Alleged Fact-Checker Zubair’s Alt News’ IFCN Certification Expired In 2020, Yet They Continue Claiming Fact-Checker Authority
Alt News, widely cited among left-leaning circles as a “fact-checking” portal, has not renewed its International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) certification, which expired on 26 April 2020. Despite this, the website continues to present itself as a credible authority on misinformation, publishing content under the banner of “fact verification” while selectively targeting certain issues.
The IFCN certification, which Alt News held for just one year from 26 April 2019 to 26 April 2020, is intended to signal compliance with strict principles of nonpartisanship, transparency, and methodological rigor. Organizations must demonstrate fair sourcing, openness about funding, transparency in methodology, and a commitment to correcting errors. With its certification expired for over five years, Alt News can no longer claim independent validation of these standards.
Even though the IFCN comes under the Poynter Institute, an organization linked to Pierre Omidyar’s Omidyar Network and George Soros’s Open Society Foundation, AltNews has failed to renew their “badge”.
Yet the portal continues to operate as if nothing has changed. Its fact-checks often appear to cherrypick topics and narratives, disproportionately scrutinizing political opponents or particular social groups, while leaving other claims unexamined. Critics argue that this selective coverage allows Alt News to wield the authority of “fact-checking” as a shield, lending weight to its editorial choices while potentially spreading misleading narratives under the guise of verification.
A particularly concerning pattern has emerged: Alt News has consistently pushed narratives aligned with the leftist ecosystem, often branding Hindus collectively as wrongdoers or oppressors. Through subtle framing and repeated emphasis, the portal appears to dogwhistle and demonize Hindus, amplifying ideological biases while hiding behind the credibility of its “fact-checking” brand.
The expired certification also carries practical implications. Many social media platforms and aggregators prioritize content from IFCN-certified fact-checkers to label or suppress misinformation. By continuing operations without a valid badge, Alt News is effectively leveraging past credibility while bypassing ongoing external scrutiny.
Observers note that in the absence of active auditing, the line between genuine fact-checking and editorial advocacy becomes increasingly blurred. Alt News’ claim to “fact-checking authority” is now flawed, yet it continues to influence public discourse, selectively amplifying narratives that serve a particular ideological agenda rather than maintaining impartiality.
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