Factnameh

Factnameh is a fact-checking platform dedicated to Persian news and social media. Powered by an independent, nonpartisan fact-checking team, Factnameh offers timely multimedia content to help Iranians make informed decisions and hold officials accountable. From debunking conspiracy theories to unveiling mismanagement and corruption in the public and private sectors, we counter misinformation one fact at a time.

Launched in 2017, Factnameh is a trusted partner with fact-checkers around the world and an International Fact Checking Network (IFCN) Code of Principle Signatory. What started out as a small fact-checking channel focusing on Iranian politics has since grown to cover a wide variety of topics, including viral social media posts, government disinformation campaigns, and public health misconceptions.

How we started

In Iran, heavy censorship, limited freedom of expression, and the lack of government transparency exacerbate the danger of misinformation. Beyond the scope of social media, coordinated disinformation campaigns backed by powerful public figures and state-owned media are posing great threats to societies in Iran and globally.

We are concerned at the rate misinformation and disinformation campaigns are spreading online, fueling hate and shaping public opinion in Iran, so we work towards countering their harm by fact-checking misinformation and exposing disinformation campaigns.

Based in Canada, Factnameh is powered by an independent, nonpartisan fact-checking team offering timely multimedia content to help Iranians make informed decisions and hold officials accountable.

By harnessing technology tools and a highly interactive platform, Factnameh closely monitors news and trending Persian content with the help of our in-country and diaspora audiences. Since 2020, Factnameh has expanded its operation by ramping up multimedia production of fact-checking videos, podcasts, and feature-length documentaries. The transition to a fully multimedia project increases Iranians’ access to uncensored, diversified media, while embedding fact-checking content in platforms that are increasingly popular among a wide spectrum of Iranians.

Today, Factnameh produces over 200 fact-checks each year and continues to incorporate robust technology and dissemination methods to engage Iranians despite censorship and internet shutdowns. Under a nonpartisan principle, we support civil societies and promote government accountability for a better future.