Handbook for combating disinformation 2024
- 2. MESSAGE WELCOME Kateryna Odarchenko Board Institute for democracy and development PolitA Purpose and Scope of the Handbook This handbook is designed to empower individuals and organizations to understand, identify, and counter disinformation. It is a practical guide for: • Journalists – to expose false narratives while maintaining professional integrity. • Civil society activists – to protect democratic values and build public trust. • Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – to resist informational threats. • Political consultants and communication specialists – to defend clients from disinformation campaigns. • Educational institutions – to teach critical thinking and media literacy. This handbook serves as a practical guide aimed at empowering diverse audiences — journalists, civil society activists, non-governmental organizations, political consultants, and educational institutions — to effectively identify, counter, and expose disinformation. It emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, media literacy, and professional ethics in safeguarding democratic values and public trust, providing specific tools and strategies to combat informational threats in the modern world.
- 3. HANDBOOK FOR COMBATING DISINFORMATION Part 1. Understanding Disinformation 1.1. What is Disinformation? Disinformation is the intentional spread of false or misleading information to achieve political, social, or economic objectives. 1.2. Why is Disinformation Dangerous? • Erodes trust in institutions and communities. • Fuels conflict and legitimizes aggression. • Manipulates public opinion, particularly during crises or elections. • Justifies violence and war.
- 4. Key Narratives of Disinformation 2.1. Examples from Russian Propaganda: • War: “Russia is defending its security against NATO aggression.” • Ukraine: “Ukraine is a Nazi state.” • Global Influence: “Russia protects traditional values from Western decadence.” 2.2. Election Disinformation Examples: • Fake narratives about candidates’ personal lives or policies. • Manipulation of voting statistics. • False claims about voting dates, locations, or methods. HANDBOOK FOR COMBATING DISINFORMATION
- 5. 3.1. Rapid Response Methods 1. Fact-Checking: • Use platforms like Snopes, StopFake, and FactCheck.org. • Verify images and videos through tools like Google Reverse Image Search or InVID. 2. Expose Disinformation Quickly: • Create short, fact-based memos for media and social platforms. • Share verified information via infographics, videos, and articles. 3. Engage the Public: • Use simple language to explain falsehoods. • Highlight the societal impact of disinformation. 3.2. Deep Methods for Long-Term Impact 1. Source Analysis: • Trace connections between original sources and those spreading disinformation. • Build a database of recurring false narratives. 2. Education and Training: • Conduct workshops on critical thinking and content analysis for journalists and civil society. 3. International Collaboration: • Leverage expertise from organizations like Bellingcat and Amnesty International.
- 6. Part 4. Disinformation in Armed Conflicts 1. Investigating Disinformation: • Identify the objectives of disinformation: legitimizing aggression, demoralizing opponents, or manipulating public perception. • Use tools like CrowdTangle and Hoaxy for content analysis. 2. Counteracting Disinformation: • Develop campaigns to debunk lies (articles, videos, podcasts). • Engage trusted experts to clarify the facts. 3. Long-Term Strategies: • Implement media literacy programs. • Strengthen independent media institutions.
- 7. Part 5. Disinformation in Elections 1. Monitoring Disinformation: • Track key platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Telegram) for bot activity and fake narratives. • Watch for sudden surges of similar messaging. 2. Combating Election Disinformation: • Collaborate with international election monitors. • Work with fact-checking organizations to scrutinize claims of voting irregularities. 3. Case Studies: • Combating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections. • Exposing fake news during European Union elections.
- 8. Part 6. Why Combating Disinformation Matters 1. Disinformation undermines trust. Societies with low trust in institutions are more vulnerable to manipulation. 2. Free information strengthens democracy. Countries with strong protections for free speech and media, such as the U.S. and Germany, are more resilient to crises. 3. Defending the truth is defending peace. Manipulation of facts paves the way for violence and instability. Exposing falsehoods is a step toward conflict resolution and global stability. This handbook is your toolkit for combating disinformation. It combines immediate responses with long-term strategies that can be applied locally, nationally, and internationally. Now, more than ever, it is critical not just to uncover lies, but to reinforce trust in truth, freedom of speech, and democratic institutions. Use this knowledge to defend truth and build a more informed, resilient society.