Fact Checking Articles
How to assess sources, research claims, terminology, and privacy-policy information.
Latest Fact Checking Articles
17 articles in this category.
Understanding Dates in Digital Policy News
Announcement, adoption, enforcement, and implementation can occur at different times.
Comparing Privacy Notices with Help Documentation
A privacy notice and a help page can answer different questions. Neither should be read as a complete description of every technical behavior.
Using a Source Hierarchy Carefully
Primary sources are often valuable, but their purpose and limitations still matter. A company is a primary source for its own statements, not an independent verifier of them.
Keeping Privacy Terminology Precise
Anonymization, pseudonymization, aggregation, and encryption describe different processes. Confusing them can overstate protection.
Documenting Corrections Clearly
Readers should be able to identify what was wrong and what changed. Silent edits can leave a misleading impression.
What to Do When Information Is Missing
Missing documentation does not prove either that a practice occurs or that it does not. The gap should be stated.
What Makes a Source Useful for Data Education
Source quality depends on expertise, method, relevance, and transparency. A familiar publisher can still be wrong about a specific detail.
When a Policy and an Observation Disagree
A single observation may have several explanations. A discrepancy deserves investigation without premature certainty.
Checking Dates and Sources in Privacy Coverage
Privacy information can become outdated or apply only in a particular place. Dates and jurisdiction affect interpretation.
Verifying Claims About Data Collection
A collection claim should identify what information is involved and how the claim was established.
Handling Conflicting Data-Practice Claims
Conflicting sources may describe different versions, regions, or parts of a service. Agreement should not be assumed.
Checking Sources Before Updating a Guide
A new source should be compared with the existing evidence and the exact claim being revised.
Why Units and Definitions Matter in Research
Numbers can mislead when the unit, denominator, or definition changes. A count is meaningful only in context.
Why Jurisdiction Matters for Data Rights
Rights and procedures vary by place, organization, and type of information. A general guide cannot guarantee a particular legal outcome.
Building an Accurate Data-Practice Comparison
A comparison needs consistent definitions and equivalent scope. Empty cells should remain unknown rather than becoming assumptions.
Fact-Checking Claims About Privacy Law
Legal rules depend on definitions, exemptions, geography, and dates. A short summary can omit conditions that matter.
Separating Privacy Marketing from Evidence
Words such as secure, private, and anonymous need context. Marketing language alone does not establish a technical property.