Factcheck.bg

Factcheck.bg operates as a prominent fact-checking platform based in Bulgaria, functioning under the umbrella of the Association of European Journalists. Its core mission involves verifying claims and publishing fact-checks, with a noted focus on countering Russian disinformation and reporting on political clashes within the Bulgarian context. The platform's work is disseminated through its own website and associated social media channels, including Facebook, extending its reach to audiences seeking reliable information in a contested media environment. As a dedicated fact-checking service, it occupies a critical role in the information ecosystem by scrutinizing public statements, viral claims, and media reports to provide evidence-based assessments. This specialization positions it as a key resource for journalists, researchers, and the general public aiming to navigate misinformation, particularly concerning geopolitical narratives and domestic political events. The organization's activities are inherently tied to journalistic standards and the broader European journalistic community through its parent organization.

The operational context and resilience of Factcheck.bg were severely tested by a significant cyber incident on September 21, 2023. Attackers deployed a malicious WordPress plugin to compromise the platform, resulting in the mass deletion of its published content both on its primary website and its managed Facebook page. This security breach had cascading effects, also impacting the digital properties of its parent body, the Association of European Journalists, and other platforms under its management. The incident triggered automated enforcement actions by Facebook, which removed numerous posts for allegedly violating its security, privacy, or spam policies. Consequently, a substantial archive of fact-checking work, including investigations that countered Russian disinformation campaigns and documented political confrontations, was erased from public access. This event underscores the vulnerability of digital fact-checking operations to targeted attacks and the profound real-world consequences such incidents can have on the historical record and the continuity of accountability journalism. The attack method—a compromised plugin—highlights a common technical threat vector for content-driven websites, while the platform's integration with social media for distribution amplified the damage when those platforms' own safeguards were activated against the compromised content.