Chula Collaborates with AFP and Google to Strengthen “Fact-Checking” Skills and Combat Misinformation 

On August 6, 2025, Chula Communication Center, Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with AFP and the Google News Initiative, hosted a hands-on training workshop titled “FACT CHECK: Digital Investigation Techniques Workshop.” The workshop aimed to enhance fact-checking competencies among the Chula community to meet the growing challenges of misinformation in the digital age. 

Asst. Prof. Dr. Ake Pattaratanakun, Chief Brand Officer of Chulalongkorn University, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the dual role of the Chula community as both “message receivers” and “message senders” who can contribute to verifying and disseminating accurate information to society. 

“In an era where information travels faster than light and anyone can spread news at their fingertips, distinguishing between what is true and what is false has become an increasing challenge. Fact-checking skills are no longer optional—they are essential for all members of a university community,” Dr. Ake noted. 

The workshop featured expert speakers from AFP Fact Check, including:

• Ms. Sophia Xu, Digital Training Manager, Asia-Pacific Region, AFP Fact Check (Hong Kong) 
• Ms. Pasika Khernamnuoy, Digital Investigation Reporter, AFP Fact Check Thailand   
• Mr. Nattakorn Ploddee, Fact Check Editor, AFP Fact Check Thailand 

Dr. Ake added, “The knowledge gained from this workshop will benefit not only teaching, learning, research, and everyday work but also serve as a powerful tool for promoting accurate, responsible communication and fostering an intellectually resilient society.” 

More than 30 participants from various departments, including students, faculty, and staff, joined the workshop. They explored various fact-checking tools, including the InVID WeVerify plugin co-developed by AFP. This AI-based tool enables users to analyze images and videos—determining the location, date, equipment used, any edits made, and software used for manipulation. For videos, it breaks down frames to allow similar analysis. 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alongkorn Parivudhiphongs, Deputy Dean for Research and International Affairs, Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University, underscored the importance of fact-checking skills in today’s information-saturated world. He emphasized that Digital Media Literacy is not only for journalists but for everyone. “Digital literacy helps individuals become critical consumers of information, capable of evaluating the credibility of sources amidst the ocean of data we face daily.” 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jessada Denduangboripant, from the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, shared his insights from the workshop. He noted that the session introduced him to advanced Google Search techniques—more complex and useful than he had previously realized. He also explored alternative search engines with broader capabilities for reverse image searches and learned about browser plugins that swiftly trace the original source of media content. Additionally, the session introduced him to Geolocation tools, which help verify the exact physical location of an image or video, adding another layer of accuracy to fact-checking. 

Kittiphat Leesombatwathana, a fourth-year student in Computer Science, Faculty of Science, remarked that his goal in joining the workshop was not only to distinguish between real and fake news but to understand the systematic and in-depth investigative process of verification. He hopes to apply and extend this knowledge in his field by developing new tools or methods for fact-checking in the future. 

This initiative reflects Chulalongkorn University’s commitment to building intellectual immunity for its community and fostering a high-quality communication ecosystem both within the university and across society. 

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