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Vera’s environmental impact is an essential issue that we carefully examine. Many articles and studies highlight the massive environmental impact of the rapid expansion of AI-based solutions, including energy, material, and water consumption. However, we believe that the significance of fighting misinformation outweighs these concerns by positively impacting society through informed citizens and public debate. We remain committed to monitoring this issue and taking action to reduce Vera’s footprint.

For example, we are actively working on obtaining an accurate estimate of Vera’s carbon impact using tools such as CodeCarbon. We will update this section once we have the data.

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Vera guarantees the use of reliable sources through a strict process. It relies on tools connected to more than 300 recognized sources, including rigorous fact-checking websites and reputable media outlets. A committee of experts regularly evaluates this list to ensure it meets neutrality and accuracy criteria.

Additionally, we collect user feedback through a dedicated form. If you believe a source is unreliable, you can report it to us, and we will investigate to ensure the quality of our service.

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No, Vera has no political affiliations. Its mission is to provide verified facts, relying primarily on fact-checking sites known for their neutrality and accuracy. These sites focus solely on verifying information without bias or judgment.

The selected reference publications and media do not all share the same editorial stance, which is beneficial. However, we ensure that Vera’s responses remain balanced by including a variety of sources.

If you need a different perspective, Vera can suggest other sources to broaden your understanding of a topic. (That said, it’s a bit of a false promise—you can’t ask Vera to provide a left-wing or right-wing, pro-business, or anti-business perspective.)

The first specialized fact-checking websites emerged in the United States in 2003 and in France in 2008. Today, they exist in nearly 100 countries. Some are affiliated with media outlets (e.g., Les Décodeurs at Le Monde, CheckNews at Libération, Les Observateurs at France 24, Désintox at 20 Minutes), with news agencies (such as Factuel at AFP), while others operate independently as associations (Les Surligneurs, ScienceFeedback).

A global fact-checking ecosystem has gradually developed, with the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) and the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN). Both organizations have established guidelines and codes of conduct to ensure methodology and independence.

Vera relies on resources produced by these actors, who generally adhere to the IFCN and EFCSN charters. For instance, the EFCSN code requires its members to be editorially independent, to avoid endorsing or advising the public on political candidates or parties, and to refrain from any agreements or partnerships that might compromise their independence and impartiality. It also states that investigations should not be unfairly focused on any particular party or political side and that conflicts of interest must be explicitly disclosed.

LaReponse.tech is funded by its members, who contribute their time, skills, and resources to support the project. We also won first place in the ThinkYoung hackathon in September 2024, which provided us with financial support of €5,000.

To ensure Vera’s sustainability, we are exploring potential collaborations with non-commercial partners to maintain our independence and mission.

Vera is a free service accessible via phone or WhatsApp, designed to verify facts in real-time. Powered by artificial intelligence (GPT-4), Vera consults over 300 reliable sources, including specialized fact-checking websites and reputable media outlets.

Through real-time research, Vera provides answers that we strive to make clear and well-sourced, always based on the latest verified information.

While Vera always strives to provide accurate and verified responses using a carefully selected range of reliable sources, like any tool, it is not infallible. Occasionally, a response may be approximate, incomplete, or contain an error.

That’s why we encourage users to provide feedback. Reports from users help us continuously improve Vera and ensure the quality of the information it provides.

Vera and ChatGPT are very different. ChatGPT is a general-purpose AI that can answer a wide range of questions but was not specifically designed for fact-checking. In contrast, Vera is entirely dedicated to fact verification, relying on a network of over 300 reliable sources, including fact-checking specialists and reference media outlets, whether generalist or specialized.

Vera never guesses. If a piece of information cannot be verified—meaning it has not been processed, confirmed, or denied by one of its sources—Vera will explicitly indicate this, rather than risk misleading you. Its goal is to provide clear and reliable answers, always supported by recognized sources.

We limit AI “hallucinations” by strictly regulating its responses. Vera only relies on verified facts from recognized sources and never generates answers without a solid foundation. If a piece of data is unavailable or uncertain, Vera explicitly states it instead of making assumptions.

However, Vera remains an artificial intelligence. While it is designed to minimize errors, it is always possible for a response to be misinterpreted or influenced by how a question is asked. This is why we encourage users to report any inconsistencies, helping us correct and improve the service continuously.

Vera’s sources are carefully chosen by a committee of experts. They include over 100 specialized fact-checking websites, such as those following the IFCN and EFCSN European charters. These sites are known for their neutrality and accuracy - they analyze statements, rumors, and public declarations using reliable and verifiable data.

Vera also incorporates 200 reputable media outlets, ensuring a diversity of viewpoints while maintaining response reliability.

Vera’s impartiality is built on three key principles:

1. Neutrality, professionalism, and independence of the fact-checking teams.

2. Diversity of reference publications and the independence of LaReponse.tech.

3. Transparency—all sources used by Vera are accessible at any time.

LaReponse.tech, the NGO that funds Vera, has no commercial interests, no political agenda, and is dedicated solely to its mission of providing reliable, accessible facts for all.