LEFT-CENTER BIAS
These media sources have a slight to moderate progressive/liberal bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes) to favor progressive/liberal causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information, but may require further investigation. See all Left-Center sources.
- Overall, we rate Forbidden Stories as Left-Center biased due to its focus on investigative journalism targeting government corruption, corporate misconduct, and authoritarian regimes. We rate its reporting as Mostly Factual due to poor sourcing in some investigations and reliance on leaks without independent verification.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER (-4.8)
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL (2.6)
Country: France
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
Forbidden Stories is a nonprofit investigative journalism organization dedicated to continuing the work of journalists who have been threatened, censored, or killed. Established in 2017 by French journalist Laurent Richard, the platform collaborates with global media outlets to ensure that critical investigative stories are published. Forbidden Stories primarily focuses on issues such as corruption, environmental crimes, and human rights violations, working in partnership with media organizations worldwide.
Read our profile on France’s Media and Government.
Funded by / Ownership
Forbidden Stories operates under the nonprofit organization Freedom Voices Network, which is based in France. The organization receives funding from various foundations that support press freedom, including the Open Society Foundations, the Luminate Group, the Ford Foundation, and the European Commission. It also accepts individual donations.
Analysis / Bias
Forbidden Stories engages in investigative journalism, focusing on issues such as corruption, environmental crimes, and political abuses. The article “Sanction breakers: Corruption, nepotism and the Wi-Fi System: How Kyrgyzstan Became a Hub for smuggling cars into Russia” examines allegations of smuggling luxury vehicles from Kyrgyzstan to Russia despite Western sanctions. The article cites criminal files and leaked documents but does not include independent verification beyond these sources. Some images in the report are credited as “Private,” lacking transparency on their origin. The article also includes photographs of cars from dealership galleries, such as Berg Auto Premium, without direct evidence linking them to the alleged smuggling operations. While the article provides documentation, it is not verifiable. The framing of the article is critical of government corruption.
Another report, “WhatsApp trumps NSO in court: A historical ruling amid political change,” covers the legal battle between WhatsApp and NSO Group over allegations that NSO’s Pegasus spyware was used to target journalists and human rights activists. The article discusses the implications of a U.S. court ruling that favored WhatsApp, emphasizing concerns over digital surveillance and press freedom. This story follows Forbidden Stories’ pattern of covering issues related to surveillance and state overreach. Unlike the Kyrgyzstan report, this piece is based on court rulings and widely available legal documentation, making it more verifiable. The article references CourtListener, a public archive of U.S. court filings, as a primary source of information, which enhances transparency.
Failed Fact Checks
Overall, we rate Forbidden Stories as Left-Center biased due to its focus on investigative journalism targeting government corruption, corporate misconduct, and authoritarian regimes. We rate its reporting as Mostly Factual due to poor sourcing in some investigations and reliance on leaks without independent verification. (M. Huitsing 03/07/2025)
Source: https://forbiddenstories.org/
Last Updated on March 7, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check
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