Eurobarometer Report: Fake news and false information online

The European Union has released its latest report “Eurobarometer – Fake News and False Information Online”.

Respondents are less likely to trust online news and information than traditional sources

Most respondents completely trust or tend to trust the news and information they receive through radio (70%), television (66%) and print media (63%). However, less than half of respondents (47%) trust online newspapers and magazines, and even fewer trust video sites and podcasts (27%) and social media and messaging apps (26%). This is consistent across all EU countries, with traditional media sources being more trusted than online sources.

Most respondents encounter fake news at least once a week

More than a third of respondents (37%) encounter fake news every day or almost every day, while another 31% say this happens at least once a week.

Seven in ten respondents (71%) are completely or somewhat confident that they can identify distortions of facts or fake news; 26% are not confident in this regard.

Respondents in every country were confident in their ability to spot fake news, ranging from 87% in Denmark to 55% in Spain.

Respondents who frequently use online social networks, as well as those who frequently encounter fake news, are more confident in their ability to identify such news.

The vast majority of respondents believe fake news is a problem in their country

More than 8 in 10 respondents (85%) believe fake news is a problem in their country.

These views were consistent across member states, with at least 70% of respondents in each country believing that fake news was a problem in their country.

Various institutions and media are seen as having a responsibility to stop the spread of fake news

Respondents were most likely to believe that journalists should take action to stop the spread of fake news (45%), followed by government authorities (39%), press and broadcasting managers (36%), citizens themselves (32%), online social networks (26%), EU institutions (21%) and NGOs (15%).

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