Who We Are
The Checker is an Iraqi platform for fact-checking and digital media literacy. It aims to verify false and misleading news and information circulating in Iraq’s digital space, while promoting digital media literacy principles to help build a safe, free, fair, and disinformation-free Iraqi internet environment. The platform operates in Arabic, Kurdish, and English.
Context & Purpose
Iraq is witnessing a significant rise in information disorder, where misleading news can reach thousands of people within minutes. This leads to major issues in Iraq’s digital space, including:
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Hate speech
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Offensive comments
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Blind belief in and redistribution of unverified content
In response, The Checker has taken on the responsibility of serving as a professional fact-checking platform, offering training for media institutions on verifying information both before and after publication. Despite the efforts of Iraqi media, journalistic initiatives alone are not enough to counter disinformation. Even the most prominent outlets occasionally publish incorrect or misleading content. Our mission is not only to expose these inaccuracies but also to support media institutions in developing expertise that reduces disinformation overall.
Our Approach
Our team is deeply committed to international journalistic standards and uses a variety of tools and techniques to combat disinformation, offering the public a unique, insightful perspective on the issues that matter to them.
How The Checker Began
The Checker is a flagship project of INSM (Iraqi Network for Social Media), a non-profit organization dedicated to digital rights in Iraq. The platform was launched in October 2021, during the early Iraqi parliamentary elections—a period marked by a surge in misinformation.
Its creation reflected INSM’s vision for:
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The necessity of fact-checking
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Promoting awareness and digital literacy
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Actively combating hate speech and fabricated content across Iraqi social media
The consequences of misinformation in Iraq have been severe, including forced disappearances, targeted violence, and displacement, especially in conflict zones. In this context, The Checker operates as a supporting arm of INSM in pursuit of a safe, transparent, and equitable internet.
Structure & Governance
INSM manages The Checker, which is operated by an editorial team, independent journalists, and fact-checkers — each fulfilling specific responsibilities. No external party dictates what we publish or how we assess claims. Our team functions independently, guided by rigorous fact-checking standards and editorial policies.
We do not accept donations or support from:
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Ambiguous or unidentified sources
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Political parties
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Elected officials
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Political candidates
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Any source posing a conflict of interest
INSM is officially registered under Iraq’s NGO Law No. 12 of 2010, granting The Checker its legal standing as one of its official projects.
Vision
To promote democratic discourse in Iraq and contribute to the spread of accurate, source-backed information, while limiting the reach of false or misleading digital content.
Mission
The Checker serves as a national hub for citizens, professionals, researchers, and media institutions, supporting a critical and precise approach to digital content and communication that helps readers engage more thoughtfully with the online world.
Action
We verify facts using scientific and systematic methods, aiming to expose misinformation—regardless of who spreads it—and present the truth clearly and reliably. We also contribute to training, research, and journalistic initiatives that raise community awareness, through programs run by INSM, under which The Checker operates.
Presence
We prioritize stories relevant to the daily lives of Iraqis, highlighting their role in community development and Iraq’s emerging democracy. We also cover non-Iraqi contexts that affect Iraq’s digital space.
Credibility
We analyze claims from multiple angles, identify potential conflicts of interest, and present all sources with full transparency.
Transparency
We ensure that readers can replicate our research and have clear insight into our organizational structure and funding sources.
Independence
We maintain strict neutrality, avoid political alignment, and refrain from activities that may compromise our independence or objectivity. We are fully committed to integrity and transparency in every aspect of our work.
