The 26 organizations* part of the EDMO fact-checking network that contributed to this brief published a total of 1.251 fact-checking articles in December 2022.
Out of these articles, 178 (14%) focused on Ukraine-related disinformation; 154 (12%) focused on COVID-19-related disinformation; and 132 (11%) focused on climate change- related disinformation. Percentages similar to the ones recorded in the last few months.
DISINFORMATION ABOUT MIGRANTS AND FOREIGNERS, ESPECIALLY MUSLIMS, WENT VIRAL FROM SPAIN TO THE REST OF EUROPE
– Many false news about migrants and foreigners, especially Muslims, were detected in Spain in December, also in relation to the defeat of the country’s national football team against Morocco in the WorldChampionship. Many false news accused Moroccans fans of having looted stores, destroyed shop windows, set buildings on fire and even killed a Spanish fan. In fact, Moroccan fans did not cause any serious incidents in Spain. The false news that spilled over from Spain to the rest of the EU is that of a person destroying a Christmas nativity scene with a hammer in Calahorra, a town in northeastern Spain. A false video claims that the person is a Muslim immigrant attacking a Christian symbol: the culprit is actually a Spanish national with mental problems. This false news was detected as the most viral in the EU in December (see slide n. 7). Since autumn, disinformation about migrants and Muslims seems to be on the rise in Europe.
DISINFORMATION NARRATIVES ABOUT THE PANDEMIC AND CLIMATE CHANGE:
Main narratives conveyed by false news about COVID-19 are generally the same as those detected in the past:
– Vaccines are accused to be the cause of a large number of deaths – this narrative was boosted in November and December by “Died Suddenly”, a video spreading conspiracy theories and false news/ misleading information about the vaccination, still circulating in many EU countries (e.g. France, Denmark and Netherlands among others);
– Vaccines have also been accused of changing the DNA or of being ineffective;
– Face masks and lockdowns were targeted by disinformation in December as well, with unproven accusations of being ineffective.
The main narratives conveyed by false news about climate change are also generally the same as those detected in the past few months:
– The inexistence of climate change – cold weather recently recorded in many countries was used as evidence of that; if it does exist it is not because of human activity, and/or it is not a real danger anyway;
– Electric vehicles are again a target of disinformation, as well as climate activists. A relevant case involving the latter was detected in Germany: a lawyer claimed that drivers blocked by climate activists’ protests
can remove the activists with the force, and even if they cause injuries this won’t be a punishable offense because they would be covered by the right of self-defense. Such an incorrect generalization could actually lead to dangerous situations.
READ THE FULL PAPER HERE
* Organizations that contributed to this brief: 15min, AFP, Correctiv, Delfi, Demagog (Pl), DPA, DW, Eesti Päevaleht, EFE Verifica, Factcheck Vlaanderen, Faktabaari, Faktisk, Lakmusz, Les Surligneurs, Maldita, Newtral, Nieuwscheckers, PagellaPolitica/Facta, Poligrafo, PressHUB Romania, Re:Baltica, Science Feedback, The Journal Fact-Check, TjekDet, Verificat, VRTNWS
