Fact-checkers at increasing risk of abuse — report - video Dailymotion

euronews (in English)

In an age of increasing distrust in mainstream media, fact-checkers, who are tasked with clarifying and debunking misleading claims, now also find themselves the targets of that same distrust.

Transcript

00:00Fact-checkers are at increasing risk of abuse.

00:07A new report by the European Digital Media Observatory has found that fact-checkers are

00:12increasingly targeted by adversarial actions to stop them from doing their jobs effectively.

00:17According to the report, 66% of respondents, including academics, fact-checkers and journalists,

00:23said they'd fallen victim to things like online harassment,

00:26intimidation, physical threats or harm and doxing.

00:30The EDMO says that these attacks are often triggered by retaliation for work on contentious

00:35topics and distrust towards the counter-disinformation community.

00:38Public speaking on issues such as conspiracy theories and platform regulation can also act

00:43as triggers, and the perpetrators of the abuse tend to include individuals,

00:48alternative media and even political or government entities.

00:51While most fact-checkers targeted by the abuse say that it happens sporadically,

00:56some also say they're the victims of frequent abuses,

00:59particularly after publishing work on controversial topics.

01:02The results of the report show the persistent and growing risks that the

01:05counter-disinformation community faces in Europe and beyond, according to the EDMO.

01:10In an age of increasing distrust in mainstream media, those who were supposed to clarify and

01:15debunk claims are now also more and more the target of that same distrust.

01:19To try and buck the trend of increasing abuse, the report recommends strengthening networks

01:24for peer-to-peer support, developing guidelines on how to prepare for adversarial actions

01:30and enhancing security both online and offline.

01:33It also calls for greater awareness among policymakers and stronger protection for

01:38fact-checkers, including robust legal support for those doing the job.

01:42EDMO calls on all competent authorities to address this alarming challenge with

01:46the greatest determination, in line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU,

01:51the organisation says.

01:53For more information, head over to euronews.com

Fact-checkers at increasing risk of abuse — report

Category

Transcript

Recommended