Fake News, Ghost Accounts and Deepfakes: How do we recognize misinformation?

Misinformation is a persistent problem that affects the ability of people to make informed decisions. The spread of false or truncated information can have negative effects on society, influencing the public's opinions and destabilizing the debates on important topics.

The motivation behind the misinformation can vary, from the influence of public opinion for political, economic or ideological purposes, to the generation of online traffic for profit. In many cases, those who launch such information aim to create confusion, radicalize certain groups or weaken confidence in democratic institutions.

Due to (not due to) the evolution of technology and easy access to social media platforms, misinformation is more present than ever and can be difficult to identify.

How does misinformation manifest itself?

Misinformation can take many forms:

Fake news , which presents non -existent or distorted events;
handling images and videos , by editing or the use of content without context;
ghost accounts that distribute unverified information to manipulate public opinion;
Clickbait - exaggerated titles, meant to attract users, without a relevant content;
deepfakes , images or video clips artificially generated to induce the public in an intentional error.

Often, these methods are combined to amplify the impact of misinformation. For example, a ghost account can distribute a false news with a clickbait title, accompanied by an edited image to look authentic. Thus, readers are exposed to a handling content mix, which can influence their opinions and decisions.

The ghost accounts and their role in misinformation

A significant role in spreading online misinformation is played by ghost accounts. They can be identified by several specific features:

On Tiktok , ghost accounts usually have a small number of original posts, but massively distribute controversial content. Many of them use generic images or anonymous profiles, and their comments are repetitive, supporting manipulative narratives.
On Facebook , suspicious accounts have little personal information, lists of unusual friends and activities that include only the distribution of viral posts. Frequently, they propagate alarmist content, meant to trigger strong emotional reactions.
False news sites use names that mimic reliable sources, but the content has no clear references or cites obscure sources. Often, such sites have articles without author or with invented names.

How do we protect ourselves from misinformation?

In addition to these methods, it would be good to develop a constant habit of checking the information we consume. Creating a list of trustworthy sources, such as serious journalistic publications, fact-returning organizations and experts in the field, can help filter the manipulative content.

It is also useful to discuss misinformation with friends and family, to increase awareness and to support each other in recognizing false information. The adoption of a skeptical attitude does not mean total distrust, but a rigorous verification of details before making a decision or distributing information. In general, a dose of skepticism is recommended when we receive tunic information!

In order to avoid manipulation, we need to adopt a critical approach to the information we consume. Some basic rules include:

Source check : We must not rely on a single source of information. If a news story seems incredible or sensationalist, it is necessary to look for the same information on credible and verified sources.
Identification of the author and the site : The credible articles are published by recognized journalists and on sites with a good reputation. Obscure sites or those that do not provide details about the author must be viewed with skepticism.
The analysis of the titles and the language used : the alarmist content, which uses words such as "shocking", "explosive" or "what no one wants to know", is often meant to manipulate readers' emotions and attract clicks.
The use of fact-checking platforms : Organizations such as AFP fact or factual.ro offers verifications of suspicious information and can confirm or deny the truthfulness of an article.
Avoid impulsive distribution : Before distributing a news, we must ensure that the information is verified. The spread of unverified information can contribute to the propagation of misinformation.
Image and videos check : Sometimes, images or videos are out of context or edited to create a false impression. Tools such as Google Reverse Image Search or envy can help verify the authenticity of a visual material.
Reporting the false content : socializing platforms allow the reporting of false news and suspicious accounts. The signaling of these contents can contribute to reducing the impact of misinformation.
Attention to comments and distributions : aggressive, repetitive or distributed comments of anonymous accounts are alarm signals. A network of accounts that promote the same message can indicate an organized misinformation campaign.
Participation in digital education courses : Continuous information about online security and methods of misinformation identification can reduce users vulnerability to manipulation.

Misinformation in electoral context

The electoral periods are the moments when misinformation reaches high levels. Online propaganda campaigns are used to influence voters, either by creating false scandals, or by promoting erroneous information about candidates.

Among the most used electoral misinformation tactics are:

Image handling : Digital or context modified photos are used to induce the idea that a politician has participated in a controversial event or had an inadequate reaction.
Fake news about candidates : False news about the personal or professional life of the candidates, meant to affect their credibility, are spread. For example, during previous elections, a politician was falsely accused of plagiarizing a speech, and the information was massively distributed on social networks.
Ghost accounts and online trolleys : False account networks are used to amplify certain political messages, either by attacks on a candidate, or by promoting a particular party. These accounts are often coordinated and post the same messages on multiple platforms.
Surveys and false data : Falted surveys are promoted to create the impression that a particular candidate is favorite, causing voters to change their voting options.
Distribution of Deepfake content : falsified videos, in which a politician is made to say or do something compromising, can have a major impact on public opinion. A notorious example is the use of deepfakes in election campaigns to create false statements of candidates.

In order to protect ourselves from electoral misinformation, we must check the information from official sources, use fact-returning platforms and not be influenced by strong emotions generated by sensationalist news. Checking the authenticity of images and videos through digital tools can help to unmask the manipulations.

Many of the tactics used include handling images, distributing incomplete news, or removing statements to induce false perception.

Misinformation is a real threat to the online environment, but can be fought through digital education and a critical approach to the information consumed. By adopting a skeptical attitude and carefully selecting information sources, each user can help reduce the impact of online manipulation.

The Association of Cyber Security Education recommends prudence and constant verification of information to prevent disinformation.

Tagged Awareness