title: Computational Fact Checking from Knowledge Networks.
abstract: Traditional fact checking by expert journalists cannot keep up with the enormous volume of information that is now generated online. Computational fact checking may significantly enhance our ability to evaluate the veracity of dubious information. Here we show that the complexities of human fact checking can be approximated quite well by finding the shortest path between concept nodes under properly defined semantic proximity metrics on knowledge graphs. Framed as a network problem this approach is feasible with efficient computational techniques. We evaluate this approach by examining tens of thousands of claims related to history, entertainment, geography, and biographical information using a public knowledge graph extracted from Wikipedia. Statements independently known to be true consistently receive higher support via our method than do false ones. These findings represent a significant step toward scalable computational fact-checking methods that may one day mitigate the spread of harmful misinformation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Giovanni Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ciampaglia
authors.affiliation: Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shiralkar
authors.affiliation: Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America; Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia, Oeiras, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bollen
authors.affiliation: Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menczer
authors.affiliation: Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flammini
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D019540:Area Under Curve; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D012372:ROC Curve