Inside Lithuania's digital frontline: How Delfi's fact-checkers combat disinformation across languages and platforms

AS disinformation and propaganda increasingly shape public opinion across Europe and beyond, Lithuania's largest digital media outlet, Delfi, has become a frontline defender of information integrity through its dedicated fact-checking department Melo Detektorius (The Lie Detector).

- BY CHARUMINI DE SILVA IN VILNIUS

In the heart of Vilnius, a small but determined team at Delfi, is waging a relentless battle against falsehoods, propaganda and digital deception. Armed by its dedicated fact-checking division, Delfi has become a regional leader in verifying information, exposing Kremlin-driven narratives and educating the public on media literacy.

During a recent study tour organised by the Internews under the EU-funded Indo-Pacific Media Resilience Program, a group of Sri Lankan journalists including the Daily FT, gained firsthand look at how Lithuania's fact-checkers operate independently, leverage technology and build global alliance to safeguard truth in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI) and misinformation.

Dedicated fact-checking initiative

Melo Detektorius Editor Aist Meidut shared how Baltics' largest online news outlet, Delfi's fact-checking efforts evolved in response to Russian disinformation and now stands as a model of journalistic independence and resilience.

"Fact-checking in Lithuania began as a direct response to Kremlin propaganda. Our first major project, the 'Divan' was focused on debunking false narratives spread by Russian State media. Soon we realised that a separate dedicated fact-checking initiative was necessary and that's how Melo Detektorius was born," she explained.

She said at present, Delfi's fact-checking division has verified over 3,000 claims; over 2,000 in Lithuanian and 1,000 in Russian.

According to her, Melo Detektorius primarily verifies external disinformation, especially that circulates on social media. Its methodology combines systematic monitoring, reader engagement and rating system to classify claims as true, false, partly false or manipulative.

"We found that ratings make our work easier to understand for the public. If we publish long, complex reports, people may lose interest. Ratings help communicate clearly and quickly," she opined.