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Fact-checking initiative takes on Egypt's rumor mills and fake news

“Da Begad?” and other initiatives have emerged in the Arab world to counter the daily rumors, fake news and manipulated images on social media and elsewhere online.
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Egyptian social media is a hub of false information ranging from the deliberate bending of facts, unconfirmed and unconfirmable rumors, barely supported, behind-the-scenes allegations and conspiracy theories. Trying to sift through it all is a Herculean task, but that is precisely what “Da Begad?” (Is It Real?) is doing. “Da Begad?” is considered the pioneer among fact-checking initiatives in Egypt and is the most widely used, largely due to the selection of issues its team tackles and the speed at which they do it.

“Da Begad?” describes itself as “an initiative aimed at uncovering the truth” and that seeks to expose “fake news and false information spread on social media or the internet in general.” “We tell the truth with documents, clear sources and evidence,” the site states. “We aim to raise people’s awareness and make them see that not all the stories or news [in circulation] are true, especially if published without a source.” The website stresses, “[Team members] do not belong to any political trend nor are they affiliated with any official or informal body. All members of the team are volunteers.”

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