
Widespread digitalization brings risks - among them, the ease with which lies and manipulations, often maintaining a semblance of credibility, can reach large audiences.
- Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the number of unverified reports reaching citizens has significantly increased. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has further amplified this phenomenon, noted Łukasz Świerżewski, a board member of PAP, during a discussion at Impact’22 focused on methods to effectively verify and eliminate fake news.
According to Świerżewski, news agencies like the Polish Press Agency (PAP) are on the front lines of combating public misinformation. Journalists must apply an "anti-disinformation filter" to all communications, especially those from external sources.
One example of efforts to reduce the spread of fake news is the PAP-operated platform fakehunter.pap.pl, where internet users can report potentially false information. Over the past two years, PAP staff have verified more than 2,000 reports.
- The increasing number of submissions indicates that society is becoming more aware of fake news and the dangers of allowing it to thrive in media and online spaces, Świerżewski said. - However, this does not absolve us from the responsibility of continually educating citizens on the need to screen and verify the information they receive, as those seeking to mislead us are constantly improving their manipulation techniques.
Verification? Few Attempt It
Recent studies show that while over 80% of Poles understand the concept of disinformation and have encountered it, only 5% attempt to verify false information - experts highlighted during the "Disinformation" panel at the European Economic Congress in Katowice.
- Researchers point out that, much like gossip in everyday life, false information spreads better. It`s more engaging and emotional, making it highly shareable, said Dr. Agnieszka Legucka, a lecturer at the Vistula University of Finance and Business and analyst on Russia at the Polish Institute of International Affairs.
1049 journalists in Europe silenced by lawsuits 👇
- Disinformation refers to any message intended not to inform the recipient truthfully but to manipulate by providing false information for a specific purpose, such as political or ideological, explained Dr. Małgorzata Molęda-Zdziech, head of the Department of Political Studies at the Warsaw School of Economics and expert in the Team Europe Direct Poland network. - The sender does this in a way that is not consciously recognized by the recipient.
- The best way to avoid falling for disinformation is to maintain a healthy distance. Take a deep breath and verify what you’ve heard from reliable sources, emphasized Dr. Agnieszka Legucka. According to her, credible sources include fact-checking portals that validate information. - A majority of Poles would like to see such portals funded and recognize the need for their existence.
Anti-Vaccination Accounts Spread Disinformation About Ukraine
- We try to react as quickly as possible by identifying the source of the information. We monitor the Polish information space, identify the origins, and track hundreds of accounts producing this disinformation. These accounts are surrounded by networks of people who believe in or find the content interesting and share it further, often unknowingly spreading fake news, explained Robert Król, Deputy Director of NASK for New Technologies for Public Policy. He added that his institute, along with fact-checking portals, continuously verifies online content.
- The war in Ukraine and the accompanying wave of refugees to Poland have recently dominated fake news themes online. "Some joke that Putin killed the pandemic. Anti-vaccination accounts have pivoted to spreading false information about Ukrainian refugees," noted Agnieszka Legucka.
She added that these narratives often originate from Russian disinformation and aim to foster anti-Ukrainian sentiment, fear, and anxiety in Polish society. For example, they claim refugees will be treated better in schools, hospitals, and other institutions than Poles.
- Disinformation targeting Poland is conducted on a large scale and cannot be underestimated. It is subtle and tailored to Polish audiences, as straightforward pro-Russian messages would not be effective in Poland. Its dissemination is highly complex, networked, and uses not only direct Russian sources but also anti-vaccination and far-right communities, concluded Łukasz Lipiński, editor-in-chief of Polityka.pl.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
New articles in section Media industry
Disinformation ranks above terrorism as global threat
KFi
According to "International Opinion on Global Threats" by Pew Research Center, a median of 72% of adults across 25 countries view the spread of false information online as a major threat to their country. That number places disinformation at the very top of perceived global dangers.
Television 2025. Report by the European Broadcasting Union
Krzysztof Fiedorek
Europeans are watching less and less television. In 2024, the average viewing time was 3 hours and 13 minutes per day. Only 54% of young people had any contact with TV, and public broadcasters held a 23% share. Television is losing relevance, especially among the youngest viewers.
Mobile games in Poland. Market value and forecasts
Newseria, KFi
In 2030, the number of mobile game users in Poland may exceed 7.1 million, and market revenue will approach 470 million dollars, according to Statista data. As the number of gamers increases, the market for mobile gaming devices is also expanding.
See articles on a similar topic:
Poles on the Internet. RegionyNEXERY 2024 Report
KFi
The Internet not only connects people but also changes their daily habits in ways that seemed unattainable just a few years ago. Over 40% of Poles work remotely, and IoT devices are gaining popularity in rural areas. The #RegionyNEXERY 2024 report reveals surprising facts about the digital reality.
Milgram Experiment 2023. AI Can Encourage Violence
KrzysztoF
Researchers from SWPS University replicated the famous Milgram experiment, in which participants were instructed to inflict pain on another person under the authority’s command. This time, the authority was a robot. It’s the first study showing that people are willing to harm another person when a robot commands them to do so.
Media in the Balkans and Turkey
Michał Kuźmiński
The Balkans have long been referred to as a “melting pot,” and for good reason. This region is highly diverse and quite unstable. Consequently, the media landscape here is varied as well. In some places, such as democratic Greece, a member of the European Union, the media market is stable and easy to navigate.
Algorithmic personalization study. Who and how understands digital media
KFi
Most internet users believe that everyone sees the same content online. Meanwhile, algorithms personalize messages so effectively that a young woman with higher education receives different information than her father. Researchers reveal who truly understands the mechanisms.