Defend Yourself Against Disinformation
How can you spot disinformation and protect yourself against manipulation? Learn to recognize the tactics and mechanisms behind false content with insights from experts at NASK's Disinformation Analysis Center.
What Is Disinformation?
False or misleading content
Disinformation includes fabricated or distorted information, appearing as social media posts, articles, comments, videos, or audio recordings.
Intentional harm or profit
This is content deliberately spread to cause public harm or serve financial or political interests. The ultimate goals of disinformation are to spread fear, undermine trust in institutions, and create social division.
How it spreads
Disinformation thrives on social sharing—anyone can inadvertently contribute by spreading false narratives online.
Impact on society
It erodes trust in public institutions, science, and media, fostering instability and polarization.
Want to know more about election disinformation?
False information can sway your vote. Learn how to recognize manipulation during election campaigns—whether it spreads online or in the media.
Recognizing Disinformation Tactics
Clickbait
Sensationalized headlines designed to attract attention.
Emotional language
Phrases that provoke fear, anger, or outrage.
Impersonation
Using trusted figures or institutions to spread falsehoods.
Cherry-picking
Selectively presenting facts to fit a specific agenda while omitting key context.
False causality
Suggesting a misleading cause-and-effect relationship between events.
Anecdotal evidence
Using personal stories to discredit statistics and research.
Deepfake
Ai-generated fake videos or audio that appear real.
Cheapfake
Manipulated audio or video content, edited using basic tools to deceive audiences.
Who Spreads Disinformation?
Misleading content can be spread by a range of disinformation actors. These include state-sponsored agencies seeking to influence politics, the economy, or security. Trolls and bots—provocative users and automated accounts simulating mass support—often operate as part of organized networks. Disinformation can also be amplified by politicians, influencers, and everyday users.
How Do False Narratives Affect Us?
Explore research findings on how disinformation spreads—and how it can be prevented.
87% of respondents...
...believe disinformation has had a major impact on political life in their country. (UNESCO, 2023)See the research
Content that uses...
...moral-emotional language spreads 20% faster than neutral content.See the research
21% fewer people...
...were willing to share false information after receiving media literacy training.See the research
Spotted disinformation? Report it!
If you spot misleading or false content, take action! Reporting it helps fight the spread of disinformation.
Information
The publication reflects the views of the author(s) only and should not be interpreted as the official position of the Minister for Digital Affairs.