Google image search results will now get fact-check labels

Fact-checkers are chosen from trusted sources of information, as decided by Google's algorithm

Getty Images (Getty Images)

Google has said that it will begin fact-checking images that appear from its search results.

Starting today, a ‘Fact Check’ label will start appearing under thumbnails.

Clicking on the thumbnail will show a quick summary of the fact check, including the claim and a rating from a fact-checker such as Politifact.

This tool is organised using ClaimReview, which is a method used by publishers to indicate fact-checked content to search engines, which are already used by Google Search and Google News.

Fact-checkers have to meet Google’s criteria before they can be used as the source. These include that the publisher of the fact check must be a trusted source of information (determined by Google's algorithm).

The content must also inform users:

• Which claims are being checked
• Conclusions about the claims
• How conclusions were reached
• Citations and primary sources of information

Google also points out that it does not endorse any of these fact checks itself, and as such cannot be appealed. “If you disagree with a fact check, contact the website owner that published it,” a Google support page reads.

Much like in Search, adding this label into Google Images does not affect image ranking.

“Photos and videos are an incredible way to help people understand what’s going on in the world. But the power of visual media has its pitfalls⁠—especially when there are questions surrounding the origin, authenticity or context of an image,” wrote Google’s Group Product Manager of Search, Harris Cohen in a post announcing the feature.

Google is, of course, not the only company currently fact-checking information on its platform. Twitter is currently under fire from the Trump administration due to fact-checking labels that it has placed over Donald Trump’s tweets.

Facebook had to establish a new oversight board in order to deal with these types of conflict on its own platform and its subsidiary, Instagram, but not WhatsApp.

It is also developing artificially-intelligent tools to try and detect messages in memes.