The new redesigned verification plugin
We have launched in September 2021 a new redesigned version of the InVID-WeVerify verification plugin (0.75) doubling the number of tools available. The last update was published on December 11. This popular browser extension has more than 57k weekly active users (journalists, fact checkers, human rights defenders, academics, OSINT researchers, law and enforcement agencies) worldwide at the end of WeVerify (usage increased by 7 during the project timeline according to Google Chrome statistics). The toolkit has been considerably enhanced with WeVerify tools such as Image context analysis (on Facebook and Twitter), Optical Character Recognition in Images (OCR), FactChecks search, Cross-network search, Twitter social network analysis module. A new virtual Assistant guides users between the different tools and provides several other services such as link extraction, matching the content against a credibility service or the Database of Known Fakes (DBKF). Search by similarity through the DBKF is also accessible through the plugin contextual menu. The toolkit is also completed by a demo content and a classroom (both enhanced within the YouCheck! media literacy EU project) and a new improved and re-designed Forensic feature and a new standalone forensic tool (CheckGIF). Both those two tools were developed in EnVisu4 project funded by the Fact-Checking Innovative Initiative.
The verification plugin won in September 2021 the US Paris Tech 1st prize awarded by the Global Engagement Center of the US State Department and the Digital Forensic Lab of the Atlantic Council, in a worldwide competition between some 40 verification tools. The toolkit is designed and maintained since its launch by AFP Medialab, with the support of all our project scientific partners who are providing innovative services through web services.
According to the Poynter Institute, home of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), the InVID-WeVerify verification plugin “is one of the most powerful tools for spotting misinformation online“.
The advanced fact-checking techniques available with the verification plugin have been demoed in several workshop including one organised by the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO).
To avoid misuse and to save computing power, some of the advanced tools (Twitter SNA, CheckGIF and GIF export on Forensic) are only accessible on registration and are reserved for journalists, fact-checkers and researchers working on disinformation. If you think you qualify, you can apply for registration directly from the plugin advanced tools menu (see the above image).
At the moment, this new version is available on Chrome and has been updated automatically (Ed: you may have to close and reopen your Chrome browser) through the Chrome store if you used any previous version. The plugin also works on Opera browser by installing first the Opera add-on Install Chrome Extensions. You can also install it on Microsoft Edge from the Chrome store.
A version for Firefox is in preparation (but we are still struggling with Facebook authentication within Firefox).
Disclaimer: this software is provided “as is”, without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non infringement. In no event shall the authors or copyright holders be liable for any claim, damages or other liability, whether in an action of contract, tort or otherwise, arising from, out of or in connection with the software or the use or other dealings in the software.