This new chapter cements MediaVaultas an essential resource for journalists, fact-checkers, and digital researchers who need to identify, archive, and analyze patterns of manipulation in images and videos circulating online.
Launched in 2023 by the Duke Reporters’ Lab, Media Vault was the first archiving system designed specifically for the needs of fact checking organizations. Its technology makes it possible to collect, preserve and categorize manipulated visual content which has been analyzed by leading verification outlets around the world.
Now, under the leadership of Fundación Maldita.es and Full Fact, MediaVault is expanding its reach and its capabilities. It is strengthening its role as a global collaborative archive that supports both research and the early detection of visual disinformation trends. The project not only preserves material that might otherwise disappear from social media platforms, it also helps professionals track patterns, cross-reference cases and carry out effective comparative analysis.
“Disinformation evolves rapidly, and we need tools that can keep up with it. MediaVault is not just an archive, but a living infrastructure of collaboration and shared knowledge,” said Clara Jiménez Cruz, Co-founder and CEO of Fundación Maldita.es
Today, the system gathers and organizes images and videos analyzed by an international network of around 900 fact checkers. Its searchable database makes it easier to find previously debunked content, and supports both academic research and investigative reporting into how visual disinformation spreads.
MediaVault remains free to access for fact-checkers, journalists, technologists, and researchers who register on the platform.
“This new phase of MediaVault reinforces the commitment of Fundación Maldita.es and Full Fact to technological innovation in the service of information integrity. In an environment overwhelmed by disinformation, protecting the traceability of visual content is more urgent than ever,” added Chris Morris, Full Fact CEO
Full Fact is an independent UK charity based in London, focussed on fighting false and misleading information and promoting facts. It investigates and verifies claims made by politicians, media outlets, and viral online content in order to expose falsehoods and promote information grounded in verifiable data and clear evidence. Full Fact’s team includes fact checkers, journalists, technologists, and public policy experts who work to strengthen trust in the information environment. In addition, the organization develops AI tools which allow small teams of people to work at internet scale, and delivers training in critical thinking and media literacy.
Fundación Maldita.es is a non-profit organization based in Spain that protects the integrity of information and promotes the building of public trust through journalism, education, technology, research, and public policy advocacy. Its mission is to contribute to a more resilient and reliable media ecosystem by equipping society — from legislators and institutions to journalists, educators, digital platforms, and citizens — with evidence-based tools, knowledge, and content. The foundation monitors, identifies, and assesses threats that undermine information quality and digital ecosystem security, generating actionable evidence and developing proprietary technological tools that support informed decision-making among key stakeholders. Its approach is rooted in active listening to citizens, responding to their questions with verified data, context, and analysis, with the aim of fostering a better-informed society with stronger critical capacity against misinformation.