Sky News lawyers have issued a demand to the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) FactLab, seeking payment for lost revenue due to several fact-checks conducted on the channel’s online TV content. The FactLab, which was dropped by Meta (Facebook) in August, has been accused of breaching its third-party fact-checking program agreement and refusing to retract five fact-checks, four of which relate to the Voice to Parliament referendum. Sky News lawyers argue that the FactLab’s lack of certification renders its verdicts misleading, and Meta only works with certified fact-checking organizations. In response, RMIT’s lawyers claim that any loss suffered by Sky News should be directed towards Meta.
The dispute between Sky News and the FactLab arises as Australians prepare to vote on the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Sky News conducted an investigation in August, alleging that the FactLab allowed Meta to block certain news stories and debate concerning the referendum, violating the media company’s impartiality and transparency rules. The investigation also revealed that 55 fact-checkers, including RMIT, had expired credentials with the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).
Sky News specifically targeted commentator Rowan Dean, accusing him of broadcasting false information about Indigenous Australians already having a Voice to Parliament through the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA). The FactLab consulted legal and constitutional experts who claimed that the NIAA differs significantly from the proposed Voice to Parliament. Another fact-checked story involved Peta Credlin’s reporting on a 26-page Uluru Statement from the Heart, which the FactLab claimed was only one page long. Liberal Senator James Paterson has expressed concerns about platforms like Meta censoring open debate on documents like the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which calls for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.