Beyond compliance: How European fact checkers correct their own errors

Fact checkers should maintain high standards of accountability because they hold unique positions in society by verifying content that can influence political practices and society as a whole. To maintain these professional standards, fact-checking network organizations such as the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) and the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN) have established codes of standards, and fact-checking organizations should comply with them in a substantive way. Analysis of published corrections to their original fact checks showed that many EFCSN member organizations ensured procedural compliance but did not meet substantive standards, given their unique role in knowledge verification within the information ecosystem.