During the opening ceremony of the 7th World Media Summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, TASS Director General Andrey Kondrashov announced an invitation for media outlets, journalists, and independent experts to join the Global Fact‑Checking Network (GFCN).
Kondrashov explained that TASS is a co‑founder of the GFCN, which currently includes more than 130 professionals from 55 countries. The network harnesses artificial intelligence, alongside other technological tools, to detect unreliable materials at the earliest stages of their distribution. By identifying the original source of a fake story, tracing its distribution chain, and analyzing how it entered the information space, the GFCN seeks to reduce the spread of disinformation.
According to Kondrashov, participation in the association is free and carries no political conditions. Members are not required to “undergo an ideological reliability check” or demonstrate loyalty to any country or political movement. The association operates under professional requirements and a Code of Responsible Fact‑Checking, but its foundation rests on respect for facts, verifiable sources, and a desire to convey reliable information to the public.
“Disinformation is one of the most serious threats to the modern information space,” Kondrashov said in his speech. He emphasized how fabricated content undermines trust in state institutions, exacerbates social divisions, and produces a deliberately distorted portrait of events. By expanding the international professional community, he argued, journalists could more effectively counter shared challenges.
Addressing the diversity in media capabilities, Kondrashov noted that large international agencies possess extensive editorial offices, a network of correspondents, archives, and technical infrastructure. In contrast, many regional or national outlets lack such resources. “Countering fake news should not be a purely internal task for individual editorial offices,” he said. “The exchange of experience and the pooling of resources are especially important in this area.”
The invitation reflects a broader trend toward collaborative fact‑checking initiatives that leverage advanced computational methods. By offering a platform that blends human expertise with automated detection, the GFCN aims to provide a scalable solution to global misinformation challenges. Media and experts who accept the invitation will join a community dedicated to evidence‑based journalism without affiliation to any political agenda.
