Verification at AP

A detail of the graphically facade of the Berlin Philharmonie concert hall,, the home of the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra in Berlin, Germany, Monday, June 22, 2015. The Berlin Philharmonic has named Siberian-born conductor Kirill Petrenko as its next chief conductor one of the most prestigious posts in the world of classical music. The orchestra made the announcement Monday June 22, 2015 at a news conference at its concert hall in Berlin. Petrenko will take over from Simon Rattle, who is leaving to take over the London Symphony Orchestra. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

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Getting the facts right — since 1846

About 30 years ago, The Associated Press began systematically checking claims by public officials — work that grew into AP Fact Check, which focused on covering presidential addresses, debates and campaign events.

As misinformation spread online, AP expanded its verification efforts to include social media and digital publications. Today, our News Verification and User-Generated Content (UGC) teams fact-check and authenticate online material, a process made even more complex by the rise of generative AI.

How AP Verifies

Dedicated teams

The News Verification team investigates misinformation and false claims.
The UGC team authenticates eyewitness accounts, photos and video used in AP coverage.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt attends the premiere of

Global, always-on verification

AP’s 24/7 UGC desk sources and validates material from around the world — including from conflict zones and hard-to-reach areas — ensuring every image and clip meets AP’s editorial standards.

Tools for speed and reach

We use tools such as Trint to transcribe news events, monitor social media continuously, and analyze post circulation with NewsWhip and esyinsights.

Verification in Practice

Verification Tools

AP begins in-house — reviewing our own reporting, photos and videos to identify inaccuracies or manipulation.

We use AP Verify for reverse-image and video searches, identify source accounts, and confirm authenticity through mapping tools and satellite imagery.

Learn more

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, right, talks during an interview with The Associated Press in Brussels, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Tsikhanouskaya says President Alexander Lukashenko may have miscalculated last month by diverting a Ryanair passenger jet to Minsk, where a dissident journalist aboard was arrested. The exiled novice politician says the incident has galvanized the West against Lukashenko, who had “never crossed this red line before.” (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Verification in Every Story

Verification is built into every step of AP journalism — from assignment to publication.
Reporters and editors corroborate facts with documents and on-the-record sources, while visuals are checked for metadata, timing and location.
When user-generated content (UGC) is used, permissions and authorship are confirmed, and verification continues as stories evolve.

Verifying User-Generated Content

For social and eyewitness material, AP follows a multi-step process:

Reverse-image searches and geolocation.
Comparing details — landmarks, signage, weather, language — with AP reporting.
Checking for manipulation frame by frame.
Contacting the original filmer for permission and further validation.

Standards and Training

Our standards are as old as our name — but they evolve with every new technology.

Multiple sources

AP confirms facts using several independent, reliable sources — and studies or datasets when available. We also assess how false claims spread to avoid amplifying them.

Permissions, not “fair use”

AP reporters obtain consent directly from original creators before using social media content.

Ongoing training

The UGC team trains staff on permissions and verification best practices. Executive producers oversee copyright and ethical compliance.

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