The European Digital Media Observatory has identified the increase in disinformation related to the farmers’ protests in many countries of the European Union in January – following smaller rallies in the previous months.
As noted in the relevant January brief, several false reports began to inflate the extent of the protests, using old and unrelated audio-visual material which they linked to the protests in France and Germany.
As highlighted, this is a technique that was also allegedly used to spread unsubstantiated claims that German tanks were participating in the marches to help protesters vandalize government buildings in Germany.
Furthermore, accompanying claims included an alleged escalation of the situation with help from other countries, or attempts to stop
demonstrations, even with violent measures (for example with police detaining farmers).
Read more about the types of disinformation detected last month on this topic and other issues such as climate change and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
