Fake News in the Vienna Election Campaign: Expert Warns of Misinformation

Rising misinformation is not only a problem in international elections like the EU or US elections but also appears in national elections like the last National Council election. This misleading information can significantly influence public opinion and voting behavior and poses a serious threat to democratic processes, as reported by "Vienna Today".

Dangers of Fake News in Social Media

Katharina Zwins, an expert from the AFP (Agence France-Presse) fact-check, emphasizes that social media, in particular, provides a platform for the rapid spread of fake news. Such misinformation manipulates voters, impairing their ability to make informed decisions and ultimately distorting election results.

Election campaigns are particularly susceptible to fake news because they often address emotional topics such as migration, climate policy, or social justice. These topics are easy to distort and serve as "fodder" for fake news.

Confusion Over Tesla Car with Swastika in Vienna

"These are the classic topics of climate, migration, but also surprisingly many contents about Covid and vaccinations," explains Zwins in the interview. Another emerging problem is fake news specifically targeted against politicians.

A concrete example of the spread of fake news in Vienna shows an image of a Tesla car adorned with a swastika. This image was falsely linked to political events in the USA. However, AFP Fact Check found that the image was old and had no connection to current events. Such distortions can easily lead to misunderstandings in a heated political atmosphere.

Misconceptions During EU Election Campaign

Additionally, during the last EU election campaign, there was misinformation that the EU would bring a large number of refugees to Austria. An image of refugees, which was created in a different context, was used as supposed evidence of a refugee wave. According to Zwins, such manipulations are increasing in the complex structures of the EU, which serve as an ideal breeding ground for false reports.

Young and Old Can Fall Into the Fake News Trap

Another central aspect in the fight against fake news is who is particularly susceptible to this misinformation. Zwins explains that people, regardless of their political stance, can fall into the fake news trap. It is less a question of political conviction and more about media literacy and the willingness to question one's own views. Older people are often active on platforms like Facebook and share content without sufficient scrutiny. But young voters, especially first-time voters on platforms like TikTok, are also susceptible to emotional content.

In the heated phase of the Vienna election campaign, it is particularly important to be cautious when spreading information. Zwins appeals to check the source of the information and consider the context. Exaggerated and emotional content should be critically questioned, as they often distort the complete picture of the situation and can negatively influence the political debate.

(Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.