Propaganda remains a persistent challenge to Taiwan’s democracy, particularly in the lead-up to local elections. China, a country known for its military tensions with the island nation and its attempts at foreign influence, is a highly likely source of electoral interference, notably by disseminating misleading information. In this first article of the three-part series The Propaganda Playbook, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) explores Taiwan’s fact-checking ecosystem and the resources journalists can use to investigate misleading information.
You’re a journalist covering Taiwan who has just come across a suspicious claim. Now what? Taiwan has a diverse ecosystem of fact-checkers, researchers, technology organisations, media-literacy initiatives and official channels that can help journalists identify, understand and verify potentially misleading information. The key is knowing who to turn to, and when.
Checking whether a claim has already been investigated
First, the following Taiwan-based organisations and tools can help you establish whether the content in question has already been investigated.
- Taiwan FactCheck Center — Search for existing fact-checks and see whether a claim circulating online has already been investigated.
- FactLink — Consult research and resources on information manipulation and disinformation in Taiwan.
- CoFacts — Search claims and rumours, particularly if they’re circulating through messaging applications such as LINE.
- Auntie Meiyu — Use the LINE chatbot to check suspicious messages.
- Fake News Cleaner — Use automated tools to help identify and counter false information as it circulates.
These resources can provide a useful first check, but if they do not show any fact-checks for the claim in question, it needs to be investigated further. In any case, journalists should verify important information independently.
Investigating coordinated information manipulation
Information manipulation does not always involve a single false claim. It can also involve coordinated accounts, organised campaigns and narratives designed to influence public opinion.
- Taiwan AI Lab —This Taiwanese AI research organization develops tools to investigate information manipulation and coordinated online activity.
- Its Infodemic platform uses AI to analyse suspected troll groups, track narratives and examine how coordinated campaigns spread online, helping journalists investigate potential disinformation operations.
Images, videos and audio content increasingly require verification of whether it was created by a human or AI. When dealing with content you suspect was AI-generated, don’t just rely on a single detection tool. Look for the original version of the image, video or audio, check when and where it first appeared and double check it before publishing.
Understanding where a claim comes from
Fact-checking a single claim is not always enough, especially when information appears as part of a broader narrative or coordinated campaign. The following research organisations can provide additional context.
- Doublethink Lab — This Taiwan-based non-profit research organisation researches Chinese disinformation and information manipulation and publishes reports that can help journalists understand broader narratives and campaigns.
- China in the World Index — This international research initiative led by Doublethink Lab provides research on China’s information environment and its influence around the world.
- IORG — This Taiwanese civil society research organisation researches Taiwan’s information environment and disinformation, and provides media-literacy resources and training.
These organisations do not necessarily provide a simple “true or false” answer. Instead, their research can help journalists understand where a narrative comes from, how it spreads and what evidence exists that supports or contradicts it.
The government says the information is false. What next?
Taiwanese authorities have established channels for responding rapidly to disinformation, including official statements and counter-narratives. These can be useful sources when a claim is being publicly challenged.
However, an official denial should be treated as just one source among others. Journalists should always examine the underlying evidence and cross-check the claim independently.
The same principle applies to information from organisations specialising in combating disinformation. Their work can be extremely useful, but journalists should understand the methodology and evidence behind the way something has been fact-checked rather than simply reproducing its conclusion.
You cannot find any previous fact-checks. What should you do?
When no organisation has already verified the claim, return to basic journalistic verification:
- Find the original source. Do not rely on a screenshot or a repost if the original statement, document, online post or audio or video file can be found.
- Check the date and context. Old information can be presented as a recent event or removed from its original context.
- Identify who produced the information. Consider their interests, expertise and possible political affiliations.
- Check the evidence. What actually supports the claim?
- Cross-check with independent sources. Look for confirmation beyond the original source or the actors involved.
- Separate facts from interpretation. A verified fact does not necessarily prove the political conclusion attached to it.
- Be transparent about uncertainty. If a claim cannot be verified, say so rather than presenting speculation as fact.
Do not rely on a single source
Taiwan’s ecosystem of debunking disinformation is built around different actors who have developed complementary roles. Some monitor narratives, some conduct fact-checks, some research information manipulation, while others focus on media literacy.
The best verification often comes from combining several sources rather than looking for one organisation that can provide a definitive answer. A simple rule for journalists: use fact-checkers to find information, use researchers to understand the context, use official sources to establish what authorities say, then verify the claim yourself.
The ecosystem also has limitations. Taiwan-based organisations have fewer resources than the Chinese state, and political polarisation has made certain members of the public suspicious of fact-checking organisations. For journalists, this makes independent verification and transparent methodology particularly important.
This article was written by Brian Hioe, a journalist based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers a wide range of topics related to Taiwan and East Asia. His work provides a local perspective on the political, social and economic developments shaping the region.
More resources
- The Propaganda Monitor — China: Investigations into Chinese propaganda and its influence on global media.
- Decoding Online Disinformation: Resources for understanding and investigating online disinformation.
- Dealing with Deepfakes: Practical advice on identifying deepfakes, responding to attacks targeting journalists, and supporting affected journalists.