The goal of this initiative was to counter false information, misinformation, hoaxes, and manipulations that were spread within the Romani community. At the same time, ROMEA, o.p.s., aimed to provide Romani men and women with essential information that would help them improve their media literacy. Many individuals in the Romani population had a low level of such skills, making it challenging for them to recognize misinformation, fake news, deepfakes, and manipulations that circulated on social media.
Such false narratives have fueled societal tensions, as observed during the COVID-19 pandemic and the initial influx of Ukrainian refugees. ROMEA sought to counter these challenges by debunking disinformation, delivering accurate information, and fostering critical thinking through educational efforts. In some cases, disinformation was successfully debunked, often in collaboration with external authors working with ROMEA. For example, the team played a key role in refuting false claims about financial aid for Ukrainian women, as detailed in this article. Another disinformation campaign targeting a former mayor was successfully addressed, as documented here.
This initiative focused specifically on the Roma community on social media and the particular ways in which misinformation was disseminated among them. The aim was to deliver truthful and relevant information through various channels and methods to counter the misinformation that could deepen societal tensions.
WHERE, WHO and WHAT
WHERE: The Action took place on social media, mainly Facebook and TikTok, and reached out to ROMEA’s online community of followers.
WHO: The initiative was implemented by ROMEA, o.p.s., in Czechia with a long-term focus on supporting the Romani communities and countering discrimination. The focus was on Romani men and women over 40 who are active on social media, but often struggle with a low level of media literacy. These users were often the target of manipulative campaigns, which increased the risk of spreading disinformation.
WHAT: The main goal of the project was to limit the spread of disinformation among Roma, increase their media literacy, and thereby support trust in verified sources of information.
Core project activities included monitoring social media to identify and respond to disinformation and producing engaging content, such as podcasts, videos, and posts tailored for platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. AI tools, such as avatars and the TrollWall moderation system, were employed to simplify information delivery and facilitate discussions. Additionally, the project emphasized positive and non-stigmatizing narratives to encourage community participation.
The significance and impact on the target group
Thanks to the Local Action, it was possible to increase the awareness of the target group about the issue of disinformation. Videos on TikTok and the ROMEA TV YouTube channel brought easily accessible instructions on how to detect fake news and increased trust in verified information.
“ROMEA videos helped me better understand how to recognize fake news. Thanks to this, I started to pay attention to what appears on Facebook”, shared one of the participants, Ms. Lenka, who follows the ROMEA organization’s social networks.
The response to the educational videos showed a gradual increase in critical thinking in the target group.
Challenges and achievements
Among the most significant challenges that the implementors encountered were:
Low level of trust in the media among the target group.
Need to adapt content to be accessible and understandable for the older generation.
As the most significant achievements ROMEA, o.p.s., mentioned:
Increased reach on TikTok by 35% during the project.
Implementation of the Trollwall tool, which helps moderate discussions and identify manipulative content.
Creation of more than 20 educational videos that reached tens of thousands of users.
The ROMEA project has proven that the fight against disinformation is possible thanks to innovative approaches and cooperation with the target community. A key achievement is not only reducing the spread of false information but also strengthening media literacy. Moreover, the Local Action empowered the Roma community to critically assess media content, enhancing their resilience against false narratives and fostering informed civic engagement. ROMEA plans to continue its efforts, further integrating AI technologies and expanding its reach to address the evolving challenges posed by disinformation.
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Author: ROMEA, o.p.s.
Background illustration source: ROMEA, o.p.s.