The Bunker – News without the nonsense Are the fact-checkers losing? – Inside the fake news crisis with Chris Morris of Full Fact
Sep 5, 2025
Chris Morris, Chief Executive of Full Fact, sheds light on the escalating fake news crisis as social media giants shift away from human fact-checkers. He discusses the limitations of the Community Notes system and the growing challenges posed by AI-generated misinformation. Morris emphasizes the need for enhanced media literacy and critical thinking to combat misleading information. The conversation highlights the vulnerability of different age groups to scams and misinformation, underscoring the importance of expert moderation and transparency in tech algorithms.
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Technology Has Turbocharged Misinformation
- Technology has turbocharged the creation and spread of fake information, making deepfakes easy on phones.
- Chris Morris warns this rapid change means misinformation spreads faster than traditional human fact-checking can manage.
Use Fact-Checks To Inform, Not Censor
- Use fact checks to add context rather than remove content; Full Fact flags posts and invites users to read the fact check before sharing.
- Do not rely on fact checks to stop sharing entirely, but use them to inform users and reduce spread.
Consensus Algorithms Miss Partisan Falsehoods
- Community Notes relies on a 'bridging algorithm' that publishes notes only when prior disagreeing users reach agreement.
- This consensus-driven approach can fail on partisan or emotional topics and leave many misleading posts unflagged.