So you can protect yourself from manipulation and fake news on the Internet
There is chaos before the Bundestag election. Conspiracy theories and fake news, for example, are available on the subject of postal voting: This is said to be uncertain, the cut corners and holes should point out manipulated electoral certificates. This is supposed to create unrest before the election, so that with an election result you may not be satisfied, you can quickly shout “voting fraud”. Fact-Check: Said characteristics help visually impaired people vote.
Just one example of many: But how can we recognize fake news about the Bundestag election as such and distinguish credible sources from unbelievable ones? A question, the answer of which, especially against the background of the planned fact check from Meta, is becoming increasingly urgent in this country.
Not easy, but feasible: This article should help to question news awareness and media education and show solutions from Expert: Inside. We also use Correctiv and the federal election manager to clarify the largest fake news about the Bundestag election.
Gamification of news and “clickyism”
Do you remember the AI-generated picture on which “All Eyes on Rafah” stood? That was not a large -scale disinformation campaign - that much is clear. But it shows how easy political news and AI generated pictures can become a viral trend. If we in connection with political news or pictures the function “You are on it!” see - should let us pause for a moment alone.
We should always ask ourselves: Why should I share this picture? Who benefits that I share it? Where does this picture come from and who created it? Does this picture contribute to a healthy discourse?
AI is being used more and more to support political debates. Often it doesn't matter that at second glance you can see that it was generated by artificial intelligence - it is only important that it emotionized. This fact together with the phenomenon that theFederal Center for Political EducationCalls "clickyism" is an explosive mix.
In clickyism (or negative also called slackivism) there are more opportunities to take part in a social and politically important discourse, but at the same time participation is often unreflected and rarely has real effects on political events. You are urged to give an opinion - although you may not be familiar with the topic at all. This can also cause incorrect information and/or AI images to be shared without reflecting this event or the corresponding context is given.
Why do we fall so easily on disinformation campaigns, fake news and AI pictures?
"We live in a time of felt facts," says human rights activist, journalist and documentary filmmakerIn the Podcast of YouTube Creators.
In order to distinguish facts of felt facts or fiction and recognize fake news, sensitization in dealing with the media and the Internet is important. But media education is not prioritized at school and also in professional life. However, we all have to accept that the media landscape changes so quickly that we can no longer come after when we don't actively try. If society is not onaStand is when it comes to fake news, AI etc., then it is extremely difficult to protect yourself from disinformation.
“We can have the influence of, who also has a very toxic side, do not ignore, ”continues Düzen Tekkal. "We cannot pretend that none of it had any power if our nieces and nephew Tiktok also use as a source and obtain their information from it."
This is not only a problem for young society on Tikkok, but above all older people who grew up with media change but do not often deal with it. Moving image is often considered particularly trustworthy and legitimate - but KI and manipulation techniques can also be tricked here. The difference between truth and felt facts will keep us busy in the future and also other elections (see) influence. That is why it is important that we all learn - whether young or old - measures to protect ourselves from manipulation.
How can I protect myself from disinformation, AI and fake news?
Düzen Tekkal talks in this podcast from YouTube creators also about an initiative from Google that created videos about common techniques such as fake news.
With these three methods you can recognize online manipulation:
A single person or a certain group is accused of causing a complex problem. For example: “The tourists make our park dirty” or “the foreigners take our jobs away”. Responsibility for the problem suddenly seems very simple, and no other causes are listed or used.
If you notice these warning signs, it is best not to share the video/mail, but rather think critically about whether the cause of the problem is not a little more differentiated than the post or the video makes. It is best to carry out a research with different sources and find out about other opinions.
If you come across surprising, shocking or unusual content, it is best to think for a moment before you share the video.
Check out the picture or video very well: Could it have been ki-generated or manipulated with machining programs? Has it been torn from the context? Where is the source for the picture/video and who shared it first? What emotion should the video/picture trigger in us?
Always pay attention to the source and research what else it may have posted or whether it looks trustworthy. Of course, this can be extremely difficult, but the more you deal with it, the more you recognize the signs of dubious sources. It is always worth checking the imprint on a website, the: the author: in research and/or oneFact check websiteto move in. Has the person shared shocking messages several times or posts AI generated content? Then caution is advised.
If you reposted or share an image or video without further ado, you can unknowingly spread misinformation. That is why you should always start your own research with trustworthy sources, especially with messages that make you particularly surprising or angry.
If the general character of a single person or a group is questioned, counter arguments are ignored and rejected and the credibility is questioned without evidence, then all of this can be signs of manipulation. Especially if the indictment originally comes from one person.
Find out where the allegations come from and reflect before you share something, whether these are not subjective assessments or even content that have been created by artificial intelligence.
By the way: A Google search should always be critically questioned! First, almost everyone can really create a website with fake information these days. Second, Google also uses artificial intelligence for its content. The “Overview” function has not yet been introduced in Germany and Europe, but it is already making headlines in the United States. Google answers your question by gaining information from the network for you. But Google also finds it difficult to assess which information is now really considered trustworthy and often tells the questioners fake news. That's why you should always check the source yourself that you take your information from!
So if you now research where the picture comes from with “All Eyes on Rafah”, then you will probably come across the photographer Chaa (@shahv4012)Daily mirrorreported. In his story, the photographer repeatedly posts AI-generated content that should emotionize and stimulate sharing. The news pageWatsonreports that the account is sometimes anti-Semitic content, as you can see in your story highlights. Whether sharing one of his pictures in the story is helpful for people in need or contributes to a healthy discourse remains highly questionable.
When scrolling through Tikok and X (formerly Twitter), the most absurd false information comes under. We have seen some several times and were also taken up by intelligence services, correction or the federal election manager.
Incidentally, what sounds like politicians is really true: disinformation comes especially from Russia, as well as theBundestagconfirmed. Information about the choice and German parties of Russian accounts can always be considered with caution. Unfortunately, you often don't see that the account is Russian, since the accounts are often fake and do not actually belong to private individuals. LoudTenseThere were over 630 posts of Russian accounts on X (formerly Twitter) in just one month, with the targeted intent to spread disinformation about German election or their parties.
Here you will find a quick overview of the best known fake news. For all further information, facts about Correctiv and the federal election manager and their websites are given below.
One of the most common disinformation that can be found around the choice are a wide variety of theories of how the choice can be manipulated.
- Fake news: With a signature, the voice counts twice.
Fact:With a signature on the ballot paper, the voice does not count at all!
- Fake News: There is an elective in Germany.
Fact:To be able to go to be able to go is a fundamental right, but also to have the decision not to choose.
- Fake news: Voting slips with a hole or cut -off corner are invalid.
Fact:All ballots have them and are intended as orientation for visually impaired people.
- Fake news: Wahlurnen are not safe.
Fact:Wahlurens are never left out of their eyes, and there is usually no seal.
Individual political cups: inside and parties
- Fake News: Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Greens boss Franziska Brantner and Minister of Finance Christian Lindner have multi-million dollar villas in LA, who have recently been burned during fire.
Fact:None: R of the above has a villa in the Hollywood Hills. The pictures and videos that are shown are sometimes only apartment complexes or police academies, sometimes completely AI generated and mostly not affected by the fires.
- Fake news: Robert Habeck is a child molester.
Fact:The video, which went viral through social media in December 2024, was generated with artificial intelligence and was not immediately recognizable as a fake.
- Fake news: Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier would cancel the election if right parties should win.
Fact:Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier never said that the speech that is quoted here is about the dissolution of the Bundestag about the question of trust.
Fact check from Correctiv
You hear a message that is also shared by many others - but you are not sure if it is right? Correctiv offers a good source for factual checks. The organization has its own channel around theBundestag election 2025. Here you will find detailed research on the most popular fake news about the choice, such as false quotes from politicians: inside, scandals around the postal voting and the alleged villas of Olaf Scholz and Christian Lindner. In addition, statements by Alice Weidel and the speech by Elon Musk are corrected with her.
Fact check of the federal election manager
On the website of the federal election manager you will find all information about the choice. Among other things, it is actively acted against disinformation. Because there is no central position for the correct position of fake news, the federal election manager has set itself the task of correcting well -known fake news that concerns the electoral procedure. On thebottomDo you see directly what the right information is. Here, for example, the security of the postal voting and the ballot gymnasts is also informed.
