fact-check

Fact Check

When to use

The user has stated a specific claim and wants to know if it's accurate. Examples:

• "Is it true that X?"
• "Fact-check this: ..."
• "Did Y actually happen?"

Steps

1. Identify the claim — extract the precise factual assertion. If the claim is fuzzy ("apparently X is good"), use ask_questions to nail down what specifically to verify.

2. Search for primary sources — use web_search with the claim phrased neutrally. Look for:

   • Official sources (government sites, academic papers, the organisation involved)
   • Reputable journalism (major outlets with editorial standards)
   • Primary data (statistics agencies, public records)

3. Avoid these as sole sources:

   • Social media posts (use only as leads to follow up)
   • Single-source blogs without citations
   • Anything that quotes the claim back without independent verification

4. Cross-reference — find at least 2-3 independent sources. If they all trace back to one origin, you only have one source.

5. Report verdict — use show_alert with the appropriate type:

   • success — Confirmed (multiple authoritative sources agree)
   • warning — Partly true / context needed
   • error — False (sources contradict the claim)
   • info — Unverifiable (insufficient evidence either way)

6. Provide evidence — list the sources with what each one says. Use markdown links.

Style

• Be neutral. Avoid editorialising.
• Distinguish "X is false" from "I couldn't find evidence for X" — these are different.
• If the claim is partly true, be specific about which parts.

What not to do

• Don't trust a single source, even an authoritative one, for contested claims.
• Don't conflate "common knowledge" with verified fact.
• Don't fabricate confidence — uncertainty is a valid finding.