Chula Teams Up with AFP and Google News Initiative to Tackle Fact-Checking with Three Key Techniques   

Chulalongkorn University’s Communication Center, together with AFP and the Google News Initiative, is introducing fact-checking skills to combat fake news — a vital tool for today’s social media users. A free online fact-checking course is also now open for journalists and journalism students at all levels. 

“Real or fake?” — a critical question netizens should ask themselves before hitting “share” on images, videos, and other content circulating on social media. 

In an era where anyone can create and spread content instantly with a smartphone, fake news has become a growing threat. Some deliberately publish false information to stir hatred, spread confusion, attract attention, or exploit others for personal gain. Others, with good intentions, share unverified content without checking its accuracy — fueling the rapid spread of misinformation that can harm society and even national security. 

Although awareness of fake news is increasing, many still struggle to recognize and respond to it effectively. Recognizing this challenge, Chulalongkorn’s Communication Center (CCC) has collaborated with the global news agency AFP and the Google News Initiative to organize the “FACT CHECK: Digital Investigation Techniques Workshop.” The training was designed for journalists and media professionals, featuring Sophia Xu, AFP’s Digital Training Manager for the Asia-Pacific region, as the lead instructor.  Participants learned practical tools and techniques for verifying information on social media through three key methods: 

1. Verifying the First Publisher and Date of an Image 
2. Using online maps to gather clues from “unattributed” images. 
3. Identifying eyewitnesses to verify events and photographs. 

With these three basic tools and techniques, Chulalongkorn University’s Communication Center (CCC) hopes to equip today’s netizens to become more responsible communicators — both senders and receivers of information. The goal is to encourage critical media literacy and fact-checking skills so that users are less vulnerable to manipulation by “fake news,” particularly photos and videos, which can now be easily misused and are among the most difficult forms of content to verify. 

Verifying the First Publisher and Date of an Image 

In today’s digital world, it is simple to download images from the internet and just as easy to post them with new captions. As a result, many images are reused — sometimes in the same context as the original, sometimes in a slightly similar situation, or even in a completely unrelated context. Stock photos may also be added to articles simply for visual appeal, without regard for their original source. 

When internet users first encounter an image paired with text, they may assume the two are directly related and represent fact. In reality, the photo and caption may have been reused in a way unrelated to the intent of the original publisher — or even the true owner of the image. When such content is shared further by users or media outlets, the misinformation can spread widely. 

Therefore, it is most important to verify where an image was first published and by whom. 

The simplest way to do this — accessible from both computers and smartphones — is to check the source of the image using Google Lens, in just three easy steps: 

1. Go to www.google.com , select “Search by image,” and upload the image you want to trace.
2. Select “About this image” and “Exact matches” 
3. The system will display websites where the image appeared, along with its publication date and how long it has been circulating online. 

Users can verify “where” and “by whom” an image was first published by checking the publication date displayed in the results. The process should be repeated until the original image is found, and then cross-checked against multiple news sources to ensure consistency. 

Beyond Google, several other search engines offer similar reverse image search functions, including Yandex, Microsoft Bing, TinEye, Baidu, InVID-WeVerify, and RevEye. These platforms work in much the same way as Google Lens.

• https://yandex.com/
• https://www.bing.com/
• https://tineye.com/
• https://www.baidu.com/
• https://www.invid-project.eu/tools-and-services/invid-verification-plugin/
• https://lens.google/ 

In addition to still images, it is also possible to trace the origins of videos using the InVID-WeVerify plugin, which can extract keyframes for verification. 

1. Open the InVID-WeVerify plugin and select Open Toolbox. https://www.invid-project.eu/tools-and-services/invid-verification-plugin/ 
2. Go to Video > Keyframe and upload the video you want to check. 
3. Once uploaded, the program will generate still frames from the video. Select the desired frame in Fragmentation & Keyframes, then right-click. 
4. Choose Fake News Debunker by InVID-WeVerify and select Image Reverse Search to search the frame through engines such as Google Lens, Yandex, or Baidu — following the same process as with still images. 

With these steps, users can determine when an image or video first appeared online and who originally posted it. 

Using online maps to gather clues from “unattributed” images. 

Even after identifying the source and original publisher of an image, there may still not be enough information to confirm where the event in the photo actually took place. The first publisher is not always a reliable source, and for journalists in particular, receiving images from online platforms or third-party sources can raise questions about credibility. If verification is neglected, unintentional misinformation may result. 

A preliminary way to analyze the location of an event is to look for visual clues in the image itself — such as national flags, shop signs, road signs, monuments, statues, buildings, or phone numbers. In some cases, ethnic features, clothing styles, or the language visible in the photo may also help. However, such indicators are not foolproof. For example, seeing a national flag does not always mean the photo was taken in that country; it could be from an exhibition abroad or simply used as decoration. 

When doubts remain, Google Maps can serve as a powerful tool for confirming the actual location. By combining visual analysis of elements in the photo with reverse image searches or other online resources, users can form a preliminary hypothesis about where the picture may have been taken.

In addition to viewing the location at street level through Street View, you can also see the location at different points in time. Surroundings may change over the years, and in some cases, the place you are trying to identify may no longer exist today. 

Identifying eyewitnesses to verify events and photographs. 

When an incident occurs — whether an accident, a natural disaster, or an unexpected major event — how can we verify who actually witnessed it online, and which images circulating on social media are authentic? 

The first step is to determine where, when, and at what time the event took place. It is also important to consider which language will yield the most relevant search results, based on the region and population, and which social media platform is most commonly used by people in that area. 

Next, once the event’s location is identified, go to social media platforms that allow location-based searches. By doing so, you can see what topics local users in that area are posting and discussing. These posts can serve as potential eyewitness accounts. If the location is still unclear, use relevant keywords connected to the event — such as “earthquake” or “fire” — in the language likely spoken by people in the area. 

1. Open Google Maps and drop a pin at or near the event site.
2. Right-click the pin and copy the Geocode — a long string of numbers, e.g., “13.73375231265437, 100.5284130790436”. Once clicked, the geocode will be recorded automatically, and each recording generates a slightly different Geocode, even for the same place. 
3. Go to X (Twitter) and type in the search bar: “geocode:” followed by the geocode copied from Google Map without any space, followed by desired radius, e.g. 3km (or 3mi).
4. So, the geocode to search for X messages generated in proximity of the location is: 13.73375231265437,100.5284130790436,3km
5. Press search, and the platform will display posts made within the defined radius of that location. 

Example of searching for posts by location on X (Twitter): 
You can look for posts made within a specific area using a Geocode — latitude and longitude coordinates, which can be obtained from Google Maps by following these steps:

In addition to social media searches, some cameras and mobile devices also record GPS coordinates and device metadata along with the photo itself. These can be retrieved using the InVID-WeVerify plugin following these steps: 

1. Open the InVID-WeVerify plugin and select Open Toolbox. 
2. Go to Image > Metadata and upload the photo you want to verify. 
3. Once uploaded, the program will display available details, such as GPS location, device name, date captured, and camera settings. 

However, there are limitations. Depending on the device type, its settings, or whether the image has been edited or altered through other platforms, the amount of retrievable metadata may vary. 

The three techniques outlined above are the basic steps of fact-checking process — to help prevent falling for or spreading misinformation.  

In practice, journalism requires additional methods and safeguards, and often a combination of different verification tools to ensure accuracy. Many other approaches and resources exist to help strengthen the fact-checking process. 

For those interested in learning more, AFP offers a free online fact-checking course through AFP Digital Courses at https://digitalcourses.afp.com/. 

Participants who complete each module will also receive a digital certificate from AFP. https://digitalcourses.afp.com/ 

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