Les Verificateurs About Les Verificateurs is an initiative of Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne (RFI), the Ivoirian television broadcasting group, based in Côte d’Ivoire. It was established in response to the rise of information disorder on social media, especially in relation to elections and Covid-19 vaccines. However, the organization addresses all types of mis- and disinformation, sourced from both traditional and social media. It aims to provide a source of reliable and verifiable information. Established 2019 Reach Côte d’Ivoire Languages French Partners Other fact-checking organizations, journalists, civil society organizations Methods and activities The initiative has set up a platform for the general public to submit potentially false information. The information is researched, and the findings are shared via a “True or False” section on the organization’s website. In consideration of the speed at which mis- and disinformation spreads, the initiative tries to make its fact-checking process as simple as possible in order to get the verified information out quickly. For instance, sometimes the opinions of experts will be sought, and at other times the fact check may be as simple as contacting any person(s) involved to verify the information. Other activities Media education to teach basic fact-checking skills Challenges • There is a multiplicity of fact-checking initiatives in the region, with little or no collaboration happening amongst them. • There has been limited efforts made to educate the political class on mis- and disinformation and its impacts, due to insufficient resources and difficulties in accessing resources. • Access to material, financial and human resources, as well as sources of information, is a challenge. Perspectives on information disorder “For some information, we don’t need to go into hard fact checking. We just try to check or call the people involved to verify the information.” “The limits are the software; it doesn’t always do the job and therefore can’t replace human work.” “Laws can be effective, but more so in the repression phase and not in the awareness or education phase. In addition to repression, education and awareness are needed.” 4 Table 2: Overview of the operations of Les Verificateurs Next page, top: Table 3: Overview of the operations of CDD Fact Check Next page, bottom: Table 4: Overview of the operations of Section 27 • tracking, monitoring, and debunking mis- and disinformation • providing a platform for complaints or reporting of mis- and disinformation • research and information sharing/analysis of narratives and trends • education • capacity building • gamification • platform-specific content creation • social group advocacy • policy advocacy • legal action • fact-checking software services • strategic support. 4 TRACKING, MONITORING, AND DEBUNKING MIS- AND DISINFORMATION As the most common form of response, fact-checking initiatives generally use information tracking, monitoring, and debunking as their primary methodology. As the description suggests, this method involves actively seeking out potentially false information and conducting either basic or in-depth investigations to find out whether the information is true or false. Organizations do so by using human I N FO R M ATI O N D I SO R D ER IN THE GLOBA L SOUTH fact checkers, technological means (especially for fact checking images and video), or a combination of both. See Table 1 for an overview of Africa Check, which employs this methodology. PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR COMPLAINTS OR REPORTING OF MIS- AND DISINFORMATION This can be considered a method within the factchecking response. It provides a means for actors to obtain leads to investigate instead of having to seek out false information themselves. Drawing on the general public for reports of mis- or disinformation enables some actors to overcome low-resource constraints and operate on a slim budget or with a skeleton staff. See Table 2 for an overview of Les Verificateurs, which provides a platform for the reporting of mis- or disinformation. RESEARCH AND INFORMATION SHARING/ ANALYSIS OF NARRATIVES AND TRENDS This method involves research more broadly on trends in mis- and disinformation, ranging from studies mapping the information ecosystem to investigations of the strategies used by politicians to generate and spread false information. Initiatives Sub -Saharan Africa – 1 49