1. Summary of the 2023–2025 Study on Information Disorder in the Arab World
Read the summary: https://arabfcn.net/tools-guides/2025/12/05/idrc-study-2023-2025-summary/
This summary outlines the key findings of a three-year study (2023–2025) on information disorder and fact-checking in the Arab region. The research was conducted by AFCN under the supervision of Stellenbosch University in South Africa and supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
The study forms part of a broader global program involving partners in Latin America (InternetLab), Sub-Saharan Africa (Research ICT Africa), and East Asia (LIRNEasia). Together, these teams are working toward a joint book on information disorder in the Global South, expected to be published in 2026.
AFCN’s research examines the drivers of information disorder in the Arab region and evaluates fact-checking responses both before and after publication. It also assesses the quality of fact-checking practices, with the ultimate aim of supporting more effective tools and strategies to counter disinformation and improve the quality of Arabic online content.
2. Booklet on Claim Selection and Fact-Checking Quality
Read the booklet: https://arabfcn.net/tools-guides/2025/12/05/afcn-booklet/
This new booklet is grounded in internationally recognised fact-checking standards and is designed to be used alongside the AFCN Code of Principles. It draws on AFCN’s extensive work assessing potential harm and evaluating the quality of fact-checking reports as part of the “Information Disorder in the Global South” project, conducted under the supervision of Stellenbosch University and with support from IDRC. The booklet also takes inspiration from Peter Cunliffe-Jones’s book Fake News – What’s the Harm?
Reflecting AFCN’s practical experience in evaluating member organisations’ work, the booklet highlights the progress made in the Arab fact-checking ecosystem since the creation of the AFCN. Through training, collaboration, innovation, and protection, fact-checkers across the region have strengthened their capacity to produce evidence-based, methodologically sound reports. Yet challenges remain: enhancing report quality is essential for boosting impact, credibility, and public trust.
As disinformation expands and Artificial Intelligence reshapes the information landscape, maintaining rigorous quality standards is critical. This booklet contributes to that mission by supporting fact-checkers in refining their practices and sustaining their role as guardians of truth in the Arab region.
