The Venezuelan Observatory of Fake News (OVFN) is an initiative of Venezuelan journalists that was born with the purpose of promoting detection, analysis and digital literacy in an attempt to stop manipulation campaigns and hoaxes that circulate mainly on social networks.
The project, founded in July 2019, by a group of university professors, journalists and members of the Medianalysis organization, focuses on the field of disinformation, which they seek to combat with journalistic processes and the support of technological tools, always following the principles of responsibility, truthfulness, plurality and impartiality.
In addition to its verification and denial work, the OVFN carries out training, academic and research work. In this way, the initiative has managed to publish and make available to citizens three books on disinformation in which its negative impact on citizens' access to information is analyzed and theoretical elements and practical examples are offered to help them prevent deception and manipulation.
They also carry out virtual and in-person training for students of Social Communication, practicing journalists, teachers, different professional associations and members of civil society, with the purpose of encouraging communication for democracy and guaranteeing citizens' right to information.
Among the objectives of the Observatory are the following:
Counteract the processes of self-serving disinformation that become viral in Venezuela, providing information and tools for the detection and denial of fake news and providing citizens with training opportunities and content that support the development of capacities for a critical reading of the media ecosystem in the country.
Alert citizens about the fake news circulating in Venezuela through systematic detection, verification and denial processes.
Promote a critical communication reading of hoaxes and the media ecosystem, promoting understanding of the impact of falsified content that guides citizens.