# Fact Checker > AI tool that analyzes language and context to identify potential misinformation and fact-check claims made by public figures Use when this capability is needed. - Skill: `tomevault-io/fact-checker-2` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/fact-checker-2` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/fact-checker-2/raw - Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/fact-checker-2 --- # Public Figure Fact Checker Identify potential misinformation and fact-check claims made by public figures with structured true/false output and correction recommendations. ## When to use Trigger when users request: - "Fact-check this document" - "Verify these specifications" - "Check if this information is still accurate" - "Update outdated data in this claim" - "Validate the claims in this section" ## Workflow Copy this checklist to track progress: ``` Public Figure Fact-Check Progress: - [ ] Step 1: Extract verifiable claims - [ ] Step 2: Search Google Fact Check Tools (MANDATORY) - [ ] Step 3: Search additional authoritative sources - [ ] Step 4: Generate structured fact-check report ``` ### Step 1: Extract verifiable claims Identify specific factual statements made by the public figure: **Target claim types:** - Statistical data and numbers - Historical events and dates - Scientific or medical statements - Financial figures and company data - Policy positions and voting records - Biographical information **Extract format:** ``` CLAIM: [Exact quote from public figure] CONTEXT: [When/where it was said] TYPE: [Statistical/Historical/Scientific/etc.] ``` ### Step 2: Search Google Fact Check Tools (MANDATORY) **REQUIRED: Always start with Google Fact Check Tools before other sources** 1. **Google Fact Check Explorer**: Search for the exact claim or similar statements 2. **Review existing fact-checks**: Check if the claim has been previously verified 3. **Analyze ClaimReview data**: Look for structured fact-check results 4. **Cross-reference sources**: Note which fact-checkers have covered this topic **If Google Fact Check Tools shows existing fact-checks:** - Review the verdict and methodology - Check if the context matches current claim - Verify the credibility of the fact-checking organization - Use as primary reference point for your analysis **If no existing fact-checks found:** - Proceed to Step 3 for original verification - Note in report that this is a new claim requiring fresh fact-checking ### Step 3: Search additional authoritative sources For each claim, search official and credible sources: **Government data:** - Official statistics (census.gov, bls.gov, cdc.gov) - Government databases and reports - Congressional voting records - Court documents and legal filings **Academic and research:** - Peer-reviewed studies - University research institutions - Scientific journals and publications - Medical organizations (WHO, CDC, FDA) **Financial and business:** - SEC filings and annual reports - Financial news from established outlets - Company press releases - Stock market data **Historical verification:** - Historical archives and records - Newspaper archives - Documentary evidence - Timeline verification from multiple sources ### Step 4: Generate structured fact-check report Output format for each claim: ```markdown ## FACT-CHECK RESULT ### CLAIM #[N] **Statement:** "[Exact quote]" **Source:** [Public figure name] on [date/platform] **Category:** [Statistical/Historical/Scientific/Financial/Policy] **VERDICT:** ✅ TRUE / ❌ FALSE / ⚠️ MISLEADING / ❓ UNVERIFIABLE **VERIFICATION:** - **Google Fact Check Result:** [Run: python scripts/google_fact_checker.py "claim text"] - **Primary Source:** [Authoritative source URL] - **Supporting Sources:** [Additional verification sources] - **Date Checked:** [Current date] **ANALYSIS:** [Brief explanation of why the claim is true/false/misleading] **CORRECTION (if applicable):** **Accurate Statement:** "[Corrected version of the claim]" **Key Difference:** [What was wrong/misleading about original] ``` ## Source Evaluation Guidelines ### Authoritative Sources (High Priority) 1. **Google Fact Check Tools** - MANDATORY first step for all claims 2. **Government agencies** - Official statistics, records, databases 3. **Academic institutions** - Peer-reviewed research, university studies 4. **Medical organizations** - WHO, CDC, FDA, medical journals 5. **Financial regulators** - SEC filings, central bank data 6. **News organizations** - Established outlets with fact-checking standards 7. **Other fact-checking platforms** - Snopes, PolitiFact, FactCheck.org (as secondary verification) ### Use with Caution - Corporate press releases (may contain bias) - Think tank reports (check funding sources) - Social media posts (even from experts) - Single-source claims ### Red Flags - No authoritative source available - Google Fact Check Tools returns contradictory results - Sources contradict each other significantly - Only partisan sources support the claim - Information is very recent with limited verification **CRITICAL RULE: Never complete a fact-check without consulting Google Fact Check Tools first** ## Utility Scripts To automate Google Fact Checker API requests, use the simplified script: ### Simple Google Fact Check Query ```bash python scripts/google_fact_checker.py "Senator X said unemployment dropped 40% during his term" ``` **Returns raw string format:** - Multiple lines for top 5 results: `#N: InformationContent` - `NO_RESULTS` - if no existing fact-checks - `ERROR: message` - if API error occurred **Example outputs:** ``` #1: Donald Trump was born in the United States | Birth certificate confirms he was born in New York City | Original claim: Trump was born in USA #2: Official records verify Trump's birthplace as New York | Original claim: Donald Trump birthplace question #3: Birth certificate authentic and valid | Multiple sources confirm NYC birth NO_RESULTS ERROR: API key not found ``` ## Examples ### Example 1: Political Statistical Claim **User request:** "Fact-check: 'Senator X said unemployment dropped 40% during his term'" **Output:** ```markdown ## FACT-CHECK RESULT ### CLAIM #1 **Statement:** "Unemployment dropped 40% during my term in office" **Source:** Senator X on Twitter, January 8, 2026 **Category:** Statistical **VERDICT:** ⚠️ MISLEADING **VERIFICATION:** - **Google Fact Check Result:** #1: Unemployment claim misleading - shows 2.1 percentage point decrease, not 40% absolute drop | Original claim: Unemployment dropped 40% during term #2: Economic statistics misrepresented in political statement | Original claim: Similar unemployment claim - **Primary Source:** Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment data - **Supporting Sources:** Federal Reserve economic data, state employment records - **Date Checked:** January 11, 2026 **ANALYSIS:** Unemployment did decrease during the senator's term, but only by 2.1 percentage points (from 5.3% to 3.2%), which represents a 40% relative decrease but not an absolute 40% drop. **CORRECTION:** **Accurate Statement:** "Unemployment decreased by 2.1 percentage points (a 40% relative reduction) during my term" **Key Difference:** Original statement implies much larger absolute decrease than actually occurred ``` ### Example 2: CEO Business Claim **User request:** "Verify: 'Our company's revenue grew 500% last year'" **Output:** ```markdown ## FACT-CHECK RESULT ### CLAIM #1 **Statement:** "Our company's revenue grew 500% last year" **Source:** CEO Jane Doe at investor conference, January 2026 **Category:** Financial **VERDICT:** ✅ TRUE **VERIFICATION:** - **Google Fact Check Result:** NO_RESULTS - **Primary Source:** Company's SEC 10-K filing - **Supporting Sources:** Annual report, audited financial statements - **Date Checked:** January 11, 2026 **ANALYSIS:** SEC filings confirm revenue increased from $2M in 2024 to $12M in 2025, representing exactly a 500% increase. **CORRECTION:** None needed - claim is accurate. ``` ## Quality checklist Before completing fact-check: - [ ] All factual claims extracted with exact quotes - [ ] Google Fact Check Tools consulted FIRST (MANDATORY) - [ ] Each claim verified against authoritative sources - [ ] Verdict clearly stated (TRUE/FALSE/MISLEADING/UNVERIFIABLE) - [ ] Sources are credible and current - [ ] Analysis explains the reasoning - [ ] Corrections provided for false/misleading claims - [ ] Temporal context included where relevant ## Limitations **This skill cannot:** - Verify future predictions or speculation - Determine subjective truth in opinion-based statements - Access private or confidential information - Resolve disputes where authoritative sources disagree - **Complete fact-checks without using Google Fact Check Tools** **For such cases:** - Mark as ❓ UNVERIFIABLE - Note the limitation in analysis - Suggest seeking additional expert consultation - **Always include Google Fact Check Tools results even if no matches found** --- > Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/dtmc-marketplace) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.