The dilemma

You are sitting across from your editor. A new poll shows a 6-point swing driven by the video. Your verification team says they are 90% sure it is a deepfake but need 24 more hours to be certain. Your editor says: "we either lead the news cycle or we chase it. What do we do?"

Your options

1. Publish now with a clear disclaimer that verification is ongoing. Speed saves more people from being deceived.
2. Wait the full 24 hours. Getting the facts right is the part you can control; the news cycle is not.
3. Post a short alert on your personal social media flagging it as likely fake while your team finishes the full piece.