Peter Cunliffe-Jones’ research on fact-checking featured in The Economist

In a recent Economist article, “Fact-checkers forecast which dodgy claims will do most damage,” CAMRI Visiting Researcher Peter Cunliffe-Jones was highlighted for his work shaping the future of fact-checking in the digital age.

As online misinformation continues to grow and resources shrink, fact-checkers are under pressure to prioritise claims. Cunliffe-Jones and colleagues from Full Fact, Africa Check, and AFP helped develop a triage system to sort the most dangerous false claims from less harmful ones. This innovative approach evaluates misinformation based on its potential for real-world harm—both direct and cumulative—and whether the public is likely to act on it.

Cunliffe-Jones noted that while cumulative misinformation (like false narratives about immigration) is harder to measure, data analytics now allow fact-checkers to detect narrative patterns over time. He also stressed that fact-checking needs to embrace data-driven decision-making, echoing lessons from large platforms like Meta: “If this community is going to learn anything from Meta… it’s that data is the future.”

His contribution underscores the University of Westminster’s ongoing commitment to evidence-based solutions for pressing global challenges like misinformation and digital trust.

Read the full article here (paywall protected).

Photo by Joshua Miranda