‘How To’ Explained – Launching BBC Verify

Early on Wednesday, May 3, footage was released of what appears to be two drones crashing into the dome of Moscow’s Kremlin complex. But was the video real or fake? Did this “attack” actually happen? And how can we know that?

The exponential growth of manipulated and distorted videos means that you can no longer believe what you see. Consumers say they can no longer believe the videos in their news feeds are real. That’s why we at the BBC need to start publishing and sharing the work we do behind the scenes as soon as possible, checking and verifying information and video content before it appears on our platform. And as AI weaponizes and accelerates the effects and consequences of disinformation, this effort has never been more important.

Every day, all day long, the BBC news team uses ever more sophisticated tools, methods and technology to review and verify videos, images and information, including drone footage of the Kremlin. This is done to ensure that our journalism meets the rigorous editorial standards that the BBC proudly upholds.

But so far, most of that work has been done behind the scenes, out of sight of the audience.

These same viewers are constantly exposed to misinformation, disinformation, and fake images, including those generated by AI. And they tell us that amid all this noise and sensationalism, we need to see what we do so that people can maintain the trust they have placed in the BBC over the past 100 years. . People want to know not only what we know (and don’t know), but how we know it.

Thus was born our new brand, BBC Verify.

We have recruited forensic journalists and experts from across the BBC, including analytical editor Ross Atkins and disinformation correspondent Marianna Spring and her team. In total, BBC Verify is made up of approximately 60 journalists who use a variety of forensic investigative skills and open source intelligence (Osint) capabilities to develop a highly specialized work.

They will be fact-checking, verifying videos, combating disinformation, analyzing data, and, importantly, explaining complex stories in pursuit of truth.

This is a different way of our journalism. We have built a physical space in our London newsroom, a studio from which BBC Verify correspondents and experts report and transparently share evidence gathering with viewers. They contribute to news online, radio and television, including news channels and live and breaking streaming operations, both in the UK and abroad.

BBC Verify will be home to specific expertise and technology. But I want all BBC journalists to share the principle of transparently explaining the ‘how’ behind journalism. And thanks to those who are experimenting with new ways to do so.

“If you know how to make it, you can trust the content” – that’s what the viewers say. Trust is earned, and transparency helps earn it.

And what about that “drone”? Ros Atkins’ explainer video has some answers, and this video has over 1 million views of his on our website, giving people an idea of ​​what her Verify is going to do each day. can do.