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Peter Cunliffe-Jones

@pcunliffejones.bsky.social

2.4K followers 380 following 250 posts

Information effects at Facts Matter Research | visiting researcher at Uni Westminster | founder africacheck.org | new book: “Fake news - what’s the harm?” available in print or as free e-book https://www.fulcrum.org/concern/monographs/3197xq21t?locale=en

www.fulcrum.org

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Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · Apr 13

If for some reason you were
1. Not at @journalismfestival.com #IJF25 or, stranger,
2. Were but chose not to get up on Saturday morning for a 9.30 panel discussion of a new model for identifying misinfo harms don’t worry - you can see the whole thing here 👇🏻
www.journalismfestival.com/programme/20...

Can fact-checkers accurately forecast false claims that may cause harm, and defend wider freedom of speech?

The EU requires online platforms to counter "harmful misinformation" but no system is agreed to decide what is and is not "harmful". In 2024, three fact-checking organisations ran a trial of a new mod...

www.journalismfestival.com

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Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · 1d

In a piece for @rsf.org, Valdez Onanina, chief editor for fact-checking group @fr.africacheck.org, talks about the cost of exposing Russian disinformation networks operating in west Africa; doxing, threats and smears
rsf.org/fr/valdez-on...

Valdez Onanina : « Exposer les mécanismes de désinformation russe est devenu un exercice à haut risque. »

Organisation indépendante de fact-checking africaine créée en 2012, Africa Check est présente à Johannesburg, à Dakar, à Nairobi et à Lagos. Journaliste, Valdez Onanina est depuis 2022 le rédacteur en...

rsf.org

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Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · 2d

I think other journalism awards need to up their game.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEBS...

2025 African Fact-Checking Awards gala dinner

YouTube video by Africa Check

www.youtube.com

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Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · 2d

Congratulations on winning the award

Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · 4d

10 years ago I came to Dakar and recruited @fr.africacheck.org’s first editor, Assane Diagne, the first factchecker in Francophone Africa.

This week I joined 200 others in Dakar at the fourth #AfricaFactsSummit.

There are many challenges at the moment. The work of this community is reason for hope

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Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · 11d

Google’s commitment to free expression “is unwavering and will not bend to political pressure,” Google said, bending to political pressure.
www.cnbc.com/2025/09/26/h...

How Google shifted from a bastion of accurate information to a steward of free expression

After years of rolling out features designed to provide users with factual and accurate information, Google is now touting its commitment to "free expression."

www.cnbc.com

Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · 12d

Big presses too, no?

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Reposted by Peter Cunliffe-Jones

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 14d

The polio immunisation program started in the USA in 1955.

Look what happened next.

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Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · 13d

Some politicians care about facts. Others, not so much

A Royal Parks spokesperson: “We’ve not had any incidents reported to us of people killing or eating swans".

Farage: "Migrants are eating the swans"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8...

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Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · 15d

Two cities at random:

London, England: The crime rate in London was 106.4 crime offences per thousand people for the 2024/25 reporting year, compared with 105.8 in the previous year.

Miami, Florida: In 2023, Miami’s crime index was reported as 283, aligning closely with the national average.

Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · 15d

Besides the politics - and I am not all anti Nick Robinson - this is a truly dreadful 'think piece', that doesn't at all explore what free speech actually is and entails.

Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 15d

What on Earth is this? An "in depth" BBC article about free speech in the UK that only cites examples of right-wing/ 'anti-woke' speech being suppressed. How can you mention Lucy Connolly but completely ignore Palestine Action / Just Stop Oil? Gob-smacking. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

How the simmering UK freedom of speech row reached boiling point

How did we reach a point where the UK is being compared to a 'tin pot Third World dictatorship'?

www.bbc.co.uk

Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · 15d

"Mel Merritt, head of policy and campaigns at the National Autistic Society said: 'This is dangerous, it's anti-science and it's irresponsible.'

But hey, why would a medical expert know better than a businessman-politician.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Why Trump's views on vaccines and paracetamol risk child health

The public relies on measured, careful statements rooted in robust scientific research, not conjecture.

www.bbc.co.uk

Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · 20d

Looking forward to taking part in this free online All-Ireland conference today on how corporate policy and mis/disinformation affect public health - and what we can do about it.

It starts in half an hour. Do join if you can. #TurningTheTide2025 #CDOH #PublicHealth
jointpublichealthconference.org

Home

jointpublichealthconference.org

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Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · 25d

If "free speech" means allowing people to say things you find disagreeable, what's this?

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 25d

“.. I can’t remember anyone ever telling me we can’t say anything critical about a civilian like this. He was not in our chain of command or anything,” the officer said.

@nbcnews.com
www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...

Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · 25d

Listening to this today. Seems relevant.

open.spotify.com/episode/3XAW...

Rivers of Blood – How Enoch Powell poisoned Britain

Spotify video

open.spotify.com

Reposted by Peter Cunliffe-Jones

Old School Gentleman @oldschoolgentl1.bsky.social · Aug 31

Science is real

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Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · Sep 1

"The Israeli military has prevented international journalists from entering and reporting on the war, and has decimated Gaza’s own media community."
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

The deadly toll on journalists in the Gaza war

With foreign media barred, Palestinians have reported alone, facing the ‘most deliberate effort to kill and silence’ them ever

www.theguardian.com

Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · Aug 28

More details on Reform UK's commitment to freedom of speech: "the principle that freedom of speech must be paired with responsibility and honesty," says Council boss. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Reform UK Nottinghamshire council leader bans local newspaper's reporters

The Nottingham Post describes the ban as

www.bbc.co.uk

Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · Aug 18

How to get massive economic growth overnight 👇
Change the numbers
africacheck.org/fact-checks/...

FACTSHEET: Nigeria rebases its economy again – here’s what sets it apart

Nigeria has updated how it measures its economy as part of ongoing reforms.

africacheck.org

Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · Aug 6

Does factchecking work? Well, do you know what factcheckers do?

@fullfact.org reached out to a woman misidentified in a viral online video. She found it “really helpful… it was the only organisation that tried to contact me to see if there was any truth to the claims.”
fullfact.org/culture-and-...

Woman falsely linked to viral video involving the PM: How fact checking could have helped – Full Fact

When 31-year-old Abby Raworth first realised her photo and name were being shared online—falsely linked to a viral video involving the Prime Minister—she’d thought it was quite funny...

fullfact.org

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Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · Aug 5

How do fact-checkers select the claims to check? How should we develop a 'harms-based' approach and defend freedom of speech?

Great to work with friend & colleague @mrdudders.bsky.social on this piece for @poynterinstitute.bsky.social

Feedback welcome
www.poynter.org/ifcn/2025/sp...

Spotting the harmful needles in the haystack: How fact-checkers select what to check - Poynter

From person-to-person coaching and intensive hands-on seminars to interactive online courses and media reporting, Poynter helps journalists sharpen skills and elevate storytelling throughout their car...

www.poynter.org

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Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · Aug 4

I wrote for @timeshighered.bsky.social blog on questions to spot fake claims

1. Where did the claim come from?
2. What do other, credible sources say?
3. What might make you likely to fall for the claim?
4. What does the context tell you?

More 👇
www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/four-...

Four questions to ask to detect false news online

Even those working in higher education can fall for misinformation. Ask these four questions to get better at zeroing in on false news

www.timeshighereducation.com

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Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · Jul 28

Asked by media to provide any evidence for its wild claim about the United States' traditional allies convicting citizens for criticising governments, the US State Department "declined to comment".

x.com/StateDept/st...

Department of State on X: "In Europe, thousands are being convicted for the crime of criticizing their own governments. This Orwellian message won't fool the United States. Censorship is not freedom. https://t.co/kCDhaXCVkC" / X

In Europe, thousands are being convicted for the crime of criticizing their own governments. This Orwellian message won't fool the United States. Censorship is not freedom. https://t.co/kCDhaXCVkC

x.com

Reposted by Peter Cunliffe-Jones

Africa Check @africacheck.org · Jul 11

Some viral posts say guava leaves, ginseng, ginger & lemon can “cure” blocked fallopian tubes or endometriosis. But these remedies don’t work, and promoting them can delay real medical treatment. africacheck.info/endo_fallopi...

No, mixture of guava leaves, ginseng root, ginger and lemons can’t cure blocked fallopian tubes or endometriosis – see a doctor instead

A post circulating on Facebook in South Africa claims that users can cure “blocked fallopian tubes” with a simple mixture of guava leaves, ginseng root...

africacheck.info

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Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · Jul 9

Garbage in, garbage out. Methodology matters.

archive.ph/2025.07.09-0...

Peter Cunliffe-Jones @pcunliffejones.bsky.social · Jul 1

Little better than to be recognised by your peers, no?

11 years ago, in London, I took part in the first Global Fact-Checking Summit.

Last week in Rio, at #GlobalFact12, I was honoured for ‘outstanding service’ to the fact-checking community worldwide. Couldn’t be more grateful for the journey.

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