VERA, the truth bot, now ready to fight misinformation on Messenger!

In the Philippines, where Facebook is king and Messenger reigns supreme among private messaging platforms, misinformation tends to fall through the cracks… no matter how much we avoid it.

VERA Files is introducing a friend and ally to help Filipinos do fast fact checking on the platform: Meet VERA, the truth bot!

Following the success of our Viber misinformation tip line in 2021 and 2022, which got over 2,000 subscriptions, VERA Files is bringing our fact-checking chatbot to over 60 million Filipinos on Messenger.

Powered by technology from Meedan, VERA, the truth bot, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to sift through VERA Files’ database of fact checks to answer your most pressing fact checking questions.

And if you send something that the team hasn’t seen before, the truth bot will send it to our fact-checking team for verification.

Whether you’re hearing false claims about the upcoming elections, facing misinformation about the latest typhoon, or are unsure about the legitimacy of a health product being sold online, VERA, truth bot, will be there to help you.

Learn more about the tip line through the FAQs below.

Who is VERA, the truth bot, and what does it do?

VERA is a bot on Messenger. It automates the chat interaction on the VERA Files Misinformation Tip Line where you can send photos, videos, links or questions for our team to verify.

VERA Files believes everybody can and should be a fact checker. So if you see a dubious post or statement that you’d like to get fact-checked, we encourage you to send it to our tip line.

How can I connect with VERA, the truth bot? Do I have to pay to use it?

On Messenger’s search bar, type “VERA, the truth bot.” It’s completely free!

How does VERA work?

VERA, the truth bot, can help you with two things: getting answers to your questions, and helping you stay updated on the latest fact checks.

Click “Send a tip” to ask us a fact-checking question, or send a photo, video or link that you think needs to be verified.

Click “Newsletter” to opt in to our weekly rundown of fact checks.

What will happen to the tips that I send? How long will it take to get an answer?

Our truth bot will scan our database of over 4,000 fact checks to see if we already have an answer to your question.

If we’ve fact checked it in the past, you’ll get a response in a few seconds, which includes a link to the relevant fact check/s.

If we haven’t encountered your tip before, give our team of actual human fact checkers a few days to look into it. We’ll let you know if it’s eligible for verification. If it is, VERA, the truth bot, will send you the fact check once it’s published.

Where does AI fit in your workflow?

VERA, the truth bot, is powered by tip line technology from Meedan, a technology nonprofit.

The tip line uses AI to group similar questions, videos, images and audio files together – so if multiple users send similar tips, they receive the same fact checks.

AI also automates the process so that tip line users like you can get an answer within seconds if the fact check is already available!

Do you fact check all tips?

If it fits our criteria!

Ineligible tips include opinion, tips with no clear claim (No selfies please!), tips that are not realistic or feasible to fact check (‘How many stars are there in the galaxy?’) and tips with no societal relevance or potential for harm (‘Do these shoes match my dress?’).

The tip line uses AI to group similar questions, videos, images and audio files together – so if multiple users send similar tips, they receive the same fact checks.

AI also automates the process so that tip line users like you can get an answer within seconds if the fact check is already available!

Will I be named in the fact check article as the tip requester?

We state in our stories that these fact checks are reader-requested.

But don’t worry. We value your safety, security and sensitive information. We never name in our stories the individuals who send us fact check requests.

I have a comment or suggestion. How do I reach the tip line team?

Email us at truthbot@verafiles.org! We would love to hear from you.

VERA, the truth bot, now ready to fight misinformation on Messenger!

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Who is VERA, the truth bot, and what does it do?

How can I connect with VERA, the truth bot? Do I have to pay to use it?

How does VERA work?

What will happen to the tips that I send? How long will it take to get an answer?

Where does AI fit in your workflow?

Do you fact check all tips?

Will I be named in the fact check article as the tip requester?

I have a comment or suggestion. How do I reach the tip line team?

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