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Dossier: "Fiction and Truth-Recognising Fake News"

Human figures trying to make a choice at the crossroads (Fake News - Facts) © hamzaturkkol | Getty Images Signature

This dossier is related to the workshop "Fiction and Truth – Recognising Fake News" Workshop: Fiction and Truth – Recognising Fake News – Goethe-Institut Poland. The two-day workshop was part of the project ‘Perspectives2 – One Europe, Many Stories’, coordinated by the Goethe-Institut and supported by the European Union, and was be conducted by Piotr Henzler.

Video – Recognising Fake News: An Introduction

Like it or not, we are surrounded by fake news. Sometimes in the traditional media, but above all in the electronic media, the Internet, social media, chat forums, in groups and also in conversation with acquaintances, family and loved ones. Misleading information appears, sometimes totally invented, sometimes based on actual information, but manipulated, and sometimes real information is presented so that the picture of the world is distorted.

The sheet of paper inserted into the machine displays the text “Fake news.” Visible metal elements and keys give the image a retro appearance. © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

  • We live in a world of fake news

    Stories calling Hillary Clinton a child-trafficker that circulated during the American presidential campaign in 2016, advertisements urging you to invest in the ‘deal of a lifetime’ or ‘scientific findings’ about the harmfulness of Covid-19 vaccines. What do these subjects have in common? The fact that they are false and based on fake news.
     

    Collage of Newspaper Headlines on Economic Issues such as Unemployment, Student Debt, and the Housing Crisis. © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

  • Why do we believe fake news?

    We come across fake news in social media and – less and less often, fortunately – in traditional media, pick it up from our friends and loved ones as they share information they have not verified. But why do we believe it? Read the article below and find out why you sometimes (or maybe frequently?) fall prey to fake news!
     

    A person in a beige blazer is holding a smartphone in one hand and a newspaper in the other. Another newspaper lies on the table. Large windows can be seen in the background. © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

  • How can we recognise fake news?

    In a world full of fake news and disinformation, we are not defenceless. Critical thinking, supported by analytical tools, helps us decide if information that seems accurate truly is reliable. We may not gain certainty, but we will be able to sniff out the majority of false information.
     

    Thematic graphic on identifying fake news and disinformation online. Illustration without human figures, featuring symbols of media and technology. © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

  • How does the AI contribute to fake news creation?

    Was this picture taken using a camera or is it footage generated by an app supported by AI? Did this well-known actor, who is now encouraging me to invest in an oil company shares, really say these words? If so many people claim that the Earth is flat, perhaps they are on to something?

    KI © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

  • 10 things to remember as you plan your class on fake news

    Are you about to lead a class about disinformation, fake news or deepfake detection? Great, congratulations! Good choice, we encourage you to take action. Below, you will find 10 recommendations that may help you plan your educational activities.

    fake news © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

  • How to recognize a deepfake?

    Let’s face it – spotting deepfakes. i.e. an altered or AI-created video is only going to be easy in one case… when those who make them do shoddy work. But this happens quite often and we do have a chance to successfully spot deepfakes.

    AI © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut

Podcast – Piotr Henzler Talks to Beata Frankiewicz

How Can We Spot Digital Traps and Protect Our Data from Cybercriminals? In this podcast, Beata Frankiewicz, a cybersecurity expert, discusses the most common online scams—from fake banking websites to manipulated voices. You’ll learn why we often fall into these traps without realizing it, and how simple measures can help you stay safe.
A conversation that informs, raises awareness, and highlights the importance of digital vigilance in everyday life.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Ilustration: © Ricardo Roa

Artificial intelligence will have a lasting impact on our society. It is already doing so today. What was considered science fiction just several years ago is now permeating every corner of our lives: AI is not only changing work processes, but also our understanding of knowledge, truth and closeness. This dossier brings together four articles that show from different perspectives how far this transformation has already progressed - and what fundamental questions it raises for our future.

Artificial Intelligence

  • AI and Art

    Studio Ghibli style and the draining of meaning

    What remains of art when AI imitates everything? An essay on Ghibli filters and the quiet erosion of cultural meaning in the age of generative machines.

    An illustration of a boy in Studio Ghibli style. The figure disintegrates halfway into individual pixels. Illustration: © Ricardo Roa Illustration: © Ricardo Roa

  • AI and emotions

    Artificial empathy

    What happens to us and our psyche when we share our most intimate thoughts and feelings with AI companions? How is our understanding of relationships changing, and what impact is this having on society as a whole? In the following article, author Johannes Kuhn takes a closer look at these pressing questions.

    An illustration of a robot. Inside the robot is a human. Illustration: © Ricardo Roa Illustration: © Ricardo Roa

  • AI in the Higher Education sector

    When AI threatens knowledge

    AI is Reshaping Knowledge: from how it changes students’ engagement and deep reading skills, to how Universities are accelerating the shift in favor of efficiency, there are deep implications on what place critical thinking and skepticism have in the creation of knowledge.

    An illustration symbolising a Greek bust and pantheon. Illustration: © Ricardo Roa Illustration: © Ricardo Roa

  • AI in newsrooms

    Between a tool and a turning point

    AI transcribes interviews, filters comments, improves phrasing – and in doing so, is quietly but fundamentally changing newsroom life. But to what extent? Gregor Schmalzried, journalist and host of Bayerischer Rundfunk’s AI Podcast, offers a behind-the-scenes look.

    An illustration showing a microphone held in one hand. Illustration: © Ricardo Roa Illustration: © Ricardo Roa

  • Perspectives 2
  • Co-funded by the EU