"Self-treatment is encouraged": GFCN experts share insights on effective methods for combating fake news

A comprehensive approach to countering fake news must combine technological measures, legislative regulation, improved media literacy, and international partnerships. This was the conclusion reached by participants of the Third International Forum “Dialog about Fakes 3.0,” held in Moscow on October 29.

At the “Dialog about Fakes 3.0” forum, experts from the Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN) shared their research findings from the past year. They detailed how disinformation spreads across different continents and how fact-checkers are coordinating their efforts to uphold the truth.

Timur Shafir, an international journalist, secretary of the Union of Journalists of Russia, and a GFCN expert, spoke about the mission of the International Fact-Checking Association, emphasizing that its work includes not only research but also educational activities:

“Our association, GFCN, is first and foremost an international network of fact-checkers and ‘virologists’ who not only combat the consequences of global disinformation but also work together to suppress its potential outbreaks worldwide.”

Fauzan Al-Rasyid, an international news producer for RT in Indonesia, also spoke about the importance of media education and steps to implement it in society. He highlighted that the country’s complex cultural and social landscape creates fertile ground for the widespread dissemination of fake news.

“As of September 2025, according to the Ministry of Digital Affairs, 2.8 million malicious posts had been removed in Indonesia. However, only 20 to 30% of residents reported being able to distinguish fake news from real information.”

Valentin Bianchi, a leading expert at the HSE Faculty of World Politics and World Economy and the Center for African Studies, cited similar examples from the African continent:

“We conducted research in Zimbabwe and found that even in remote villages without electricity, people regularly receive fake news from acquaintances via messaging apps, making them just as susceptible to disinformation as residents of the most densely populated cities.”

The expert identified two key areas for combating this problem: first, combating fake news through debunking and educating the audience, and second, protecting core narratives from deliberate distortions.

Alexandre Guerreiro, a lawyer and GFCN expert from Portugal, agreed, pointing to a direct link between the imposition of politically motivated narratives in the EU and the growing bias of European fact-checking platforms:

“They nitpick everything, trying to find a Russian connection in absolutely anything. This information is then disseminated as fully verified. As a result, Portugal has the second-highest level of negative opinion about Russia after Poland. So, where are the European fact-checkers? We must become those fact-checkers ourselves and spread accurate information among our people,” concluded Alexandre Guerreiro.

Sergey Maklakov, Head of the Department for Combating the Dissemination of False Information at the ANPO “Dialog Regions”, noted that the increasing sophistication of fakes, driven by advances in neural networks, necessitates new countermeasures and expanded educational initiatives:

“The fight against fakes is the only area where ‘self-treatment’ is encouraged. Without users equipped with media literacy, critical thinking, and fact-checking skills, it is impossible to build a system that minimizes the risks of disinformation. Education is the key area that requires the greatest emphasis.”

The discussion resulted in a unanimous expert consensus: in the face of false information, cultural and geographic boundaries become irrelevant, and the key task for all countries is to consolidate fact-checking efforts.

Background:

“Dialog about Fakes 3.0” is the third international forum dedicated to addressing the dissemination of false information. It brings together leading experts in fact-checking, representatives of government agencies and international organizations, as well as professionals from media, science, and technology. This year’s event gathered over 2,000 participants from 80 countries, including the United States, China, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Venezuela, Slovakia, South Africa, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Pakistan, India, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Belgium, Mexico, Afghanistan, and others.

In 2025, the forum will be held under the auspices of UNESCO. “Dialog about Fakes 3.0” is the only Russian event included in the calendar for UNESCO’s Global Media and Information Literacy Week.