directly disproven by primary sources or authoritative evidence.

Updates

When new evidence appears, we update the check and record the change in its update log. See our corrections policy.