September 11, 2023
Monday 11 September 2023
The Daily Telegraph
Sophie Elsworth
Sky News Australia has begun legal action against RMIT FactLab, demanding the retraction of false fact-checking verdicts on the TV channel’s online content, and reimbursement for lost revenue.
The broadcaster’s lawyers have written to RMIT University and listed at least five fact checks since December last year – four relating to Voice referendum content – that claim Sky’s content is false.
RMIT FactLab, led by director Russell Skelton, published the five fact checks despite its International Fact-Checking Network certification expiring on December 2 last year. To issue fact-checking verdicts, RMIT FactLab must hold a valid IFCN certification.
“Despite FactLab acknowledging it is not certified and its clear acceptance of that fact, demonstrated by the removal of some of the misleading material, the ‘verdicts’ will appear on the FactLab website and therefore are still being used on Facebook,” Sky News Australia’s lawyers wrote to RMIT.
“As you are aware, Meta only works with IFCN certified organisations as fact checkers. “Continuing to publish the verdicts, and provide them to Facebook, is clearly misleading when FactLab concedes it does not have the relevant certification required to do so.”
FactLab came under fire last month after it fact checked reports by Sky News host Peta Credlin that the Uluru Statement from the Heart was 26 pages long. FactLab declared it was “false information” and a tag was placed on the video on the Sky News Facebook page which was subsequently unable to be viewed.
Meta suspended its partnership with RMIT FactLab due to the lapsed IFCN certification and concerns of bias in relation to fact checks on the Voice.
RMIT’s lawyers responded to Sky’s legal demands and said the broadcaster’s actions had resulted in the RMIT FactLab’s suspension. The lawyers also said when Sky established a Facebook page, “it agreed to Meta’s terms of use” and that Sky should instead take legal action against Meta.
Liberal Senator James Paterson wrote to Meta on August 30 and asked the tech giant to review all previous fact checks by the RMIT’s FactLab and release the findings publicly.
Responding to Senator Paterson, Meta’s regional director of policy, Mia Garlick, said complaints about fact checks should be sent to the IFCN.
An RMIT spokeswoman said FactLab’s accreditation with IFCN is in the process of being renewed. “RMIT FactLab stands by the accuracy of its work to date.”
