What is the CrossCheck App?
The CrossCheck app allows misinformation experts and members of the public to submit tips flagging up possible misinformation. We can then provide our researchers and specialists with valuable analysis and insights that could inform trustworthy stories. First Draft has recently developed the app, with the beta version now available for selected users.
What is a tip?
Misinformation is harming communities across the world. We all need to tackle this threat together. You can help protect yourself and your community by highlighting any emerging stories and rumors as ‘tips’, so the CrossCheck community can investigate their credibility. You can categorize and add supporting information to your tip to assist the network in researching and investigating it in detail.
Do I need to submit a new tip for each piece of information I have?
Each different rumor or piece of questionable information should be added as a new tip, but if you have various supporting materials relating to the same rumor you can just submit one tip with multiple assets included.
What happens to my tip?
Your tips will be submitted to First Draft and shared with the selected verified publishers and topic specialists that are signed up to the CrossCheck network. Your tips may then be investigated and used for producing CrossCheck stories as well as to inform researchers about how misinformation is spreading online.
None of your personal details will be shared with the CrossCheck community, unless you have specifically consented to this in the app. You can withdraw this consent at any time.
We provide the option to submit a tip anonymously if you are logged into the app. This will send the tip without your personal details. If you choose this option, you will not be able to see these submitted tips in your account.
Will I get feedback on my tip?
During use of the beta version, First Draft will be reviewing and analysing the tips submitted to support our researchers and specialists. In future, your tips may be investigated and used for producing stories on the CrossCheck platform for journalists and misinformation specialists. If you set up an account, you will be notified when stories are published relating to your tip.
Is it OK to send similar tips from different sources?
If you see a rumor appear on different sources, please send a tip for each source. This will assist in researching and investigating the tip in further detail.
What if I send a tip and realize I was wrong?
It’s not a problem, just submit the tip again. We collate and research similar tips, so will be able to identify the new tip with the correct information.
Does sending a tip really make a difference?
Absolutely. CrossCheck is a community of verified publishers, working together to produce credible coverage. The information shared between the network could be just the jigsaw piece a reporter needs to put together an accurate and credible story for their audience.
I’ve got information in a non-English language. Can I still submit it as a tip?
Yes, we accept tips in all languages. Our CrossCheck community is made up of members from around the world and speaking a range of languages.
What does it mean to send an anonymous tip?
If you have registered and are logged into the app, you are able to submit tips anonymously. This means we will treat your tip as being submitted from an unregistered user, and while we will collect your IP address we will not transmit your personal information with the tip. If you submit your tip anonymously it will not show under your account.
Do I have to register?
We don’t require you to provide us with any personal information to use this app. However, during use of the beta version we ask for you to register in the app, in order for you to see the details of your submitted tips.
What are the benefits of registering?
By registering, you will be able to view your submitted tips and see how they have contributed towards countering misinformation and building trustworthy stories. You can also manage your account, settings and alerts, and should you lose or change your device, it’s easy to access your account and history through your log-in.
What data do you collect?
If you have not registered, a unique sender ID will be assigned to you, and this sender ID will be transmitted to us. We will also collect your IP address. If you choose to register with us, we will ask for some personal information. You are able to request the deletion of your account and personal details at any time. For further details please see our Privacy Policy.
Why should I let you know my location?
While using the app we may ask for your phone’s geolocation and collect your IP address when submitting a tip. Turning on geolocation increases the accuracy of the information you provide and helps us in our verification when reporting. For further details please see our Privacy Policy.
What do you do with my data?
We only use your information for certain purposes, such as administering and improving the app and troubleshooting and testing. For further details please see our Privacy Policy.
What are CrossCheck Stories?
CrossCheck is a secure social network where journalists, researchers and topic specialists from around the world work collaboratively to counter misinformation and build trustworthy stories.
CrossCheck members utilize our private platform as a space for collaborative investigation, discussion and support. When multiple organizations contribute to a story, it means the content has been ‘CrossChecked’. This means it’s been reviewed and agreed by peers within the network. So when you see a story published by CrossCheck, you know trusted sources have considered the content accurate, reliable and verified. This strength in numbers approach not only helps us counter misinformation, but also provides an opportunity to celebrate and promote great journalism.
What does First Draft do?
CrossCheck is a product of First Draft, a global organization working to empower people with the knowledge and tools to build resilience against harmful, false and misleading information.
Find out more at: firstdraftnews.org
And follow us at:
linkedin.com/company/first-draft-news
Want to talk to us? Get in touch at info@firstdraftnews.com
How do I report a problem?
If you have encountered a problem with the app, or find any of the options aren’t working, please email our technical support team at support@firstdraftnews.com with details of the problem.
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