Sniffing out fake news is real easy for Irish citizens

72% think they can spot disinformation online

- BYSEAN MCCARTHAIGH

CONTENT Woman on her phone

MORE than four out of 10 Irish people believe they are frequently exposed to disinformation and fake news on a regular basis, according to the findings of a new EU-wide survey.

However, research commissioned by the European Parliament on social media use also found that Irish citizens feel more confident than almost all other Europeans about being able to recognise disinformation when they encounter it.

The Eurobarometer poll revealed that 42% of Irish people believe they were often or very often exposed to deliberate and false information within the previous seven days.

The figure is an increase of six percentage points since a similar survey was last conducted in 2022.

The level of frequent exposure to disinformation and fake news in Ireland is the 8th highest among the 27 EU member states where the average is 35%.

The highest level of 57% was recorded in Hungary, where the government of the controversial prime minister, Viktor Orban, has been accused of using disinformation to consolidate his power and undermine democratic values.

In contrast, the lowest level of frequent exposure to fake news was felt in Finland at 25%.