Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Master the concept of false information

Objective 2: Understand how to combat disinformation

Objective 3: Become familiar with the concept of “fact-checking”

The Concept of “Infox”: A Core Element of Media and Information Literacy

Definition: When we talk about infox, false information, or “Fake News,” we refer to information that is fabricated, manipulated, or distorted, deliberately spread by individuals, activists, or political leaders to manipulate citizens and gain their support.

The spread of false information can have harmful consequences for society: for example, when it targets or accuses a minority or community to instill fear and incite hatred against them. Similarly, false information can be used to create a sense of insecurity for electoral purposes, making information manipulation an extremely effective tool.

Example: Protests against the presence of migrants multiplied ahead of the June 21 legislative elections in Serbia. On March 2, 2020, around 500 people gathered in the border town of Subotica to denounce the “crimes” allegedly committed by migrants, even though police data showed that crimes committed by refugees represented only 0.06% of offenses in the country.

Certain scandals, such as the Cambridge Analytica case in the United States (using the data of millions of users who were later targeted by Fake News), remind us of the strong impact of manipulated information on daily life and elections.

Example: In March 2020, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a 51-year-old woman returning from Italy who tested positive for COVID-19 was lynched on social media after several media outlets published false information. They claimed she had attended a concert and used public transport. Some Facebook comments stated that she deserved to be killed because she was infected and should not return to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

By distorting, manipulating, and falsifying reality to incite hatred and convince citizens with false arguments or non-existent information, fake news challenges the very notions of truth and citizenship in modern societies. Because it often mobilizes our emotions, prejudices, and sometimes confirms our opinions, infox spreads easily and resonates widely on social media, amplifying its harmful effects on the quality of available information.

Therefore, since information is essential to our lives and central to all decisions and relationships, it is crucial to preserve its reliability, transparency, and avoid manipulation as much as possible. Being attentive to information quality and adopting a critical mindset toward the content we consume helps reduce the risk of manipulation and form more accurate opinions.

Outsmarting the Traps of Disinformation

Several solutions exist to fight disinformation:

  • Better control the spread of information online by holding platforms and “tech giants” accountable (Facebook, Google, Twitter, etc.). These platforms have taken measures to allow users to report false information, remove accounts spreading hate speech and Fake News, and conduct awareness campaigns. For example, in January 2020, Facebook announced it would remove and ban “deepfake” videos.

It should be noted that letting tech giants regulate content can raise concerns about freedom of expression and censorship. Some countries have independent bodies tasked with overseeing traditional media and ensuring the reliability and protection of information for online users.

  • Many states also recognize the urgency of their role in ensuring reliable information, often through legislative measures. However, care must be taken to ensure these measures do not paradoxically limit freedom of expression for media and citizens, hindering journalistic work.
  • It is also possible to prepare the public to face false information, image manipulation, or rapidly spreading conspiracy theories. Initiatives like critical media and information literacy promote public protection through knowledge, intellectual autonomy, and critical thinking development.
  • Finally, traditional media are also becoming more aware. A new journalistic approach, Fact-Checking, has emerged nationally and internationally to limit the risks of disinformation.

Fact-Checking

Origin and Definition

Faced with the proliferation of false information, manipulated images, and videos, especially online, journalistic methods of verification and cross-checking have become essential. Many media outlets have developed specialized fact-checking services.

Often called fact-checking, this journalistic approach originally involved systematically verifying claims by politicians or public debate elements (numbers, legislative content, etc.). Today, with the rise of infox and disinformation, fact-checking focuses on quickly verifying the truth of a fact, image, or rumor and, more broadly, all types of information circulating online.

Limits of Fact-Checking

Although fact-checking is useful, it should not become an infallible truth authority. Some questions, such as political, opinion-based, or moral issues, cannot be definitively resolved by fact-checking. Its goal is to remain “factual” and verify precise facts.

Moreover, verifying information may depend on other sources. For example, estimating the number of people at a protest requires the fact-checker to trust numbers from authorities or organizers, which can lead to discrepancies.

Caution and critical thinking are therefore essential in determining when to trust a fact-checking source and when a question requires further reflection.