fact-checker

The fact-checker skill provides systematic fact verification and misinformation analysis using an evidence-based methodology. It is designed to help users evaluate the accuracy of claims, statistics, rumors, and public statements by applying a structured verification process. The skill focuses on identifying factual assertions, determining what evidence is required to validate or refute them, and assessing the credibility of available sources. It helps reduce the spread of misinformation by separating verifiable facts from opinions, interpretations, or misleading narratives.

The skill includes a step-by-step verification workflow that covers claim identification, evidence evaluation, source credibility assessment, and contextual analysis. It supports rating claims using a clearly defined accuracy scale ranging from TRUE to FALSE and UNVERIFIABLE. The skill also emphasizes evaluating source quality through a credibility hierarchy that prioritizes peer-reviewed studies, official government statistics, reputable news organizations, and expert analysis. In addition, it highlights common misinformation patterns such as cherry-picked statistics, context removal, false equivalences, and logical fallacies.

This skill is useful for journalists, researchers, educators, students, analysts, and everyday users who need reliable claim verification. It can be applied to viral social media posts, news articles, scientific claims, political statements, statistical arguments, and online rumors. The skill is especially valuable in situations where users need transparent reasoning, evidence-backed conclusions, and clear explanations of why a claim is accurate, misleading, or false.