Infox in stock: disinformation in Slovakia hits records during legislative elections
Disinformation has become a major scourge in election campaigns, and Slovakia is no exception. As the legislative elections on September 30 approach, the country is overwhelmed by a wave of fake news, both internal and from abroad, notably from Russia.
According to Peter Duboczi, editor-in-chief of the Infosecurity.sk website, the disinformation ecosystem in Slovakia is now reaching its peak. Indeed, more than 365,000 election-related disinformation posts were published on Slovak social media during the first two weeks of September, generating exposure five times that of an average post.
What is particularly worrying is that the first spreaders of this false information are not Russian influencers or trolls, but Slovak politicians themselves. Disinformation has become a communication tool in its own right for certain politicians, including former Prime Minister Robert Fico, a favorite in polls and a fan of populist and pro-Russian speeches.
The manipulation of information is so skillful that even the most intelligent and well-trained Slovaks have difficulty sorting out fact from fiction. The fake news spread in recent weeks also serves Russian interests, with statements repeating Moscow’s narrative on the war in Ukraine word for word.
Slovakia has been a prime target of Russian interference since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The Russian embassy in Slovakia is a well-identified relay of disinformation, spreading numerous false information and manipulative stories on social networks.
Faced with this worrying situation, it is imperative to raise public awareness of disinformation and develop strategies to combat this phenomenon. Voters must be armed with the knowledge and tools to analyze information and uncover false information.
The parliamentary elections in Slovakia are a crucial moment for the country’s democracy. It is essential to ensure that citizens are objectively informed and can make informed decisions when they go to the polls. Only collective awareness of disinformation can guarantee free and fair elections.