The South African government’s passing of the 2024 Expropriation Act was received with mixed reactions, including criticism from global figures. But is this legislation the land confiscation tool that detractors make it out to be?

Data sampling bias occurs when a sample collected for a study or analysis does not accurately represent the population it is drawn from. Propagation of information, particularly misinformation, becomes especially important during high-impact events such as pandemics; natural disasters; terrorist attacks; and periods of political transition (Zois Boukouvalas and Allison Shafer, 2023). This bias, often occurring during data collection and analysis, can foster misinformation or disinformation, affecting decision-making, communication, social harmony and markets.

A specialist points out that the most common misinformation among the black population is related to the supposed side effects of Covid-19 vaccines, as well as misconceptions about immunization policies for other diseases.

Digital polarization is one of the main challenges in combating online disinformation. This phenomenon, characterized by the division of society into opposing poles that rarely dialogue, turns social networks into arenas of conflict, where the spread of fake news finds fertile ground. Understanding and combating the mechanisms that intensify this polarization is essential to promoting a healthier and more informative digital environment.

We were already inundated with news about artificial intelligence-powered tools in 2023, but AI chatbots became near-ubiquitous in 2024. Just how trustworthy is this new technology?

In 2020, the Media Literacy Coalition created and submitted to the Ministry of Education and Science a methodology for assessing the digital media skills of high school students. Based on this methodology, a national survey was conducted in January 2022, involving 176 10th-grade classes from over 150 schools across the country. The survey results revealed that "[Bulgarian] students in grade 10 face serious difficulties in extracting and interpreting information from a text, incl. media texts and data". These findings indicate that, despite collaborative efforts among European and government institutions, schools, civil society organizations and media service providers - more targeted, and sometimes more creative measures are needed in Bulgaria to enhance students’ digital media skills.

As 2025 starts, it is worth looking back to the past year and seeing how the evolving nature of disinformation has shaped our world. From AI-generated deepfakes to calculated political interference, 2024 has been a year of both cautionary tales and signs of hope. Yet, the events of the first days of 2025 indicate that the struggle to protect the truth online and safeguard the integrity of democratic processes from outside interference might be even more difficult than in the previous year.

The term disinformation is usually associated with politics. The producers of disinformation are typically political actors or institutions engaged in hybrid warfare through disinformation. In the context of the climate crisis, greenwashing has emerged as a particularly dangerous weapon, with private companies contributing to the crisis as its primary disseminators. So let us consider: Is the ‘green‘ roof on Bratislava's NIVY Center or the ‘green‘ gas from SPP politically motivated disinformation? And why does this require investigation?

ACITMM and Rádio Sintoniza-T are situated in Mercês, a parish within the municipality of Sintra known for having one of the largest concentrations of various nationalities. This diversity makes it a significant center for developing a project addressing the racism faced by these communities and others, as well as the discrimination present in Portuguese society.

As part of VitaFest 2024 and the Fourth Conference of the Network for Diversity in Journalism (Redipe) in Mexico City, the panel “Positive Narratives: Why Disinformation and Violence Can Be Countered with Human and Positive Statements” brought together experts from various countries to discuss the links between disinformation, violence, and narrative tools to combat them.

In an era where disinformation and fake news are increasingly pervasive, an innovative project in North Macedonia sought to confront these challenges through a unique medium: art. The idea of the project was to introduce a creative, emotionally engaging and easily accessible approach to raising awareness about the dangers of disinformation. This project leveraged the power of creativity, public dialogue, surprise, and visibility in public spaces to reach new audiences who might not be familiar with the phenomenon and its negative consequences.

Misinformation and disinformation have emerged as significant challenges in Francophone West Africa, disrupting social, political and economic landscapes. Misinformation refers to the unintentional spread of false or inaccurate information, while disinformation is the deliberate creation and dissemination of false information to mislead people. Disinformation, characterized by the deliberate creation and distribution of false information to deceive and manipulate public opinion, is frequently used for political gain or social disruption.

There is a difference between someone spreading misinformation, disinformation, fake news, or conspiracy theories. Before accusing a person of being a hoaxer, it helps if we understand the nature of each term and the boundaries between them. Sometimes, the definition lies in the form itself, but we can (almost) always tell the difference based on the intent. To make these concepts easier to navigate, let’s illustrate them with a (gradually developing) example.

It does not take a media expert to realize that disinformation is always one step away from becoming a hate campaign. Cherry-picked or distorted data and biased interpretations, and sheer lies are but a means to an end – manufacturing larger narratives with clear-cut divisions between good and evil, us and them.

"Chatbots fail to recognize human sensitivity, diversity, and values, which can lead to algorithmic errors. The real threat is allowing chatbots to make decisions for us," warns psychologist and psychotherapist Marija Stefanova.

As the 2024 U.S. presidential election unfolds, disinformation campaigns are once again in the spotlight. But while much attention is focused on the U.S. domestic impact, it’s equally important to understand this phenomenon from a wider perspective. Europe’s own encounters with foreign-led disinformation offer crucial lessons and comparisons that highlight the challenges faced by democratic societies globally in an era when the line between reality and AI-generated fakes is more blurry than ever. As someone deeply involved in the study of disinformation and its socio-political impacts, I draw upon experience from other countries to shed light on the dangers posed by disinformation in the current U.S. presidential elections.

In today’s society, influenced by social media, the lure of online trends can often lead to actions with dangerous consequences. TikTok is a social media platform where users can create, share, and watch short videos.

According to the Code of Ethics of Journalists, "Freedom of the media is an inalienable right" is one of the fundamental principles of journalism. Every journalist should be fully aware that "The fundamental duty of journalists is to respect the truth and the right of the public to be informed,” as per Article 16 of our Constitution.

When it comes to reading, many opt for easy and enjoyable reads, but we have an excellent recommendation for those looking for something more profound.

“The Mirage of Truth: Complexities and Challenges of Disinformation in the Western Balkans” is a perfect read for those who want to learn more about the disinformation landscape in the region.

A student party in Skopje this spring took an unexpected turn when playing an Albanian song towards the end of the event sparked controversy and hate speech on social media. Despite the organization’s inclusive nature, which includes members from diverse ethnic backgrounds, a nationalist group named “Patriotsko drushtvo” (Patriotic Society) on Instagram, self-proclaimed as a “young, ambitious group of patriots filled with enthusiasm,” criticized the inclusion of the song in Albanian, triggering hate speech aimed at the student organization.

The new video from the Metamorphosis Foundation reminds you why we should focus more on Open Data.

As an organization focused on helping children affected by domestic violence, Centrum LOCIKA often faces various forms of disinformation and misinformation about its activities. Both can significantly damage reputation, erode public trust, and have a negative impact on the work of the organization. In this article, we will share specific experiences in refuting misinformation and offer practices that may be useful for other organizations.

Anti-homosexuality campaigns are common in post-communist Romania. What could only be portrayed under communism as capitalist decadence or imported immorality, appeared in the mid-1990s at the epicenter of the public sphere. The powerful comeback of the Orthodox Church, after decades of cohabitation with the totalitarian communist regime, explains the vigor and political spread of public campaigns aimed at perpetuating legislation criminalizing homosexuality.

Artificial Intelligence has proved to be an effective tool in the field of information warfare. On the one side, it provides strong tools for data analysis and understanding the dynamics of information flow. On the other, it makes it easier to produce and spread disinformation to manipulate public perceptions. The Russian invasion on Ukraine has brought attention to the advantages of artificial intelligence, as well as its drawbacks.

A look into the Czech discourse with Vojtěch Pecka, a climate analyst at the Association for International Affairs.

Three different countries, three different economic and political situations, and three different cultures. However, they have something in common – the frequent propaganda from Russia. Each of these countries, in its own way, faces the influence of Russian false narratives. This propaganda operates differently across various countries, reflecting the unique geopolitical contexts of Belarus, Kosovo, and Tanzania.

CSOs in the Western Balkans, Black Sea, Baltic and Visegrad regions are both the targets of and vanguard against regionalised disinformation landscapes.

In the third article of a series on radicalization in Poland, Katarzyna Fereniec discusses the role of a culture of trust and soft competencies in the age of information overload.

What can we learn about our organization using social media monitoring tools?

We are inundated with information, but we still know nothing about important things. In addition to the exhausting traditional platforms, we find our way through newer and newer channels, but we usually receive filtered information and endless impulses. Division is growing, trust is in ruins. Instead of running away, it's worth understanding the situation, and we also have room for maneuver as an NGO.

The biggest manipulators, including, for example, Arthur Finkelstein, who developed the Soros campaign, realized important things about the workings of the public, which we need to understand if we want video campaigns aimed at social change.

Unlike misinformation, which is often spread unintentionally, disinformation is characterized by its purposeful intent to deceive. It typically involves a well-thought-out plan that includes the creation of false or misleading content, as well as a strategy for its dissemination to reach and influence a wide audience.

The "Kira" project is a Slovak educational initiative using a comic book to depict the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine. Targeted at students, the comic aims to fill a gap in the Slovak educational system, where discussions about the war are often absent or minimized. By presenting the story of Kira, a Ukrainian girl who witnesses the destruction of her home and family, the comic aims to make students more resilient to disinformation and encourage critical thinking about the conflict. The project also seeks to counteract the widespread influence of Russian propaganda in Slovakia, particularly among the youth.

Deepfakes, as artificially manipulated content, are one of the most significant issues in today’s world of (dis)information. However, we must also acknowledge the benefits that artificial intelligence (AI) brings to the world of information. There are now numerous examples worldwide of AI becoming an integral part of the daily work of media professionals, from writing news articles about specific events to creating visualizations of people or things that could not be realized without the help of an application.

Learn more about the two-factor authentication in a new video by Metamorphosis Foundation!

We live in an era where the flow of information is constant, coming from countless sources: friends, social media, YouTube shows, and news platforms. But with so much content at our fingertips, a crucial question arises: how can we distinguish truth from falsehood?

In the second article of a series on radicalization in Poland, Katarzyna Fereniec describes how disinformation fuels radicalization and erodes communication (both online and offline).

Deepfakes are a form of audio-visual manipulation through artificial intelligence. Recent developments in this field have increased the curiosity to understand more about deepfakes. The literature on deepfakes has multiplied in recent years.

The rise of AI technology has raised significant concerns about the spread of disinformation, but also about fraud and privacy breaches. Deepfakes, which are highly realistic synthetic media messages created using artificial intelligence, have a potential to deceive and manipulate on a massive scale. These sophisticated manipulations could be done in different forms, such as video, audio, and image, and the result is often indistinguishable, making it very challenging to discern a difference between real and manipulated content.

In Lithuania, as in many other countries, children are spending more and more time on the internet. New technologies, social media platforms, games and social networks are becoming an integral part of children’s daily lives. Youngsters spend more than a few hours a day online. This includes gaming, social networking, watching videos, studying and other online activities. Of course, the amount of time spent on the internet can vary depending on a child’s age, hobbies, family agreements and other factors, but there is a trend that children are starting to use the internet and spend their leisure time online at an increasingly younger age.

The Ukraine Solidarity Response Initiative (USRI) was born out of a critical need to fight the rampant disinformation related to the war in Ukraine after full invasion in 2022.

Cyber security is very important in Lithuania due to the rapidly changing technologies and the growing popularity of Internet use. More and more residents, companies and government institutions in Lithuania are becoming dependent on internet and digital technologies every day. One of the most significant reasons why cyber security is of extreme importance in Lithuania is personal data protection. More and more sensitive personal data, such as bank logins, health and identity data, are being stored online.

One of the disinformation frontlines concerns food and its production. Its aim is to spread fabrications through these topics to support the Kremlin's “traditional” long-term disinformation narratives. These narratives are largely about the decadent West disregarding traditional values, the upcoming catastrophe, which is always around the corner, but never actually happens and caring more about the LGBTQ+ community than about the so-called traditional families.

In a world flooded with information, determining the credibility of sources we use to inform our choices is more critical than ever. Source analysis tools are essential for verifying the reliability of news and information, helping us to separate fact from fiction.

We live in an era where visual content can be easily manipulated. Thus, image and video analysis tools are crucial for verifying the authenticity of media. Learn how to utilize these tools to detect alterations, trace origins, and ensure the integrity of images and videos.

The first step in countering disinformation is to know the disinformation landscape, its actors, and narratives. Therefore, social media listening tools are essential for activists and organizations committed to protecting truth online. Learn how to harness these powerful tools to detect, analyze, and counter false narratives effectively.

In the heart of the Havířov region in Czechia, a dynamic group of young minds from the Comenius High School would like to shape the future in the region they call home. Havířov, an economically and socially excluded region with a long-lasting poor level of infrastructure and education, with many challenges, is also vulnerable towards disinformation. Led by a TechSoup Master Trainer Aneta Bednářová, supported by an active teacher Jana, this passionate team embarked on a project focused on combating disinformation. Their journey unfolded through creating and piloting of a peer-to-peer workshop, igniting a spark of awareness and empowerment among their peers. “Let`s empower media literacy in Havířov”, we say.

Believing that both COVID and the vaccines have been engineered as bioweapons is predicated, at least in part, on influencers and media outlets keeping on repeating the claim. The same can be said for other beliefs, such as in the QAnon conspiracy theory, centered around the claim that there is a cabal of elites that traffic children and consume their blood, or insisting that the 2020 US elections have been “stolen”, despite significant evidence to the contrary.

Disinformation can spread like fire in today's digital age. To mitigate the threat, the TechSoup Guide on Digital Tools for Countering Disinformation equips activists and CSOs with a range of digital tools to identify, analyze, and counter disinformation effectively.

A character assassin does not walk around with a knife or a gun, nor does he sneak around, but kicks down the door and attacks your honour and reputation, trying to destroy it at all costs. The end justifies the means. In fact, he doesn't work alone, but in a criminal organization. So he has many faces.

What is the aim of the Learning Groups?

We aim to create a safe and inspiring learning space for activists, educators, and local leaders from EU member states, who are working in an environment vulnerable to disinformation.

There is an interesting trend in the alternative media ecosystem to claim that journalists, academics, and media analysts that expose false narratives are just attacking valid opinions, labelling them misinformation, disinformation or propaganda to discredit them. Ironically, this belief is the foundation of several false narratives used to attack mainstream media and promote themselves.

Climate change is a global challenge that affects the lives of every citizen on Earth. This impact will become increasingly visible and more severe as global temperatures increase. Scientists say we need to act now. Unfortunately, disinformation prevents us from taking serious steps and continues to cast doubt on this issue. How can we counteract it?

There are certain unmissable characteristics and principles which are inherent to disinformation. One of the key genes from which disinformation streams is an attempt to undermine confidence in democracy through the weakening of democratic vital functions. That's why civil society, the main blood vessel to democracy, has been and will be under the permanent attack of disinformation.

In today's world of lightning-fast information sharing through digital platforms, it's important to understand the different types of misinformation and disinformation. However, some terms used to describe them, such as "fake news" and "propaganda," can be confusing and even politically charged. It's easy to get lost in the mix and lose sight of what's true and accurate. But don't worry, we are here to help you navigate this complex landscape!

For the better part of the last decade, we, as citizens of the modern setting, living our lives in a world where the Internet is part of our everyday existence, are aware of disinformation. Call it fake news, propaganda, misinformation, the umbrella of disinformation covers the many aspects of this topic. A rose by any other name: name it as you wish, it’s still the same thing.

A third piece by Karol Wilczyński on disinformation around the War in Gaza. This time the author gives some tips how to take care of your own digital well-being while digesting the news.

Are you tired of falling victim to online disinformation? Explore Dren Gërguri's comprehensive three-part video tutorial series, "Tools and Tips for Verifying Online Information," and equip yourself with essential skills to discern truth from deception.

Phishing is not new, has been used to hack or infiltrate for decades. Today, everyone is trying to get in step with the technological evolution. Phishers are not an exclude from that. They are evolving their techniques too. Recently, a new tactic is in surface, and this one is based in AI-generation. Deepfake phishing is a new tactic that adds to the range of challenges we will face from now on and of which we must be very aware.

Nowadays, almost anybody can create audio or video recordings of celebrities or regular people acting and talking in ways they never would have by using simple, widely accessible artificial intelligence software. The rights of the persons whose voices and images are being appropriated will need to be more seriously protected. Big tech-companies have teamed up in a historic attempt to stop the misuse application of AI in the upcoming elections throughout the world.

The need for objectivity, neutrality and balance in journalism is a daily challenge for professional media, but one of the biggest challenges to media professionalism comes with the elections. The election process presents a challenge for the media, as it puts into focus their purpose to offer citizens access to all facts, opinions and ideas in the campaign. Journalists must also ensure access to the media so that citizens' voices can be heard beyond the words of political debate.

When we hear about radicalization, we often picture an Islamist, a football hooligan , or a person with extreme views who often commits acts of violence. The behavior of such people is blatant, it is easy to be outraged by them, but it is also easy to distance ourselves from them. In our minds, a radical is a person from another world, from another bubble, someone completely different from us.

Here we are, in the center of one of the bloodiest conflicts of the century. How not to get crazy about it? How to recognize when we are manipulated? Forget about straightforward posters of World War II – most propaganda efforts nowadays are hard to recognize, hidden and, many times, spread with no intention or awareness. That is why we prepared nine simple rules to remember, which will help you to spot the propaganda.

The advent of the internet, and social media platforms in particular, has fundamentally changed how we engage with the world, including how we communicate, socialise, learn, work, and participate. While this has presented significant opportunities for the right to freedom of expression, it has also raised several pressing challenges regarding the dissemination of information online, more especially during an election period.

There is a lot of propaganda materials being distributed since the outbreak of war on 7th October 2023. Both sides - Hamas and the Israeli government - are fighting not only through arms, but also through wide-spread disinformation efforts. What are the aims of disinformation? What they want to achieve?

Since 24 February 2022, when the Russian Federation started an aggressive and unjustified war against Ukraine, both the neighboring countries and the Republic of Moldova have been targets of propaganda and disinformation from the Kremlin. The waves of disinformation have forced the authorities in Chisinau to adopt various measures, including legislation, to protect Moldova's information space and its citizens from Kremlin propaganda transmitted through various channels. This article analyzes what can the authorities do to stop the spread of disinformation on the example of the Republic of Moldova.

Disinformation is a custom-made approach designed to polarize society by instilling fear of others and undermining values, democracy, and human rights, as well as the structures that support them. Civil society has been actively working for years to counter these phenomena. We combat hate speech, work with vulnerable groups, educate society, conduct fact-checking and even OSINT research. However, the problems that society faces remain almost unchanged, while the social need to take action is growing. And we – as civil society – face both new and ongoing challenges in this fight.

The influx of media content in cyberspace sometimes makes us, as readers, seek information that is different from the rest. For the public, it is crucial to “discover” something new that brings fresh insights into certain important societal issues or questions of personal interest to individuals. However, sometimes behind the “new things”, we see bombastic headlines, spectacular claims unsupported by evidence, unconfirmed or unofficial information, as well as disinformation that can cause more harm than lead to positive change in society.

Disinformation about Roma and among Roma has become a visible problem in Czech society, especially in the summer of 2023, when tensions arose between some Roma and Ukrainians. Historically, however, it was the Roma who were frequent victims of disinformation, such as a rumor regarding their free access to swimming pools.

The events of the last 3 years have been a huge generator of emotions for each of us, but also an incubator for disinformation. It has taken over the media space and continues, in the presence of fear and intense emotions, to destabilize trust in factual information. Nearly two years after the invasion of Ukraine, we look at the evolution of false narratives online, and discuss how a war in the 21st century takes on some new nuances to what history has accustomed us to.

The global news agency Associated Press (АP) is a pioneer in the use of artificial intelligence in media. The Business news desk of this agency began using artificial intelligence as early as 2014 in order to automate the production of articles for the sake of companies’ corporate gains.

About 6 years ago, I wrote about a new 'virus' for journalism. Despite the fact that several years have passed, there is still no 'anti-virus' against deepfake, which has advanced, perfected and the last step is to simplify the production process of these hoax videos.

Propaganda and the attack on the truth have been grounded in humanity for centuries. If you read George Orwell's essay, “Review of the Spanish War”, it seems that he is talking about propaganda in the year 2022, but in fact that essay was written entirely 8 decades ago.

As we approach the end of yet another tumultuous year, it is a worth taking a step back and taking a broader look over the past 12 months. What worked and what didn’t, what we could have done to better prepare ourselves, and finally, what to expect from 2024 as it is right around the corner.

As the dust settles from the political storms related to elections that swept Poland and Slovakia in the fall of 2023, we dissect the disinformation tactics that played a crucial role in shaping the election outcomes. From attacking opponents with hoaxes to adopting anti-Ukrainian narratives, and even incorporating artificial intelligence to spread fabricated content, the playbook of political deception is evolving. What can we learn from that example?

In both rounds of the local elections in the Republic of Moldova, held in November 2023, the pro-Kremlin media used disinformation as a political tool. Old narratives, used in previous election campaigns, were recirculated, but also combined with pro-Kremlin narratives about the war in Ukraine, unachievable election promises and even using hate speech to denigrate the opponents.

Discussing anti-Western narratives is a hot topical issue nowadays, but not a new one - just as propaganda is not an expression of our times, but has a long history behind it. I will not talk about the general course of anti-Western propaganda in Eastern Europe and especially in Romania, but about my personal experience with this field and the sometimes arduous process of countering it with honest and transparent means.

During 2023, the world has been more affected by misinformation due to the impact of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, lack of trust in the media and institutions, and the growth of social networks.

The 2015-2017 period, that brought us Brexit and Donald Trump with his “alternative facts”, also brought politicians the revelation that lying is detrimental to one’s career only if one admits to lying, when one gets caught.

The number of online purchases by Macedonian citizens is increasing, and concurrently, scams targeting citizens shopping on virtual stores are proliferating. To avoid "emptying" credit cards through scams, there are several recommendations that we, as citizens, should follow when making our online purchases.

The purpose of this community-building event was to provide and promote truth, and accuracy in information dissemination to form a collaborative network, equip the community with tools, and knowledge to combat disinformation, and share best practices to enable participants to learn from the subject matter experts to maintain informed citizenry.

Within the Digital Activism Program conducted by TechSoup and its partners in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) since 2018, a pivotal activity focusing on supporting Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in being more resilient to disinformation has been underway. We believe at TechSoup that to bring about change, we must first diagnose the needs of the organizations we support and analyze the current socio-political situation in the countries where we operate. This belief is central to shaping the foundation for all future project activities.

MAKAIA had the privilege of participating in the regional event FITS Democracy 2023, where important topics regarding disinformation, polarization, technology, and innovation were discussed, all within the context of Latin America and the Colombian Caribbean.

In Poland, historians have written extensively about conspiracy theories - this fact provides an additional argument to teach about the problems that conspiracy theories cause in the era of revision of history in many European countries. What are the most bizarre conspiracy theories about the war in Ukraine that you have encountered so far?

Facebook is an attractive space for “meetings,” but too often the debate in such groups can be misleading or full of misinformation. Sometimes a group admin creates a page by pretending to be someone famous. In politically and socially emotive moments, few people check who manages the group. Group admins often grant themselves the exclusive right to add and remove content in the group and, thus, to influence the narratives and emotions in the group.

It takes just a few simple steps to determine whether we have strayed into conspiracy thinking. By understanding what characterizes such thinking, we can examine on our own, or with the help of a friend, whether we are exhibiting healthy skepticism or unwarranted suspicion. In fostering healthy skepticism, it can be helpful to have basic knowledge about the process of creating reliable information.

Climate change is a reality, the global average temperature is now approximately 1°C higher than in the preindustrial era (1880-1900). However, denialism seems to get stronger, propped up by fossil fuel corporations, conservative media, and political groups. From misrepresenting the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration to claiming that climate change is a hoax meant as part of a conspiracy to take over the world, disinformation on the topic is intensifying. We should understand it better and fight it wherever we encounter it; our future may depend on it.

Information spreads rapidly and effortlessly, and the rise of disinformation has become an alarming global phenomenon. Misleading narratives, fake news, and conspiracy theories have the power to manipulate public opinion, polarize societies, and undermine democratic processes. To combat this growing threat, Phambano Technology Development Centre NPC, DFRLab, and TechSoup Global Network have come together to organize Countering Disinformation Masterclass webinar to empower individuals with the tools to recognize, debunk, and counter disinformation.

Results of the study about the infodemic in Kosovo during COVID-19, published recently in the journal, “Media and Communication”, show that COVID-19 has had a great impact on people’s behavior when it comes to information.This research analyzed at how people used the media during COVID-19 and how well they could tell the difference between false or misleading information and the truth.

Polarization is a process that occurs on psychological and emotional grounds. The radicalization of groups leads to the radicalization of language on highly controversial and socially divisive topics. One of the most polarizing places on the Internet are Facebook groups (often run by the party involved in the conflict), where discussants reassert themselves, fuel a spiral of insults, ridicule, and hate speech, or even use language that dehumanizes opponents.

Social media and online spaces are dominated by visual contents. Whether as part of a news story or as viral content, it is now extremely easy and common to manipulate and mislead readers. Although this can be done with relatively little knowledge and easily accessible tools, it is often amateurish or of particularly poor quality that fools users.

As the world grapples with the increasingly pressing need to address climate change and environmental issues, online disinformation campaigns have emerged as a powerful tool in the manipulation of public perspective, inspiring scepticism, and spreading false information.

Have someone make fun of you in front of other people?

Have you been critized and offended by how you dress, think or talk?

Do you know of people that follow or investigate you?

The analysis of information disorder, i.e., misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, should include observations on what is driving these phenomena. This current article argues that the most important driver of information manipulation since 2016 is the so-called sovereignist movement. A case study on Romania is proposed in order to highlight the evolution of local sovereignists and the reliance of their political clout on misinformation and conspiracy theories.

S radostí vás zveme na výjimečnou networkingovou akci věnovanou problematice dezinformací, kterou pro vás připravil Kampus Hybernska a Sdružení VIA za podpory Google.org a Univerzity Karlovy.

In the effort to counter disinformation and improve media literacy, there are several known models for verifying if news articles accurately represent facts and events. However, nowadays, a significant part of communication is informal, for example in the form of social media posts. In such informal forums, misinformation continues to spread with the help of influencers. A new model is thus needed to analyze this type of media content.

Hybrid threats can result in war, and this has been proven by Russia, with the start of the war in Ukraine, after several years of hybrid war with Ukraine. The hybrid war includes a combination of traditional and non-traditional means with coordinated actions in the political, economic, military and information domains.

We share the investigation and educational web series created by DIP

The Hive Mind* launch in South Africa was a success. We are thankful to all our speakers who gave incredible presentations and supported the need for Hive Mind to help civil society and build digital resilience.

Across the world, the spread of disinformation is on the rise. Its volatile growth is the result of the strategic use of online disinformation, which undermines democracy and polarizes societies. While ways to combat disinformation are currently trending in the media, the existing tactics are primarily directed at fact-checkers and journalists, leaving wider civil society actors to their own devices.

Research findings show that people cannot tell the difference between false and real news. This problem also affects Kosovo society, which has a high percentage of internet access (93%). One of the signs that disinformation influences the public in Kosovo is the outcome of the Raka case which is explained below.

Fake news is used to manipulate and dictate and shape their decision making. Fake news can damage our public discourse. We need to raise awareness and understanding of disinformation and be mindful that our freedom of expression could harm others. The time is now to verify all information.

In recent investigation developed by the Detox Information Project (DIP), one of the key findings has been that sexualization is used as a way to discredit arguments presented by women in politics.

Do you know how to identify gender disinformation in social media? Do you know which are the biases, stereotypes and hate messages?

As part of the Empowering Europeans Against Disinformation (EEAD) project, we are happy to invite all interested educators residing in Europe to express the interest and take part in a 2-day onsite Training of Trainers (ToT) on Countering Disinformation and Building Positive Narratives in Warsaw, on April 19-21, 2023.

Artificial intelligence is changing and will change even more the way we live and work. This simulation of artificial intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans have made it possible for humans to be replaced by machines today in some fields. But what does this mean in the field of information and what could be the misuses that we should beware of?

The role of social networks in proliferation of manipulated information is already well established. One interesting aspect, that may need further attention, is the way social media fostered the globalization of false narratives allowing smaller, national media ecosystems to connect to more significant ones, to import and adapt narratives for local audiences. Interestingly, it is not Russia that is driving this phenomenon, but misinformation agents in the English-speaking countries, especially in the US and the UK.

The Empowering Europeans Against Disinformation (EEAD) project is part of TechSoup Network’s Digital Activism Program.

Since 2018, the program has been offering complex support to civil society organizations (CSOs) and their staff in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Latin America and West Africa. In the area of countering disinformation, the program strives to increase their understanding of direct disinformation threats, strengthen their capacity to deal with disinformation, boost their knowledge in this field and expand their connections within the nonprofit network.

Disinformation has become a widespread problem in Africa, with the rise of social media and the internet making it easier for false information to spread. Disinformation can cause harm to individuals and communities, create social and political divisions, and undermine public trust in institutions and leaders. NGOs and charity organizations in Africa play a crucial role in combating it, as they are often on the front lines in communities and have a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities for promoting digital literacy and critical thinking skills.

Cyberpsychologist Gordon Ingram explains the social and psychological consequences of the dynamics promoted by the Internet and social networks.

The reasons behind the behaviors that accept and promote disinformation.

Journalists and NGOs around the world have been working for countering disinformation through institutions, organizations, and associations called "fact-checkers" (or, simply: information verifiers), which are dedicated to corroborating and verifying the veracity of information and news disseminated on digital platforms. Fact-checking as we know it today was born with Factchecker.org, a website launched in December 2003 by Brooks Jackson, a former Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, and CNN reporter.

It’s been more than 4 months since Russia escalated the war in Ukraine and we are most likely preparing for a long-term conflict with all its consequences.

Digital revolution has greatly enhanced public vulnerability to manipulation by information. The trend is growing with every year and the term ‘fake news’ doesn’t cover all of its forms anymore. Find out what are the most common information disorders we encounter daily.

When you need to make an unbiased, rational decision about something important, try to be aware of your cognitive biases. They are a normal phenomenon in psychology of all humans, but as they may affect your judgement or decisions, it is worth acknowledging their existence and learning some methods of how to overcome their misleading effects.

The term has taken the academic discussion of philosophers, journalists political scientists but is far from an intellectual discussion. It is present in our daily life and on our social networks.

Join us for a panel discussion about the current war-time disinformation landscape and learn about ways of mitigating its harmful effects.

“NATO intervention in the Kosovo war was unjustified”. This is the narrative that the Russian and Serbian propaganda has been trying to push forward for many years.

The war that is currently taking place in Ukraine has devastating consequences, but it is also more present in the media – both traditional and social ones than any other armed conflict in the past few years. In a webinar organized by MAKAIA (with support from TechSoup), guests from different parts of Latin America discussed the conflict and its context, its influence on the LatAm region as well as the propaganda and disinformation strategies used in the war – also targeting Latin America.

Disinformation techniques are numerous, but all of them can fall into one of those four categories: dismiss, distort, distract, or dismay. Here is the rule of thumb that will help you recognize, predict and prepare to counter disinformation.

Information can come from various sources. Most often than not, you would pick up your smartphone or open your laptop and start scrolling through content; clicking on and sharing whatever looks interesting. However, it is good to know what is going on behind the scenes…

If you run a campaign or simply post on your social media channels messages about the current situation, you should anticipate some hateful comments. There are certain ways to deal with trolls.

Russia's war against Ukraine is not only taking place on the battlefields and in besieged cities, but also in the information space. This was true even before the digital age, but war propaganda has reached a new level thanks to the possibilities of the Internet. Fake news, dubious images, videos, untraceable figures, battlefield results, not to mention conspiracy theories explaining the background to the attack.

In today's digital world, information warfare is significantly more pronounced. The war in Ukraine is also taking place on several fronts of the information world, in front of video games, TikTok, and that of fact-checkers. Therefore, the focus of journalists should be on news sources, in controlling them to avoid the possibility of fraud from manipulated information.

Nearly 100 years ago, on Easter Sunday, a group of women with cigarettes in their mouths walked down the most prestigious street in New York - Fifth Avenue, doing what women were not supposed to do – smoking in public, which back in the day was "not appropriate”.

Knowledge about disinformation is more important now than ever. Critical thinking is key and it’s worth supporting it with the knowledge on how to recognize different forms of information disorder.

Dezinformacja w służbie Putina, czyli o tym jak nie wpaść w tryby machiny propagandowej: webinarium 03.03.2022 (czwartek); 18:30-19:30

Media ecosystems are used to categorizing all falsehoods as fake news. However, there are differences between the types of disinformation that abound in digital media. Sure, there are fake news, but there are also other categories of misinformation.

On January 21, DFR Lab, Techsoup and MAKAIA officially launched Hive Mind for Latin America. In the webinar called "5 concepts you should know about digital disinformation", we shared together with CIVIX Colombia some tips for identifying information and the different learning opportunities available in Hive Mind.

Datos.Org, a foundation that supports social projects in Colombia with the power of data, talks about the birth of a profession greatly discussed today and what are the challenges faced by Data Scientists.

A humanitarian crisis has gained momentum on the Polish-Belarusian border since August 2021. Alyaksandr Lukashenko, who rules in Belarus, has encouraged thousands of people from Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen and African countries to come to Belarus. He has done this through a deliberate campaign to disrupt the European Union. Refugees are being forced to cross the Polish border, and those who disobey are being beaten. People at the border have no food or water. Many, including children, have died. We will explore two popular anti-refugee narratives and learn about alternative or counter narratives that are worth spreading and using in discussions.

Whether it's about the ominous powers that can be lizard-people in the skin of public figures, foreigners out to destroy a country, or chips implanted by vaccines against COVID-19, fake news is spreading like wildfire on the Internet. It's not too much of a problem if you think that there are aliens lurking behind the exteriors of politicians, like in a bad B-movie.

But it can be a concrete danger to one's immediate environment to believe that coronavirus vaccines are harmful to the human body.

How do we tell our fake-news believing friends or loved ones that they should think again about these absurd misconceptions?

Digital media strategies used by the Venezuelan government, especially propaganda, provide an ample example for the way different digital tools may be used for manipulation, public opinion disinformation and favoring a particular agenda.

In Hungary, when it comes to the analysis of news, fake news, or in general, any sort of medium, the most suitable subject is a media lesson to learn how to approach the topic. This subject, however, is riddled with so many problems in the already convoluted education system, that in 2020, in the first iteration of the latest National Curriculum, the subject almost got entirely removed.

30 Polish editors-in-chief have recently published a joint appeal to lift the ban on journalists working in the eastern border areas in Poland, where a state of emergency was introduced due to the prolonged migration crisis.

In this short, educational video, Oana Despa and Codruța Simina talk about manipulation and fake news. Oana is the chief editor of Buletin de București and Codruța Simina is a journalist at PressOne, an independent media project very well known in Romania. In this episode, they meet online and together try to find out how to best identify fake sites or accounts in the social network.

It is only human to defend ourselves when someone challenges us or our opinions. In case, however, when they have a clear proof that what we are saying is not based on facts, it is quite logical that we should not continue spreading false statements. If someone decides to do this, regardless of the consequences or harm this may cause, they should better watch out, as it's fact-checking time!

The large number of likes, comments or distributions does not mean that it reflects the real number of people involved in that interactivity. The online public sphere is often contaminated by Bots and Trolls.

Here are some guidelines for your greater well-being as a media consumer. Yes, we are all media consumers. You got that correctly. In the following video, you will find a number of useful tips and tricks that will aid your digital transformation from a regular media consumer to a Media Literacy Expert!

We are living in an era when we can see or hear things that a person in fact did not say. You can’t imagine what Miroslav Lajčák, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, is declaring in this video! Check it out and see if it's truth or fiction...

The case discussed in the article clearly shows that manipulating pictures has become an intentional propaganda tool, aiming to distort the truth. Any such cheapfakes are dangerous because they disfigure the reality, making people to believe something far from true.

These days, verifying information that we receive has become a must. By not verifying, then, we are putting ourselves at an outright risk of getting manipulated. So, it is more essential than ever, to put a big question mark at the end of every online message, especially when encountered on social media. It is crucial to keep that question mark until we can fully verify and eliminate doubts about sources' authenticity.

If you’re still wondering why you need to be media literate (a skill that is in high demand today more than ever!), you’ll find the answers to this question in this short video. We have singled out the five most important reasons that will help you decide to start studying the media and their messages. The process is relatively straightforward, and you will gain all the necessary skills by simply following our channel. Let’s go!

In this podcast episode, you will hear Jakub Górnicki talking to Tomáš Kriššák about the Project HOPE, within which a set of tools in the form of an online game was designed to help people tackle negative consequences of the Internet and the social media, including cyber-bullying and propaganda.

Critical thinking is a buzzword that we hear almost every day. Especially in times of false information and the infodemic that is surrounding us on an everyday basis. And even though we meet with this term regularly, it is still not clear to everyone what it actually means. A brief characteristic of critical thinking is that it is the ability to form one's own opinion based on acquired knowledge, experience, not only from one's knowledge, but also from other people.

Teenagers from Dream Factory acting studio created 8 raising awareness videos focusing on how to recognize Fake News, Deep News and how to behave when someone spreads misinformation, or simply is being abusive online.

Major dangers and media manipulation threats in the age of disinformation

A simple guide through the media jungle for senior citizens.

Only by mobilizing at the grassroots can democracies counter disinformation. It’s time to vaccinate citizens against the poison of digital warfare.

Due to the ongoing pandemic the schools are closed, and do you, most likely have the privilege of working from home? Well, in this case, you probably have never been so present in your child’s “school life”, even if it’s currently limited to e-learning.

Missed any of our events, feeling like watching it again diving straight into the extra resources and materials? We've got it covered.

We'd like to invite young people associated in non-governmental organizations, informal groups, dialogue bodies and activists acting on their own to free online training sessions on disinformation, recognizing it, preventing and counteracting its negative effects. The training is addressed to all those who understand the importance of disinformation in public life, who would like to learn more about the ways it works, get specific tools of recognition and methods of dealing with it. We also invite people who actively participate in public life (also at the local level) and therefore are most vulnerable to disinformation actions aimed at undermining their credibility and the trust of public opinion, necessary to effectively fight for the public good or the interests of the groups they represent.

Non-governmental organizations actively participating in public life, especially those that address topics considered controversial, or for some reason inconvenient for the authorities, business or influential circles, are increasingly becoming the target of disinformational activities aimed at undermining their credibility and depriving the public of the trust necessary for effective action. The victims of disinformation are not only the organizations themselves and the people associated with them, but also the recipients of false or manipulated information, who use it to shape their opinions on a given subject. How to recognize disinformation? How to prevent it? How to counteract its negative effects?

How we seek information online matters.