Fact-checkers around the world are under threat. We help fact-checkers with legal defence, so they can keep doing their important work.

The Fact-checkers Legal Support Initiative (FLSI) connects fact-checkers with pro bono lawyers, helps to pay legal fees, and produces guides on legal and non-legal issues fact-checkers need to know.

LEARN MORE →

Fact-checkers around the world are under threat. We help fact-checkers with legal defence, so they can keep doing their important work. The Fact-checkers Legal Support Initiative (FLSI) connects fact-checkers with pro bono lawyers, helps to pay legal fees, and gives technical legal support to pro bono lawyers.

LEARN MORE →

If you need legal support because of your fact-checking work, apply using MLDI’s secure application portal.

Apply for support

The expertise of three leading media law and journalism organizations

In recent years non-partisan fact-checking has emerged as a vital tool to address the spread of misinformation. However, the individuals and organizations who check facts are being targeted with online harassment, physical threats and legal action. The majority of fact-checkers around the world are small, independent, not-for-profit organizations. When threatened with lawsuits many do not have the resources to defend themselves. The Fact-checkers Legal Support Initiative (FLSI) is a collaboration between three leading media law and journalism organizations, designed to meet this need. Read more.

Media Defence

Media Defence Initiative works globally to provide legal defense to journalists – supporting individual journalists with financial and technical legal support to defend cases against them, and pursuing impact litigation to bring media laws in-line with international standards.

IFCN @Poynter

The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) is a unit of the Poynter Institute dedicated to bringing together fact-checkers worldwide. The IFCN promotes basic standards through the fact-checkers’ code of principles and projects to track the impact of fact-checking.

Reporters Committee

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) provides pro bono legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists in the USA.

Latest News

Fact-Checkers: Seeking Legal Support and Why It’s Important

Sep 29, 2020

The Fact-Checkers Legal Support Initiative (FLSI) provides legal defence to fact-checkers. We connect fact-checkers with pro bono lawyers, pay legal fees, provide support to lawyers and produce guides on relevant legal and non-legal issues. Fact-checkers are commonly...

Fact-Checking Around the World: FLSI at Global Fact 7

Jun 16, 2020

This year, the Fact-Checkers Legal Support Initiative will be hosting a session at Global Fact 7, the annual IFCN-led conference for fact-checkers around the world. Due to Covid-19, this year’s conference will be taking place online from the 22nd – 30th June. There...

COVID-19: Fact-Checkers Overworked and Under Threat

Apr 27, 2020

Global crises like Covid-19 make it clear that the need for fact-checking and protecting fact-checkers has never been so strong. In the digital age, misinformation spreads so easily that during Covid-19, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation has stated...