🛡️ The Five-Step Verification Protocol: Stop, Think, Check
OTFR Core Principle: Disinformation works by speeding you up. Verification works by slowing you down.
Before You Start (Pre-Bunking): Build your information immune system before the attack. Proactively follow a small, trusted, and diverse set of primary sources. A good information diet makes the Protocol easier and faster.
Mnemonic: S-S-C-C-V (Stop, Source, Context, Claim, Verify/Veto)
1. Stop the Scroll (The Emotional Check)
The goal of manipulation is to hijack your emotions to bypass your rational thought. If it makes you feel intensely (anger, fear, outrage, or extreme joy), PAUSE.
| Question | Action |
|---|---|
| How does this make me feel? (Angry, Scared, Overjoyed, etc.) | PAUSE. Emotion is a signal, not a command. Set your phone or device down for 10 seconds. Take a breath. |
| Why am I seeing this right now? | Assume the content is specifically designed to trigger you and keep you engaged. Do NOT let the platform set your pace. |
2. Source & Reputation Check (The Who)
Determine the origin and credibility of the information provider before consuming the content.
| Question | Action |
|---|---|
| Who is the original source? | Trace the information back to the person or organization that first reported it. Is it a primary source, or just a re-post? |
| What is the source's reputation? | Lateral Reading: Quickly search for the source's name plus "bias rating" or "reputation" to see what trusted sources (like Wikipedia, established news, or Media Bias/Fact Check) say about their history. |
| Is the account verified? | The Lookalike Lie Check: Look at the exact URL/Domain name for misspellings (e.g., treemagik.org vs. treemagic.org). If the claim is extraordinary, the source must be world-class. |
3. Context Check (The When & Why)
Information is often weaponized by stripping it of its original time, place, or intent.
| Question | Action |
|---|---|
| Is the content current? | Look at the date. Is that image or video from the current event, or is it old footage repurposed now? |
| What is the opposite claim? | Search for the counter-narrative. Search "Is X true?" or "X false" to immediately engage with dissenting/fact-checking sources. (See HIPA: False Dichotomy Trap). |
| Is this news or opinion? | Does the article intend to inform (news) or persuade (opinion)? Look for words like 'analysis,' 'perspective,' or 'opinion' in the headline. |
4. Claim & Media Check (The How)
Take the central claim and the media (image/video) out of the original post and check them independently.
| Question | Action |
|---|---|
| Is the central claim true? | Use a globally trusted fact-checking site (Snopes, PolitiFact, AFP Fact Check) to look up the main claim. |
| Is the media genuine? | Reverse Image Search: Right-click the image and select "Search Google for image." If it only appears on one source, or if it looks "too perfect," uncanny, or has strange distortions (AI red flags), it's a huge risk. |
| Are the "facts" cited? | If statistics or studies are claimed, find the original source. Experts say... is a red flag until the expert is named and found. |
5. Protocol: Verify or Veto (The Action)
The 60-Second Rule:
If you cannot confidently complete steps 2-4 in under one minute, it is unsafe to share.
| Outcome | Action |
|---|---|
| ✅ VERIFIED | Share with confidence. Share the verification process (e.g., "I checked this on PolitiFact, it's real.") to promote collective resilience. |
| 🚫 VETO | Do NOT Share, Do NOT Comment, and Do NOT React. Ignoring bad information stops its spread. You may report the post to the platform or discuss it in a trusted, private group to warn others, but do not amplify it publicly. |
Part of the Open Tools For Resilience (OTFR) initiative. (European Experience, Global Tools)