FCN Signatories

Website

https://factly.in/

Date

29/04/2025

DOWNLOAD

APPLICANT

Date: 24/02/2025

Factly’s Fact-check unit is a part of Factly Media & Research. Factly Media & Research (www.factlymedia.com) is an independent organization working in the areas of Civic-tech, Fact-checking, Data Journalism, Building Data & AI Products, Open Data Research & Consulting. Factly’s content can be divided into Data Journalism – Data Stories, Explainers, Fact-checks (Debunking Fake News/Misinformation), Video Production, etc.

Fact-Checking is an important part of Factly’s work where we not only fact-check viral content that has a real-world impact but also work with platforms to address the growing menace of misinformation. The dedicated Fact-checking project can be accessed from the main menu on the website.

Factly Media & Research is a for-profit partnership firm registered in 2016 and is also registered with the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME). We generate revenue from partnerships with social media platforms, training & capacity building in the areas of ‘Data Journalism’ & ‘Fact-checking’, research & consulting services in the area of open data, and selling subscriptions to our Data & AI Products.

The certificate of registration is available on the About Us page (https://factly.in/about/).

Assessor´s verdict:

COMPLIANT

Conversation:

Assessor

COMPLIANT

Date: 23/03/2025

Verified. Their registration certificate with the government of Telangana is on their "about" page.

APPLICANT

Date: 24/02/2025

Factly was launched in early 2016. In the early years, the focus was on simplifying public data & information and making it more meaningful to the common man, through data stories, policy explainers, explainer videos, etc. All the stories/content are based on official & factual information from government & public sources.

In 2017, we began fact-checking to address the growing menace of misinformation in the areas of Politics, Health, Science, History, Policy, Data, Government Schemes, Social issues, and Major events, with a special focus on debunking misinformation related to government policy, data, fake government schemes that are aimed at defrauding people. All our fact-checks are focused on claims that originate in India and or are related to India. You can find all of them here.

In collaboration with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), Factly published an extensive study in 2019 titled 'Countering Misinformation (Fake News) in India'

Factly has also published a Health Misinformation Report in 2021, that includes detailed trends of misinformation on ten broad health topics.

Factly also works extensively on technology products that are relevant to fact-checkers, Media and the larger information ecosystem with an exclusive focus on India.

Dataful- https://dataful.in/
Tagore AI- https://tagore.ai/
Factly's SACH tool- https://factlymedia.com/products/sach-extension/

All these demonstrate our focus on India.

Assessor´s verdict:

COMPLIANT

Conversation:

Assessor

COMPLIANT

Date: 23/03/2025

While Factly does seem to be compliant with this, why are their tools - Dataful, Tagore AI and SACH tool - not hyperlinked on their site?

Applicant

COMPLIANT

Date: 27/03/2025

Since the products are of the parent company, they are listed on the website of the parent company https://factlymedia.com/. However, products like Dataful, Tagore AI are hyperlinked in the About Us page in addition to a hyperlink redirecting to the products page on the main website.

APPLICANT

Date: 24/02/2025

Factly regularly publishes fact-checks in English, Telugu & Kannada on a wide variety of issues & topics in the areas of Politics, Health, Science, History, Policy, Data, Government Schemes, Social issues, Major events, and statements made by those in public office. We publish more than 30 fact-checks per week on average and more than 100 fact-checks a month on a variety of issues. The list of of the languages in which we fact-check is provided on the methodology page.

All our fact-check articles are available on a dedicated link that can be accessed from the main menu of the organization’s website. The articles are listed by date of publishing. The following are the links to the entire archive. We could provide a separate list if required. The links to fact-checks in specific languages are listed below.

Fact-checks in English: https://factly.in/category/english/
Fact-checks in Telugu: https://factly.in/category/telugu/
Fact-checks in Kannada: https://factly.in/category/fake-news-kannada/
Fact-checks related to Government Policy, Data, Schemes, etc.: https://factly.in/category/fact-check/

Assessor´s verdict:

COMPLIANT

Conversation:

Assessor

COMPLIANT

Date: 23/03/2025

A couple of questions:
1. Why is the url for Kannada different from that for English and Telugu?
2. Why does the story listing page say "Fake News- Kannada". Is the focus of the content in Kannada different from that for English and Telugu?

Applicant

COMPLIANT

Date: 27/03/2025

1. We began fact-checking in Kannada much later than English and Telugu. One of our colleagues had created that category by the time we had written a handful of Kannada fact-checks. We decided to stick with the same URL rather than changing it.
2. The story listing name is automated and comes from category name. The focus of Kannada is no different than English and Telugu.

APPLICANT

Date: 24/02/2025

We have not received any funding from any political or foreign actor in the previous financial year (2023-24). Our fact-check operations are independent and have no relationship with any state agency or political party. We have a strict non-partisanship policy (https://factly.in/non-partisanship-policy/) that bars any such association for fact-checkers.

We partner with agencies that could be directly or indirectly related to the government in the areas of awareness & workshops, without any financial consideration. During COVID-19, we partnered with the local public radio, local state government & other community radio stations to debunk misinformation related to COVID-19 for larger impact & amplification. This was done free of charge in the public interest and did not involve any financial consideration. We also organize capacity-building workshops in debunking misinformation for a variety of stakeholders including students, civil society, media & state agencies, etc. These are also done free of charge.

The other verticals in the organization work with academia & specific state agencies on evangelizing open data (to encourage the state to publish more data in the public domain), and also sell subscription services to our Data & AI products. The partnership with state agencies or other entities for this work has no relation or impact on our fact-checking work and both are independent of each other. Currently, the revenue from this vertical forms less than 5% of the overall revenues of the organization, and there is no financial dependence. These details are provided on our website.

Assessor´s verdict:

COMPLIANT

Conversation:

Assessor

NEEDS MORE INFO

Date: 23/03/2025

While Factly.in provides some details about its legal entity and revenue sources, including major contributors like Meta and Google, it does not offer a comprehensive breakdown of all funding sources. A detailed and regularly updated financial report would enhance transparency in this area.

Applicant

NEEDS MORE INFO

Date: 27/03/2025

As required by the code of principles, we have listed each source of funding that accounts for 7.5% or more of total revenue for the previous financial year. However, in the interest of greater transparency, we have listed other sources of funding which do not account for 7.5%.

Assessor

COMPLIANT

Date: 27/03/2025

Verified.

APPLICANT

Date: 24/02/2025

Factly is an independent registered for-profit organization & the Fact-checking unit is part of this larger for-profit entity. All the details are on the ‘About Us’ page (https://factly.in/about/). The official registration certificate of the organization is also on this page. Names of each source of funding accounting for 7.5% or more of total revenue for its previous financial year (2023-24) are also listed on this page. (https://factly.in/about/).

Assessor´s verdict:

COMPLIANT

Conversation:

Assessor

NEEDS MORE INFO

Date: 23/03/2025

While Factly.in provides some details about its legal entity and revenue sources, including major contributors like Meta and Google, it does not offer a comprehensive breakdown of all funding sources. A detailed and regularly updated financial report would enhance transparency in this area.

Applicant

NEEDS MORE INFO

Date: 27/03/2025

As required by the code of principles, we have listed each source of funding that accounts for 7.5% or more of total revenue for the previous financial year. However, in the interest of greater transparency, we have listed other sources of funding which do not account for 7.5%.

Assessor

COMPLIANT

Date: 27/03/2025

Verified.

Section 1: Eligibility to be a verified signatory This section aims to assess if an Applicant meets the eligibility criteria for becoming a verified signatory to the MCA Code of Principles.

1.1 The Applicant is legally registered in India

1.2 The Applicant's fact-checking activities have a substantial and demonstrable focus on India

1.3 The Applicant’s fact-checking has been published either in English/Hindi and/or in one of the 22 languages listed in Schedule VIII of the Constitution of India, in the course of the twelve months prior to the date of application

1.4 At least 75% of the Applicant’s fact checks must relate to issues that could have an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public, or society, or have a public interest element

1.5 The Applicant’s editorial output must not be under the control of the state, any political party, or a politician

1.6 The Applicant must, fully and fairly, disclose if it receives funds from local or foreign state or political sources

Section 2: Non-partisanship and fairness This section aims to understand how an Applicant ensures impartiality in their fact-checking operation.

2.1 The Applicant fact-checks use the same high standards of evidence and judgement for equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim

2.2 The Applicant does not unduly concentrate its fact-checking on any one side

2.3 The Applicant discloses on its website and/or in the fact check any reasonable conflict of interest, other relevant interests, or bias, including that of the experts or organisations cited in the fact check

2.4 The Applicant is not affiliated with nor declares or shows support for any political party, any politician or political candidate, nor does it advocate for or against any policy positions on any issues save for transparency and accuracy in public debate

2.6 The Applicant discloses any ownership or stake in its organization held by sitting members of parliament, assembly, local governments; office bearers or spokespersons of political parties; or those directly or indirectly associated with political parties

2.7 The Applicant does not employ anyone who holds a salaried and/or prominent position in a political party, government, state, or public company under the direct or indirect control of a political party, government, or the state

2.8 The Applicant only advocates for issues that are relevant to the mission of fact-checking, strengthening democracy, and improving general transparency and accountability of various organs of the state, and are compatible with the reputation for independence and impartiality

Section 3: Transparency of sources This section aims to understand how the Applicant ensures that their readers can independently verify the findings mentioned in a fact check themselves.

3.1 The Applicant identifies the source of all significant evidence used in its fact checks and provides relevant links where the source is available online

3.2 The Applicant uses the best available primary, not secondary, source of evidence

3.3 The Applicant checks all key elements of claims against more than one named source of evidence, except where the one source is the only source relevant and available on the topic

3.4 The Applicant always identifies and discloses its relevant interests, including any commercial relations, and that of its sources, in the fact checks, where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided

Section 4: Transparency of funding and organisation This section aims to understand the funding sources of the Applicant and their funders' influence on editorial decisions.

4.1 The Applicant is an independent organization

4.2 The Applicant is a dedicated fact-checking section or unit in an organization

4.3 The Applicant discloses the names of persons or entities holding over 10% of the shares/stakes in it

4.4 The Applicant provides information about who runs its editorial operations and how

4.5 The Applicant provides an easy means on its website and/or via social media for users to communicate with its editorial and fact-checking team

Section 5: Transparency of methodology This section aims to understand an Applicant's methodology for selecting, researching, writing, editing, publishing and correcting their fact checks and how they encourage readers to send claims to fact-check.

5.1 The Applicant’s fact-checking methodology is available on its website

5.2 The Applicant selects claims to fact-check based on their reach and importance

5.3 The Applicant provides evidence that supports and undermines a claim, irrespective of who made the claim

5.4 The Applicant makes a demonstrable effort to contact the person/organization making the claim to seek supporting evidence

5.5 The Applicant encourages readers to send in claims to fact check

5.6 The Applicant quotes experts after establishing their credibility

5.7 The Applicant ensures each investigation undergoes at least one round of editing before publication, by someone other than the author

5.8 The Applicant presents findings in precise, factual, and non-emotive language while taking care not to overstate conclusions

Section 6: Open and honest corrections policyy This section aims to understand an Applicant's corrections policy, how it is followed, how transparent it is, and how the Applicant ensures that readers see the corrected version.

6.1 The Applicant has a corrections or complaints policy that is easily and prominently visible and accessible on its website

6.2 Where credible evidence is provided demonstrating that the Applicant has made a mistake worthy of correction, it makes the correction openly and transparently, seeking to ensure as far as possible that readers of the original see the correction and the corrected version

6.4 If the Applicant is the fact-checking unit of a media company, its parent company adopts and adheres to the same corrections policy as is being followed by the Applicant

Section 7: Intellectual property rights This section aims to understand how Applicant observes and demonstrates respect for intellectual property rights in all forms including text, image, audio or video.

7.1 The Applicant publishes all fact checks on its website, and does not keep the fact checks behind a paywall. The fact checks should be easily accessible in the public domain and without coste

7.2 The Applicant observes & respects intellectual property laws, creative commons licences, copyrights when using, modifying, and/or merging any contente

7.3 The Applicant allows, where possible & applicable, the organization’s content to be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons license with source attribution

7.5 The Applicant discloses all references and sources that have been used in the fact-check

Section 8: Commitment to privacy and safety This section aims to understand how Applicant identifies and demonstrates commitment to privacy and safety.

8.2 The Applicant is restrictive, respectful, and considerate when mentioning or identifying minors (as permitted under existing law) and makes all possible efforts to protect their privacy

8.4 The Applicant has put in place measures that aim to address the risk of trauma or harassment experienced by staff as a result of its activities, including but not limited to, providing training to prevent and identify symptoms