Skip to main content
Go to dashboard
Not sure where to start? Take a short quiz to get personalised recommendations.
Lesson 4 of 9
Verification: Chrome Plugins and Extensions
Verification
Google Fact Check Tools
Verification: Google Search
Verification: Advanced Reverse Image Search
Google Earth: Pinpoint eyewitness locations.
Verification: Google Image Search
Video: Google tools for fact-checkers (4:28)
check_box_outline_blank Verification: Take the Quiz
Course
0% completed
15 minutes to complete

Verification: Chrome Plugins and Extensions

GO801_GNI_ChromePluginsExt_TitleCard.jpg

How to speed up the verification process using Google Chrome.

GO801_GNI_ChromePluginsExt_TitleCard.jpg

Turn your browser into a workhorse.

From terrorist propaganda to celebrity hoaxes, social media is full of manipulated and misleading content. With the right extensions installed, Google Chrome becomes a verification dashboard that helps you investigate, debunk or confirm the authenticity of a photograph or video.

Once you’ve personalised your extensions, as well as any settings, bookmarks or themes, they’ll be synced to your user account, so you can access an identical experience when you login from any device with Chrome installed. It’s an invaluable tool for busy  journalists.


To install an extension, go to the Google Chrome Web Store at chrome.google.com/webstore Then install it by clicking Add extension.


Find the extension you want and click on Add to Chrome.


Then install it by clicking Add extension.

Installing and using an EXIF data viewer.

Now that you’ve learned to install an extension, here are a few journalist favorites.


A tool called “Send to Exif viewer” is favored for its accuracy, detail and ease of use. You can upload a photo directly to the site here or install the Chrome extension "Send to Exif viewer" for maximum efficiency.


With the extension installed, you can simply right click on an image and select Send to image metadata viewer to see the time, date and location data of the point of capture. Since most social networks strip out EXIF data, this information may not always be available -- but it’s always a good place to start.

Translate sections of text on any web page.

This can really speed up the process of verifying photo captions, video descriptions and user comments. If you use this feature frequently, you can edit the extension settings to automatically show translation every time you highlight text.


Install the Google Translate Chrome extension to make translating individual words or phrases on a web page easier.


Highlight any section of text in a different language.


Click the icon and a pop-up box will appear, showing the identified language and suggested translation.

How to make Chrome your default browser.

GO801_GNI_ChromePluginsExt_Card6_Image1.jpg

Once you’ve customised Chrome with tools and resources to empower your reporting, you might want to make it your default browser. 


To do so, check out the Google Chrome support page

GO801_GNI_ChromePluginsExt_Card6_Image1.jpg
Congratulations! You've just finished Verification: Chrome Plugins and Extensions in progress
Recommended for you
How would you rate this lesson?
Your feedback will help us to continuously improve our lessons!
Save results and track your progress
By leaving this page you will lose all progress on your current lesson. Are you sure you want to continue and lose your progress?