Fact-checking site Snopes at risk of shutting down

In the era of fake news, it’s alarming to learn that one of the oldest if not well known sources for confirming internet rumours and fake news is on the verge of shutting shop.

According to The New York Times, the site, which gets all of its revenue from advertising, created a crowdfunding page on Monday, seeking $500,000 from readers to remain operational indefinitely. David Mikkelson, a founder, said that Proper Media, the vendor that runs its advertising services, has withheld the site’s revenue and has refused to relinquish control of the site.

“We have had no income whatsoever for the last several months,” he told the paper.

Over the years, the site added staff as it aimed to debunk falsities of the political process. In December, Facebook made Snopes a key part of its efforts to combat fake news, including it in a group of fact-checkers that would be alerted if enough users flagged an article as fake.

On Monday, Snopes used its website and social media accounts to promote its crowdfunding effort, and had succeeded in raising more than $184,000 as of now.

The two sides, which have sued each other in separate claims, present entirely conflicting descriptions of who owns the company and what is being withheld from whom. The earliest chance for resolution appears to be a court hearing scheduled for next week.