Maldita.es becomes a verified member of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN)

The Code was approved in September 2022 by more than 40 fact-checking and data verification organisations from more than 30 European countries. Recognition as a verified member of the network is intended to let the public know which European fact-checking organizations operate independently, ethically, transparently, and with a commitment to serving the public interest.

What does it mean that Maldita.es meets the standards of the Code?

When an organisation like Maldita.es becomes a verified member of the EFCSN, it means that it meets the standards:

–Methodological, such as providing at least two sources, but preferably more, to verify the central claim of an investigation, except in cases where there is only one relevant source; or selecting what we verify based on virality or dangerousness.

-Ethical, such as being editorially free and politically independent, or including a detailed description of how correction requests are evaluated in the corrections policy, and making it readily available and accessible on your website.

– Organisational transparency, such as having available and easily accessible on its website a statement describing the applicant’s organisational structure and clarifying how and by whom editorial control is exercised; or financial transparency, such as having available and easily accessible on its website a current statement of the organisation’s total annual revenue and a transparent statement of any potential conflicts of interest it may have.

Who certifies that Maldita.es meets the standards required by the Code?

In accordance with the European Code of Standards, two independent assessors evaluate each organisation’s compliance with the requirements of the Code. This assessment is done in a blind manner for the assessors. Once assessed, applications are reviewed by the EFCSN Governing Body, which has the final decision: approved, rejected or pending.

Approved organisations will be reviewed every two years to ensure continued compliance with the Code of Standards.

In addition, any individual or organisation that believes that an EFCSN member has failed to comply with any of the requirements of the Code of Standards, if the complaint is not satisfied by the organisation in question, may submit a complaint to the EFCSN through this link for consideration by the Governance Body.

Who forms the EFCSN?

European verification organisations are currently applying to become verified members of the EFCSN. 29 organisations applied in the first round and 10 in the second round. Some of the organisations that have been evaluated and approved today, together with Maldita.es, are Full Fact (UK), AFP (France), Demagog (Poland) or Myth Detector (Georgia). The rest of the first round evaluations are expected to be completed by the end of July.

The EFCSN was born from a project led by Maldita.es and five other independent European verifiers during 2022 and part of 2023. Currently, Clara Jiménez Cruz, CEO of Maldita.es, is the Chair of the Governance Body, composed of 11 members from different European verification organisations. As required by the EFCSN Code and Statutes, Clara abstains from all discussions and decisions related to Maldita.es and, motu proprio, also from those related to other organisations in Spain, in order to avoid conflicts of interest.