Announcing VeriFact WordPress Fact-Checking Plugin – Alpha v2.0.5 Now on GitHub
We’re excited to announce the alpha release of version 2.0.5 of the VeriFact WordPress Fact-Checking Plugin, now available on GitHub at:https://github.com/veracitylife/VeriFact-WordPress-Fact-Checking-Plugin
This release is a major milestone for us. The underlying VeriFact project has been an ongoing effort since 2011, evolving from early experiments in automated verification into a more complete, API-driven fact-checking platform. After years of research, prototyping, and infrastructure work, we’re finally making this WordPress plugin publicly available as an alpha build.
While this version is not yet intended for production use, it has been tested and all completed features are working. It’s ready for developers, technical editors, and early adopters who want to explore an integrated fact-checking workflow inside WordPress.
What the VeriFact WordPress Plugin Does
The VeriFact plugin connects your WordPress installation to the VeriFact FastAPI fact-checking service. The goal is simple: let editors and writers run structured, evidence-based fact checks without leaving WordPress.
At its core, the plugin provides:
- A shortcode-based front-end interface where users can submit:
- A simple claim (a single sentence or statement), or
- A prompt + answer pair (for evaluating generated responses).
- A WordPress REST route that forwards those requests to the VeriFact FastAPI
/checkendpoint. - A logging and analytics layer inside WordPress so you can review, search, and analyze your fact-checking activity over time.
Instead of manually jumping between tools, copying and pasting content into external services, VeriFact centralizes it: your content, your checks, and your logs all live in an integrated workflow.
Key Features in Alpha v2.0.5
Although this is an alpha release, there’s already a substantial amount of functionality available and working. Highlights include:
1. Shortcode Fact-Checking UI
- A simple shortcode you can drop into any page or post to render a fact-checking form.
- Users can enter:
- A claim to verify, or
- A prompt and an answer to validate.
- The front-end is powered by bundled JavaScript and CSS assets for a smoother experience.
This makes it easy to create internal “fact-checking workbench” pages or even limited-access tools for contributors and editors.
2. REST Proxy to VeriFact FastAPI
- The plugin defines a WordPress REST endpoint that:
- Accepts JSON payloads from the UI.
- Forwards them to the VeriFact FastAPI
/checkendpoint. - Returns the API response to the browser in a structured way.
- This keeps your API credentials and configuration on the server side, rather than exposing them directly on the front-end.
It also means your WordPress site becomes a thin client on top of the underlying VeriFact service, with flexibility to evolve as the API grows.
3. Logging & Storage
Every check is recorded in a custom database table. For each request, the plugin logs, for example:
- The claim or prompt/answer combo.
- Stance, confidence, and evidence count.
- Runtime and other metadata from the API.
- User and context info (where available).
This logging layer allows you to:
- Review what was checked and when.
- Audit editorial decisions.
- Export and analyze fact-checking patterns over time.
4. Admin Dashboard and Analytics
Inside the WordPress admin area, the plugin provides an admin dashboard and supporting screens, including:
- A summary view of recent checks and system status.
- An admin fact-checking screen where privileged users can run checks directly from the backend (no shortcode required).
- Analytics views with charts (via Chart.js) to visualize:
- Daily fact-checking activity.
- Distribution of stances.
- Other key metrics derived from the logs.
- A log viewer that lets you browse, filter, and inspect previous checks.
These tools are designed to support editorial teams that need both real-time checking and longer-term reporting.
5. Configuration & Access Control
The plugin includes configuration and security features such as:
- A settings page to define the VeriFact API base URL and related options.
- Role- and capability-based access control to determine:
- Who can run checks.
- Who can view logs and analytics.
- Nonces and permission checks for sensitive operations.
This ensures that you can expose only the right parts of the functionality to the right roles within your WordPress site.
Alpha Quality, But Tested and Working
It’s important to be clear about the status of version 2.0.5:
- This is an alpha release.
- It is not recommended for mission-critical, production environments.
- It has been tested, and all completed features listed above are working correctly as of this release.
- Some aspects of UI/UX, error handling, and advanced features are still evolving and may change or expand in later versions.
If you’re comfortable working with pre-release software, this is a great stage to:
- Try the plugin in a staging or development environment.
- Explore the fact-checking workflow.
- Provide feedback, issues, or feature requests via GitHub.
A Project Over a Decade in the Making
VeriFact is not a weekend project. The work behind this plugin and the VeriFact ecosystem has been ongoing since 2011.
Over that time, the project has gone through multiple iterations and technology stacks, with ongoing development of:
- Verification models and pipeline design.
- API and backend infrastructure.
- Integration concepts for content management systems.
This WordPress plugin represents the first widely released version that ties all of that R&D into a practical, extensible tool for editors and publishers. Alpha v2.0.5 is the first public step toward a stable, production-ready integration.
Get the Code on GitHub
You can find the full source code, installation instructions, and technical details on GitHub:
https://github.com/veracitylife/VeriFact-WordPress-Fact-Checking-Plugin
From there you can:
- Clone or download the repository.
- Inspect the code and architecture.
- Open issues for bugs, questions, or enhancement requests.
- Contribute via pull requests if you’d like to help shape the tool.
Want a Complete, Customized, Production-Ready Version?
While the open GitHub alpha is ideal for experimentation and early evaluation, many organizations will need:
- A fully hardened, production-ready version.
- Custom workflows that match their editorial process.
- Deeper integrations with internal systems and APIs.
- Tailored analytics, dashboards, and reporting.
For a complete version of this plugin, customized to your particular needs, you can work with Spun Web Technology, the team behind this integration work.
Contact Spun Web Technology
- 🌐 Website:
https://spunwebtechnology.com - 🧾 Service / Project Inquiry Form:
https://spunwebtechnology.com/service-form - 📞 Toll-Free Phone: +1 (888) 264-6790
- 💬 WhatsApp: +1 (808) 365-6628
- 📧 Email: support@spunwebtechnology.com
Whether you’re a newsroom, research organization, fact-checking initiative, or a company that needs rigorous content verification, we can help:
- Customize the plugin to fit your data model and editorial roles.
- Integrate VeriFact with your existing APIs and tools.
- Design and implement advanced analytics and dashboards.
- Provide deployment, scaling, and ongoing support.
Next Steps
If you’d like to explore VeriFact in your WordPress environment:
- Visit the GitHub repository:
https://github.com/veracitylife/VeriFact-WordPress-Fact-Checking-Plugin - Install and test the plugin in a staging or development site.
- Share feedback, issues, or feature requests via GitHub.
- Reach out to Spun Web Technology if you’re interested in custom, production-ready implementations.
After more than a decade of groundwork, we’re excited to finally share this alpha release with the wider community—and we’re looking forward to what you build with it.