Infox in stock: diving into the ecosystem of disinformation in Slovakia
In the context of the electoral campaign in Slovakia, disinformation is reaching new heights. Between Russian propaganda, electoral manipulation and lies about the situation in Ukraine, Slovak voters are overwhelmed by a wave of fake news. Faced with this reality, the media and experts are sounding the alarm.
According to Infosecurity.sk, a site specializing in disinformation analysis, the disinformation ecosystem in Slovakia is at its peak. Social media is flooded with election-related misinformation, with more than 365,000 misinformation posts posted in the first two weeks of September. These messages violating the platforms’ terms of use spread five times faster than an average message.
What is particularly worrying is that the first disseminators of this fake news are not influencers, Russian trolls or conspiracy sites. These are Slovak politicians themselves. Politicians use disinformation as a communications tool in its own right to influence public opinion. Robert Fico, a pro-Russian populist and former prime minister, is one of the main propagators of this false information. His manipulative speeches are widely relayed on social networks, where his videos are among the most popular in Slovakia.
The disinformation spread by Slovak politicians is not only worrying for democracy, it also serves Russia’s interests. By repeating Moscow’s narrative on the war in Ukraine, Robert Fico contributes to the dissemination of false information about the conflict. Other Slovak politicians, such as Andrej Danko of the Slovak National Party, also question the historical affiliation of certain Ukrainian territories, thus supporting Russian positions.
Slovakia has long been a prime target of Russian interference and disinformation. Since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the Russian embassy in Slovakia has been a well-identified relay of Russian propaganda. It is one of the most active embassies on social media, often spreading misinformation and manipulative narratives. In 2022, the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats following the revelation of a scandal involving the payment of money to a contributor to a disinformation site highlighted the influence of the Russian embassy on propaganda in Slovakia.
Faced with this alarming situation, the media and experts are calling for increased vigilance on the part of Slovak voters. It is essential to verify information before sharing it and to obtain information from reliable sources. The fight against disinformation is a collective responsibility, and it is important not to be manipulated by those who use disinformation for political purposes.
In conclusion, disinformation in Slovakia is reaching worrying proportions, with Slovak politicians themselves using disinformation as a communication tool. Russian propaganda also plays a significant role in spreading false information and manipulating public opinion. To preserve democracy and the integrity of elections, it is essential that Slovak voters are aware of these issues and exercise discernment in the face of misinformation.