Fact-checkers are increasingly being targeted by hostile actions as they try to clarify and debunk misleading claims. A new report by the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) reveals that 66% of respondents, including academics, fact-checkers, and journalists, have fallen victim to online harassment, intimidation, physical threats, or doxxing.
The most common forms of abuse are trolling, threatening emails, brigading, and doxxing. These attacks often occur in response to fact-checking work on contentious topics like COVID-19 claims, migration, the environment, and women’s rights. Investigative work into far-right groups or online conspiracy theory networks is also a trigger for these attacks.
The perpetrators of this abuse include individuals, ideologically motivated groups, alternative media, and even political or government entities. In some countries, like Hungary and Slovakia, state actors have been responsible for harassment and other adversarial actions.
However, not all countries are experiencing the same level of abuse. Ireland has seen positive developments, including the establishment of dedicated hotlines between media professionals and police authorities.
The EDMO report recommends strengthening networks for peer-to-peer support, developing guidelines on how to prepare for adversarial actions, and enhancing security both online and offline. It also calls for greater awareness among policymakers and stronger protection for fact-checkers, including robust legal support for those doing the job.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/12/13/eu-parliament-delegation-visits-georgia-and-marches-with-pro-eu-protesters