The purpose of the gathering was to review the first draft of the European Fact Checker Standard Network (EFCSN). Five distinct organisations participated, including EU DisinfoLab, Check First, Open Facto, Logically, and the DFRLab.
Over the course of two days, fact-checkers and OSINT organisations had the opportunity to exchange ideas, share best practices, and learn from one another. This collaborative event allowed participants to better understand the nuances of each other’s work. However, during the discussions, it became apparent that there were differences between the activities of fact-checkers and OSINT organisations, despite their seemingly close relationship.
After two days of intense brainstorming and collaborative discussions, fact-checkers and OSINT organisations decided to divide their efforts into two separate initiatives: the creation of a fact-checking European standard and the development of OSINT Guidelines. By working together and acknowledging the distinctions between their fields, these projects are taking a significant step towards establishing comprehensive standards and best practices that will ultimately strengthen both industries.