The Rise of Fact-Checking in China

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Da PENG

In recent years, Chinese fact-checking agencies have emerged, developing unique characteristics and functions compared to their Western counterparts, reflecting distinct media landscapes and sociopolitical contexts. This study is based on exploratory research and aims to introduce to the reader notable Chinese fact-checking agencies and present their key aspects. The analysis relies on a variety media sources, including non-academic references, and we therefore emphasize the preliminary nature of the findings.

Fact-checking is the process of verifying the factual accuracy of statements or reports.[1] It can be conducted internally by the publisher or externally by independent organizations. The primary aim is to ensure that the information disseminated to the public is accurate and reliable. The history of fact-checking dates back to the early twentieth century and has continued to evolve since then. Initially emerging in American magazine journalism in the 1930s,[2] with TIME magazine as a pioneer, the practice was primarily carried out by women until workplace integration in the 1970s. Political fact-checking gained momentum in the early 2000s with the launch of outlets like Spinsanity and FactCheck.org (Graves & Cherubini, 2016). The late 2000s and early 2010s saw a rise in independent fact-checking organizations globally, often associated with universities. The proliferation of digital platforms, combined with significant political and social events further spurred a notable increase in fact-checking initiatives globally. By 2022, the field had expanded to include 424 active organizations[3] dedicated to verifying information and combating misinformation across various media and regions.

Nowadays, fact-checking has become crucial in the modern information landscape, particularly in the post-truth era where emotional appeal and personal belief often overshadow factual accuracy (D’Ancona, 2017). This era has seen a rapid spread of misinformation and fake news, making it easy for falsehoods to influence public discourse, elections, and policy-making. Fact-checking now serves as a vital tool to counter this trend by verifying claims and providing evidence-based information, thereby enhancing accountability. Additionally, it is a tool to enhance information literacy[4] by teaching individuals to critically assess source credibility, understand information context, and distinguish reliable from unreliable content. This empowers people to make informed decisions based on accurate data.

Qiu Zhen (求真) – “Seeking Truth”

The prototype of Chinese fact-checking agencies can be traced back to a section of online People’s Daily named Qiu Zhen (求真 in Chinese, literally “seeking the truth”). When it was launched in January 2011, the opening remarks defined its mission as « clarifying facts, restoring truth, responding to public concerns, blocking rumors, promoting harmony and enhancing credibility » (Liu Moxiao, 2023).

In general, fact-checking practices of Qiu Zhen tends to take the form of rumor-refutation with emphasis on combatting scams. For instance, in reports posted during the first half of 2024,[5] 5 out 11 are rumor-related and the remaining 6 are anti-scam tips. According to Ding Meng (2021), the infrequent updates on fact-checking platforms highlight that most Chinese fact-checking agencies appear to make inconsistent efforts. This inconsistency is further evidenced by the decline of some agencies. Intriguingly, the earliest searchable post of Qiu Zhen dates back to July 2020 and consist of an attempt to dispel rumors regarding COVID-19 situation in Beijing,[6] although many Chinese scholars mention that it was established in 2011 (Yang Qingbao 2023; Liu Moxiao 2023). A possible explanation is that previous posts during a decade have been archived or migrated somewhere else. Further investigation is needed.

Qiu Zhen is a result-oriented web page, where sources of false claims and verification methodology are little exposed. To target a rumor concerning a landslide in Chongqing tourist area, it presented on 14 June 2024[7] that “Recently, some netizens released a ‘landslide danger, passing vehicles and pedestrians are prohibited from passing’ video, whose localization is indicated as « Chongqing Wulong Karst Tourism Zone”. This piece of context information is followed by a succinct conclusion from the local authority: “As verified by multiple departments in Wulong District of Chongqing, no large-scale landslides have occurred in the district recently. The localization information marked in the video is the location where the netizen posted the video, not the location where the incident occurred”. This validates a viewpoint that rumor debunking is a form of information correction that is more familiar to the Chinese public, and the standards for rumor debunking are looser in terms of content composition and presentation (Yan Wenjie et al., 2023). It appears that the Chinese government believes the audience is more receptive to an approach that « emphasizes results over arguments » to counteract rumors. Lax standards and principles do not seem to compromise the credibility of rumor-refutation posts issued by authorities, which could be attributed to the fact that China displays a very high level of public trust in institutions (Yang Qing & Tang Weifang, 2010).[8]

Jiao Zhen » (较真) – “Getting Close to Truth”

Aside from the People’s Daily, which is an influential state-owned media, a commercialized digital news platform is also playing a role in the Chinese information ecosystem. Tencent News launched a fact-checking service called « Jiao Zhen » (较真 in Chinese) in late 2015. The name literally means “getting close to the truth” in Chinese, and is often used to denote epistemic seriousness and intellectual pursuit, as opposed to tolerance for ambiguity and vagueness. It provides verified information on health, well-being management, and scientific topics through WeChat and other Tencent platforms. The service stands out for its rigorous verification processes and multiple channels of communication such as a dedicated WeChat mini-program to store and search fact-checking entries (Ding Meng, 2021). As a highly active agency, Jiao Zhen delivers self-produced verification articles and promotes the dissemination of official rumor refutation posts (官方辟谣 in Chinese) almost on a daily basis. In an interview,[9] Wei Xing, a veteran journalist and prominent fact-checker, claimed that Chinese internet platforms tend to prioritize dispelling rumors originating from government agencies.

Essentially speaking, Jiao Zhen is distinguished by high reliance on expertise and scientific knowledge in health-related domain. A core principle embedded in its fact-checking practice is that professionals should engage in professional activities.[10] As per Jiao Zhen’s webpage of guidelines, it boasts a team of over 1,000 experts from various domains, including healthcare, food safety, and science and technology, and collaborates extensively with more than 100 specialized organizations. In the healthcare sector, for example, Jiao Zhen selects professional clinicians and pharmacists who adhere to the principles of evidence-based medicine and prioritize users’ well-being, as well as researchers from reputational institutions. For instance, the strategic partnership between Jiao Zhen and the Chinese Medical Self-Media Alliance was established in 2017 to jointly combat false information in medical and health fields and promote science popularization and health communication.[11] To maintain high standards, it has also implemented a comprehensive system for the entry and exit of both individual and institutional collaborators, ensuring regular qualification assessments for engaged experts. In a recent WeChat post on how consumers should buy sunscreen clothing,[12] a professor from Textile School of Donghua University took the lead in verification process with solid reference to the Chinese industry standard GB/T 18830-2009 « textile UV protection performance evaluation ». This fact-checking post can help consumers to navigate product selection when confronted with misleading marketing tactics. However, the credentialed checker does not include any additional links, which means that verifiability and traceability of the fact-checking report are difficult. To some extent, this also discourages interested readers from doing further investigation. Limited public participation in next-step exploration hinders Jiao Zhen from enhancing information literacy through a “learning by doing” approach at the user level. This approach to fact-checking can be justified by the need to maintain high traffic through brief and rapid content. Providing extensive reference links might overwhelm the attention span of Chinese information consumers, who are accustomed to fast-paced reading and quick scrolling. As a result, Jiao Zhen’s fact-checking process relies heavily on the expertise and professionalism of its information checkers.

Backed up by the mega internet platform Tencent, Jiao Zhen is channeled to a large user base through Tencent News, which has achieved extensive user coverage as a successful commercialized outlet. Since its inception, it has produced more than 3600 debunking articles on the WeChat public account, providing fact-checking services to billions of people, and playing a positive role in curbing the spread of false information. Notably, Jiao Zhen has gained a certain degree of international recognition. It is the only fact checker from Chinese mainland which is listed in Duke Reporters’ Lab.[13]

At the same time, criticisms are also levied against Jiao Zhen for its failure to assume journalistic social responsibility and play the role of a watchdog (Liu Yusi et al., 2022). Liu Yusi and her co-authors conducted a comprehensive comparison between PolitiFact[14] and Jiao Zhen, concluding that the former has a balanced distribution of themes while the latter concentrates on health issues and does not involve statements about political and economic issues. In particular, it is argued that Jiao Zhen represents a weakened form of fact-checking and even avoids the pursuit of the truth in the public interest. In contrast, a counter argument unfolds: while the Western model of fact-checking often revolves around a monolithic narrative of news facticity, the Chinese fact-checking operates more like a toolbox utilized to address socially divisive issues such as rumors and conspiracy theories (Yu Xin et al., 2023). From their point of view, Chinese fact-checking emphasizes the construction of common social knowledge, ultimately aimed at fostering social cohesion and political integration while addressing disinformation and misinformation.

Overall, Jiao Zhen acts as a significant milestone in the field of fact-checking in China. It not only enhances the public scientific literacy and but also contributes positively to the circulation and promotion of reliable health-related information.

He Zhen Lu (核真录) – “A Record of Verification”

Academic involvement in Chinese fact-checking is rarely researched in previous studies. However, it should not neglect that Chinese universities have contributed to the fact-checking landscape by engaging students and faculty in producing rigorous verification of content. In late 2017, He Zhen Lu (核真录 in Chinese, meaning “a record of verification”) was launched on WeChat as a project for the course “Integrated News Reporting” delivered by Zheng Jiawen, an associate researcher[15] from the Journalism School of Nanjing University. Initially, this was used to disseminate her students’ coursework and showcase journalistic training in academia. Later, it turned into a student-run platform focused on verifying information across various domains such as health sciences, social and political issues, economic dynamics, as well as international news. From the broad spectrum of topics, it is evident that He Zhen Lu does not intentionally limit its scope of verification to avoid risk. Instead, it aims to provide verified facts for public discourse, explain ambiguous public policies, and monitor the factual nature of claims made by public figures (Zheng Jiawen, 2020). As an autonomous initiative promoted by students with minimal conflict of interest, He Zhen Lu is less subject to profit-driven pressure and state regulation, allowing for explorative fact-checking.

Contrary to the systematic aversion to reporting social and political issues, He Zhen Lu took a bold step to verify claims made by significant figures. For instance, it scrutinized the Minister of Environmental Protection Chen Jining’s assertion that China’s air quality is improving faster than that of developed countries,[16] as reported by Caixin on March 10, 2017. By analyzing worldwide PM2.5 data from 2010 to 2016 provided by the World Bank, it concluded that his statement only highlighted the rapid improvement of Chinese air quality without addressing its current state. Thus, the claim was classified as « half-true, » with a truthfulness score of 3 out of 5 points. In this way, He Zhen Lu functions similarly to a watchdog, fulfilling a social responsibility to verify information of public interest (Ji Yige, 2021).

It can be acknowledged that these academic efforts do not seem to be addressing misinformation as actively as possible. From April to June 2024, He Zhen Lu posted only four times on WeChat. This limited activity is likely due to its small size and the annual change in team composition.[17] Despite being a campus media outlet with scarce resources, it strives to provide accurate, well-researched reports and foster discussions among readers to enhance public awareness and understanding of news accuracy. Notably, He Zhen Lu has established a collaborative network among Chinese educational institutions, extending beyond Nanjing University and involving students from various disciplines across the country. This initiative helps cultivate a culture of verification and promotes information literacy among future journalists.

You Ju (有据) – “With Evidence”

In recent years, the scope of Chinese fact-checking has expanded in the realm of international news, a less regulated domain in the media ecosystem. A notable pioneer in this effort is You Ju[18] (有据 in Chinese, which means “with evidence”), an online initiative driven by volunteers and collaborative networks involving universities (notably students and faculty in journalism and foreign languages), media practitioners, and experienced professionals, etc. The founder Wei Xing[19] (魏星 in Chinese) has a history of working for a news outlet focused on social and political issues based in Shanghai, that is Pengpai (澎湃 in Chinese), as well as its derivative Pear Video (梨视频 in Chinese, a video news platform).

In the “About Us” page of You Ju, it claims that the current production mode of Chinese-language international news is unsatisfactory, due to the content regulation rules and limited presence of quality correspondents abroad. Also, international news reporting by media outlets has long been underappreciated. Given language barriers and inaccessibility of many websites of international mainstream media, most of Chinese information consumers have limited choice but to intake reprinted English-language reports, which are often translated in an exaggerated and inaccurate manner, according to Wei Xing.[20] Indeed, international news are more likely to be distorted compared to domestic news in the Chinese infosystem, providing that few journalistic agencies and practitioners prioritize shaping a holistic world view of Chinese citizens, thus taking a “laissez-faire” approach to the influx of overly processed international news. This prompts You Ju’s dedication to verifying Chinese-language international news with the vision that everyone has the right to credible news.

As indicated in the webpage, experienced journalists and editors form a committee responsible for establishing guidelines and ensuring the quality of the fact-checking process. You Ju also claims to be adherent to the Code of Principles[21] issued by the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN),[22] a unit of the Poynter Institute dedicated to bringing together fact-checkers worldwide. Moreover, it has launched the very first comprehensive manual for fact-checking in simplified Chinese.[23] This guidebook covers a wide range of topics including:

  • Types of Disinformation and Misinformation
  • Guidelines for Fact-Checking
  • Fact-Checking Process
  • Determination of Fact-cChecking Results
  • Reliability Evaluation of Sources
  • Information Retrieval
  • Verification of Images
  • Verification of Video
  • Geolocation
  • Time Stamps
  • Tracking of Flights and Ships

In particular, it also proposes a practical toolkit empowering checkers to move beyond textual content and deal with increasing image-based and video-based misinformation. Publicly shared and concrete strategies it offers help Chinese fact-checking agencies and actors to widen the scope of work, which is crucial because effective mitigation against disinformation need to take images into account (Wang Yuping et al., 2021).

As a non-lucrative program, You Ju does not receive external funding and operates with minimal costs, primarily for cloud space subscription. However, this cost-effective approach also seems to constrain it from expanding massively and reaching a larger audience. You Ju is based on the website, without widespread self-promotion through multiple social platforms such as WeChat and Weibo, due to a shortage of workforce and a high turnover rate among its team, averaging 10 information checkers (Chen Weiman et al., 2023). Frequent personnel changes can make it hard to ensure consistent quality of fact-checking reports in the long run.

With the first verification article posted on September 14, 2020, You Ju maintains high productivity and gives updates on a regular basis despite a limited volunteer-based team. For example, 13 informative fact-checking posts are delivered in June 2024. As of December 5, 2021, a total of 324 original verification articles have been published (Wang Guan, 2022), which confirms a finding that Chinese fact-checking agencies are committed to attracting traffic and public attention with efficient and regular posting frequency (Chen Weiman et al., 2023). During certain periods when regional conflicts fueled explosion of international news, You Ju still strives to be tuned for the latest dissemination of misinformation. It is also worth noting that almost all posts are signed by the founder, while profiles for the rest of contributors are unclear. It remains to be seen whether Wei Xin plays a monopolistic position in fact-checking, and to what extent other team members contribute to the outcome. In the case that the founder handles the fact-checking completely on his own, appropriate review process which is promised in the webpage might not take place.

What distinguishes You Ju from other Chinese fact-checking agencies is that it put the boundary between opinions and facts in high priority, by making a commitment that “we do not check opinions, only facts”. In addition, this program displays exceptional epistemic humility, presenting the correction and complaint policy that is easily visible and accessible on the website. With an established correction mechanism, it allows the public to engage in the collaboration of fact-checking process. This interactive approach not only helps in identifying false information or inaccuracies in the reports but also educates users on critical thinking and the importance of openness in navigating an overwhelming information flood. Unlike Qiu Zhen, which is initiated by government-affiliated media, or Jiao Zhen, which is backed up by mega commercialized outlets closely under state eyes, You Ju benefit from a relatively larger leeway in journalistic practice. Yet, it is still subject to the given regulatory environment which seems to impose both censorship and self-censorship. In an interview with Fang Kecheng,[24] the founder Wei Xin claimed that the team practices self-censorship on a regular basis and tends to be very careful about everything from topic selection to the wording of its evaluations. His years of experience in the media field give him a lot of insights into where the red lines potentially are, therefore You Ju succeeds to thrive without regulatory sanctions in recent years. He also expressed that risk is the primary concern for You Ju’s topic selection and that avoidance of covering domestic affairs is a safer move for the agency. Actually, risk aversion seems to characterize Chinese fact-checking agencies, and it is a shared strategy to avoid checking official news outlets and claims regarding domestic social and political affairs. When checking official channels is inevitable, a roundabout tactic is used to blur the identity of publishers (Chen Weiman et al., 2023).

Taking a recent post as an example[25], it is aimed at clarifying a claim with a screenshot circulating on the Chinese social media: the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia stated bluntly at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine that « this is a clown show, and without Russia’s participation, this show is meaningless ». This post is well structed by putting the final judgement first as a way to catch readers’ attention, then it unfolds with context, fact-checking process and conclusion. By employing the Google reverse search, the screenshot has been traced back to the full original video published on the X, where the Foreign Minister emphasized the need of Russian’s participation rather than give such a blunt statement. Even though X is apparently not accessible in Chinese mainland, You Ju still shows the source by putting a hyperlink with yellow line for reference. In fact, it is a common practice for it to provide multiple external links for reference, which leaves room for users to figure out the misinformation on their own. This makes You Ju a valuable platform for self-learning and cultivation of information literacy.

Conclusion

The evolution of fact-checking from its origins in early 20th-century American journalism to the contemporary digital era highlights its critical role in maintaining information reliability and enhancing the information literacy of the public. Moreover, we see the rise of online fact-checking to meet the drastic increase in digital content. Chinese fact-checking agencies, which are emerging on the frontline of combatting misinformation, exhibit unique characteristics shaped by their sociopolitical contexts. While Qiu Zhen and Jiao Zhen respectively emphasize government-backed rumor refutation and expertise in health information, You Ju exemplifies a commendable standard of professionalism in the realm of international news, supported by a methodological guidebook that promotes transparency. Academic initiatives like He Zhen Lu demonstrate the potential for university-led fact-checking to address misinformation in great autonomy. Collaborative networks among educational institutions further promote a culture of verification and enhance information literacy among younger generation. Overall, fact-checking remains a vital tool in dealing with misinformation, promoting evidence-based information, and fostering an informed society. The diverse approaches and contexts of fact-checking practices globally underscore the importance of adapting strategies to effectively address the unique challenges of different media landscapes.

This contribution was reviewed by Steven J. BARELA.

Suggested Citation:

PENG, Da (2024). « The Rise of Fact-Checking in China ». In Blog Scientifique de l’Institut Confucius, Université de Genève. Permanent link: https://ic.unige.ch/?p=2228, accessed 01/16/2025.

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