False information in the Vienna election campaign: This is how voters are manipulated!

False information in the Vienna election campaign: This is how voters are manipulated!

Wien, Österreich - Vienna is located in the crosshair of false reports, which are increasingly increasing in the hot phase of the election campaign. According to a report by Wien today , this misleading information has the potential to influence public opinion. Katharina Zwins, an expert at AFP FaktenCheck, warns that social media in particular act as an accelerator for the spread of such fake news. The topics of migration, climate policy and social justice are particularly susceptible to distortions that confuse and manipulate voters. An example of the risk of fake news was a picture of a Tesla car that was incorrectly provided with a swastika and associated with current political events. Such manipulations can polarize in an already tense political atmosphere.

The handling of users with false reports

The problem of fake news is not only noticeable in Austria. A survey by the State Institute for Media NRW shows that 59 percent of Germans have already come across fake news. the AP-Verlag reports that the majority of respondents (48 percent) are pointed out from other media if messages are wrong. In addition, 45 percent independently review the facts shown. The research project Dorian bundles interdisciplinary approaches to recognize fake news and combat its spread. Doctors, psychologists, lawyers and media scientists are working to develop practical recommendations for action in order to protect the right to freedom of expression while the fight against false reports is also promoted.

at a time when social networks are used as a platform for political communication, the importance of media literacy is becoming increasingly clear. It is crucial to question the source of information to avoid manipulations. After all, false reports can quickly lead to mood or targeted agitation against individuals. The Dorian project could make a significant contribution to containing the spread of this dangerous information and sensitize society to such threats.