Citizens can defeat disinformation

Civil society for an open democratic debate

This page is also available in:

dis·in·for·ma·tion

[ˌdɪsɪnfəˈmeɪʃ(ə)n]

NOUN - false information which is intended to mislead, especially propaganda issued by a government organisation to a rival power or the media.

ORIGIN - 1950s: formed on the pattern of Russian dezinformatsiya.

Disinformation today

Disinformation has always existed, but today it poses a serious threat to our societies.

The systematic dissemination of fake news aims to confuse the public and to make people lose confidence in political institutions, credible sources of information, health authorities, science and academic research.

Such practices have increased national discord and political instability in many democratic countries, which in turn benefits illegitimate interests and authoritarian foreign powers with a hidden agenda.

In order to defend themselves against disinformation, European countries should promote a public debate with the participation of active and well-informed citizens.

How to recognise disinformation

We are all more inclined to like and share information we agree with. However, a cause can be right but some of the arguments used to defend it can be excessively emphasised, exaggerated or even false. Using sound judgement is always useful to avoid spreading fake news:

  • Is the source of this information reputed and authoritative?
  • If not, is it anonymous or, instead, does it display a credible auto-presentation text?
  • What are the tone and the content like? Are they sensationalist, accusatory, derogatory, apologetic?
  • Are there links to authoritative sources of information, or are references vague and all of the same kind?
  • Are there personal attacks, endless repetition of the same simple message, allusions with no evidence or data?

A video on how to identify fake news in English (04'42'')

A video on how to identify fake news in Romanian (07'12'')

A video on how to identify fake news in Russian (02'17'')

 

How to figure out whom you are in front of on social media

When participating in a discussion on social media, we can come across users with very strong opinions. Some are real-life people, some others are bots, or trolls.

Bots or robots create interactions on social media in an automated way. Due to the very high number of interactions received by a post or a profile, we might have the impression that it enjoys wide popularity. Instead, someone just paid to get more "Like"s and "Share"s.

Trolls are people who behave aggressively on social media and try to scare you from expressing your opinion in legitimate terms. They often cause sudden waves of disputes and anger in on-line debates.

Both bots and trolls use false identities. If you see a profile whose identity is not clear, which uses strong language and shows highly quarrelsome behaviour, it is better to stay away and not believe what they say.

Two videos on how to recognise bots and trolls in English (01'42'' and 05'01'')

Two videos on how to recognise bots and trolls in Romanian (13'06'' and 01'40'')

Two videos on how to recognise bots and trolls in Russian (02'36'' and 2'34'')

The “Civil society can defeat disinformation” campaign

Civil society is made up of us citizens. By becoming more aware, we can avoid disinformation traps and make informed choices.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has taken action to contribute to this goal by organising the campaign "Civil society can defeat disinformation", launched in Sofia on 12 June 2023. The second event of the campaign will take place in Chișinău on 18 April 2024. A third event is foreseen before the end of 2024.

The Committee also adopted opinion REX/432 on How media is used to influence social and political processes in the EU and Eastern neighbouring countries, specifically focused on the situation in Eastern Europe. It is now drawing up a new opinion, Safeguarding democracy against disinformation, which will be presented in Chișinău on 18 April 2024.

Finally, the EESC hosted a youth gathering on the topic of disinformation, where high-school students from all over Europe adopted 8 resolutions to the EU and its Member States on how to tackle the problem.

For more information

#EuvsDisinfo