1.1.1 A (quick) introduction to the verification process Verification typically involves a number of identifiable steps, such as analysing the uploader’s social media account, geolocating the event, confirming date and time, verifying the content depicted. These are discussed in Section II to V below. However, verification is not a straightforward ‘tick box’ type exercise. Every piece of content is different, and this requires you to approach verification in a creative manner, looking for any possible clues. Accordingly, before beginning any verification, it is important to first set out the objective. There are a few questions to keep in mind as you are working. Who are you trying to identify, is it a specific individual, a military unit, or an armed group? Are you trying to pinpoint or confirm a location, identify a specific event, or confirm a time? The specific objective underpinning a particular verification task may affect which steps you take, how you approach each step, as well as the order in which these steps are taken. It is important to note that these steps are presented as guidelines, they are not hard and fast rules, and if the objective requires you to take a slightly different approach, you should do so. For example, if your objective is to identify which country’s military is depicted in a photo or video you may not need to worry about the location. Instead you will need to pay attention to their uniforms, the vehicles they are in, the equipment they have, or the language they are speaking. If your objective is to confirm the specific date of an event, you would, for example, focus on the date the video was uploaded, what the weather was like in that location on that day and if it matches the weather depicted in the video. Most importantly, check if there are any reports from news sources that can be used to corroborate the time of the event. Anything that gives you a hint or a clue is called an indicator. For example, if an individual is carrying a weapon, this may indicate that they are in the military or in an armed group. Other indicators may be a language or dialect someone speaks, a famous landmark, or a distinctive building. If the objective requires you are to confirm a location, all steps should be taken. Geolocation is one the most difficult parts of the verification process, and all indicators present in the content may be relevant.. 7