A Research Paper: Speed and Accuracy in Wartime Verification: Insights from AFCN and its Community

The study “Speed and Accuracy in Wartime Verification: Human-in-the-Loop Fact-Checking with AI across Gaza, Ukraine and Lake Chad”, produced under the Al Jazeera Fellowship 2024 and published in early 2026, examines the growing challenges of fact-checking in conflict settings.

It explores how digital platforms and AI have accelerated both the spread of misinformation and the tools available to counter it, highlighting the tension between the need for speed and the imperative of accuracy.

The report emphasizes the importance of combining technological solutions with human judgment and editorial standards to ensure credible reporting during crises. It also includes insights from an interview with Saja Mortada, manager of the Arab Fact-Checkers Network (AFCN) from ARIJ, on regional fact-checking challenges, highlighting the experience of fact-checking the war on Gaza.

This focus closely aligns with AFCN’s work to strengthen verification practices, foster collaboration among fact-checkers, and support accurate, responsible journalism—particularly in high-risk and rapidly evolving contexts.