Online verification newsroom CrossCheck has launched a public tipline ahead of the referendum on the Voice to Parliament to help journalists combat the influence of misinformation trends.
RMIT has signed an MOU with SBS and national Indigenous broadcaster NITV and launched a tipline for the public to report information they have doubts about in the lead up to the referendum.
CrossCheck is a function of RMIT's FactLab, a research hub dedicated to debunking misinformation online and developing critical awareness about its origins and spread.
CrossCheck Director and RMIT Principal Research Fellow, Dr Anne Kruger, said the team were honored to have secured the trust of Australia's leading broadcasters serving Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse communities in the lead up to the landmark referendum.
"CrossCheck aims to uphold and maintain the integrity of information in a time when information flows are increasingly vulnerable to manipulation," she said.
"We alert our media and community partners daily of emerging online narratives and trends so they can be ahead of the misinformation e-curve."
"We also act as an active helpline for senior editors and professional communicators on how to slow down misinformation in news reporting approaches."
She said the team is committed to ensuring media play a role in keeping the public informed and are not targeted by false and misleading information.
CrossCheck tracks online disinformation, conspiracy theories, hate speech and extremism using a range of methods including monitoring increases in social media advertising spend, social media sentiment and misinformation in online comments.
To date, they have worked with media partners including the ABC, Australian Community Media, Crikey, The Guardian and a diverse range of under-represented community media.
RMIT Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Education, Research and Engagement, Professor Gary Thomas, said RMIT was encouraging the university community to be well informed on the Voice to Parliament to fully participate in the democratic process.
"We understand there are differing opinions and encourage the RMIT community to engage in the debate with respect," he said.
"Our hope is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have a greater influence in political decision making regarding their social, spiritual and economic wellbeing."
