European Elections: AFP works on multiple projects to tackle disinformation

An estimated 370 million Europeans will vote in 27 countries to elect the 720 members of the European Parliament. The global news agency seeks to empower journalists and fact-checkers with tools and resources to tackle the challenges related to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and the growing spread of misinformation online, while providing voters with reliable information.

Video series to raise awareness about online disinformation and fact-checking
AFP will publish a series of short videos debunking false information from around the European Union to raise awareness of disinformation and actions to tackle it, supported by the Google News Initiative. The videos will be in at least eight European languages, with English subtitles to reach the largest audience possible, on AFP’s award-winning YouTube playlist ‘AFP Fact Check: how to verify information online.’ Some videos will also be published on the French and Spanish playlists ‘Vrai ou faux? Comment verifier une info?’ and ‘Como verificar lo que es verdadero o falso?’, as well as on   AFP’s multiple social media channels, starting March 21, 2024.
 
Digital investigation training for journalists and journalism students
AFP will release an online course on tackling disinformation during elections in three parts. The training, created by AFP’s award-winning fact-checking team, includes tools for monitoring election campaigns, and examples of disinformation about candidates, political parties and the electoral system to help journalists to prepare their coverage. It also provides tools for tracking political ad spending, exercises and further resources. AFP’s open access online training platform has fourteen courses in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, supported by the Google News Initiative.
 
Initiative to create the largest fact-checking database for the European elections
AFP is contributing to Elections24Check, a project with the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN) and a coalition of over 40 fact-checking organisations across Europe to create a comprehensive fact-checking database focused on the 2024 European parliamentary elections. This first-of-its-kind open database, supported by the Google News Initiative, collects fact checks and articles on transcontinental trends reported by the coalition and related to the upcoming European elections. The goal is to increase cross-country collaboration and act as a resource for European citizens ahead of the vote in June. Statistical information about disinformation trends during the election will be available as organisations input their data, and researchers will be able to request access to a full dataset. The database can be accessed through the Elections24Check website.
 
Training initiative for fact-checkers on identifying and assessing AI-generated and digitally altered media
AFP has joined a project coordinated by the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN) and supported by Meta to help train fact-checkers across Europe on the best way to evaluate AI generated and digitally altered media, and on a media literacy campaign to raise public awareness of how to spot this type of content.
 
Creation of digital ‘Election Centres’ dedicated to the European elections
AFP is part of a TikTok initiative that introduces dedicated ‘Election Centres’ within the social network's application. Available in local languages, the Election Centres will allow users across all 27 member states to access reliable and official information. Furthermore, a video produced by AFP journalists offering essential guidance against misinformation is featured on TikTok's Election Centres in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Greece, Hungary, and Bulgaria.