{"id":77314,"date":"2026-08-08T19:55:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:55:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/?p=77314"},"modified":"2026-08-21T20:07:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T18:07:28","slug":"fact-checking-tools-and-practical-methods-for-exposing-disinformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/be\/fact-checking-tools-and-practical-methods-for-exposing-disinformation\/","title":{"rendered":"Fact-checking tools and practical methods for exposing disinformation"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 class=\"entry-title\"><span dir=\"auto\">Fact-checking tools and practical methods for exposing disinformation<\/span><\/h1>\n<h3><span dir=\"auto\">How to learn to distinguish the real fact from manipulation<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-77315 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_1.jpg\" alt=\"Factchek\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_1-31x21.jpg 31w, https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_1-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_1-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_1-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_1.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/>The modern information environment creates unprecedented opportunities to obtain, disseminate information, and participate in public debate. However, the same environment has also become <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">a platform for the rapid spread of disinformation, manipulative messages, and fake content<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> .<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">Photos, videos, \u201curgent\u201d announcements, health tips, and various contests are shared on social networks every day, which at first glance may seem trustworthy. The course <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">\u201cFact-checking tools and practical methods for exposing disinformation\u201d conducted by <\/span><\/strong><strong><span dir=\"auto\">Ani Sukiasyan<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> , an expert at the International Human Rights Society (IHRS) NGO, was dedicated to this challenge . The goal of the course is to teach young people and participants interested in media literacy through practical examples how to check information and avoid manipulation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Fact checking\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/p59vg3FOn_g?feature=oembed\" width=\"100%\" height=\"1000\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span dir=\"auto\">When a real photo becomes fake information<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">The first practical example of the course concerns <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">photos being circulated with false context<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> . Participants are presented with a photo of a large queue on the street and the caption, \u201cToday in Artik, people queued for hours for bread.\u201d The first question is not \u201cIs it true or false?\u201d but <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">\u201cHow would you check?<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> \u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">During the discussion, it is suggested to use <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">Reverse Image Search<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> , <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">Google Lens<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> , as well as news websites and community pages. As a result of the verification, it turns out that the same photo was previously published in another country and about a completely different event. The conclusion is very important: <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">the photo may be real, but the context in which it is presented is false<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> . This is one of the most common forms of disinformation, since most people tend to trust visual content.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-video\">\n<div id=\"mep_0\" class=\"mejs-container wp-video-shortcode mejs-video mejs-container-keyboard-inactive\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"application\" aria-label=\"Video player\">\n<div class=\"mejs-inner\">\n<div class=\"mejs-controls\">\n<div class=\"mejs-button mejs-volume-button mejs-mute\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"mejs-button mejs-fullscreen-button\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span dir=\"auto\">A sensational headline is not yet a fact.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">The next example shows how panic-inducing messages are spread on social networks, for example, \u201call banks in Armenia are closing tomorrow, quickly withdraw your money.\u201d As part of the training, participants discuss what the right first step is when seeing such a post.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">The correct response is:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">check <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">the official announcements of the Central Bank<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> ,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">compare information with <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">reliable media<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> publications,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">Do not spread unverified news.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">This example helps to understand an important principle: <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">an emotional and hasty headline cannot be considered evidence<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> . Misinformation is often built on people&#8217;s fear and uncertainty.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span dir=\"auto\">&#8220;Doctors are hiding&#8230;&#8221; &#8211; a classic sign of manipulation<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">The course also pays special attention <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">to false health advice<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> . An example is a WhatsApp message that claims that &#8220;doctors hide it, but a glass of warm water with lemon every morning cures all diseases.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">Participants learn to spot the typical expressions of manipulation:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">&#8220;all diseases&#8221;,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">&#8220;Doctors are hiding&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">&#8220;Spread it quickly.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">Such formulations are not the language of scientific information. They are used to gain people&#8217;s trust and spread information quickly. The important message of the course is that <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">any health claims should be verified by professional and official medical sources<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> .<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span dir=\"auto\">The danger of images created by artificial intelligence<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong><span dir=\"auto\">The spread of AI-generated images<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> is also growing in the modern media environment . During the course, participants are shown examples of such images and are asked to find suspicious details on their own. The most common signs are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">wrong number of fingers,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">disproportionate ears,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">the distorted background,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">the strange shadows.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">However, Ani Sukiasyan emphasizes a very important point: <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">modern AI images are often so realistic that judging by appearance alone is not enough<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> . It is necessary to combine visual observation with other verification methods: studying the source, publication history, and additional searches.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-video\">\n<div id=\"mep_1\" class=\"mejs-container wp-video-shortcode mejs-video\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"application\" aria-label=\"Video player\">\n<div class=\"mejs-inner\">\n<div class=\"mejs-layers\">\n<div class=\"mejs-overlay mejs-layer mejs-overlay-play\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mejs-controls\">\n<div class=\"mejs-button mejs-volume-button mejs-mute\">\n<div style=\"width: 720px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-77314-1\" width=\"720\" height=\"1280\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kayq.mp4?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kayq.mp4\">https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kayq.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mejs-button mejs-fullscreen-button\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span dir=\"auto\">Fake contests and identity theft<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong><span dir=\"auto\">Fake contests<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> are also common on social media , which are used to collect personal information. The course discusses an example circulating on Instagram, where a well-known brand promises a large cash prize and requires you to click on a link and send it to your friends.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">Participants learn to pay attention to the following signals:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">the page is not official,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">The internet address is strange,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">required to disseminate the publication,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">Personal information is required.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">Such exercises are especially important for young people, as digital fraud is often presented as a &#8220;profitable opportunity.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span dir=\"auto\">Video verification, from details to actual location<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">One of the most sophisticated forms of disinformation is <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">videos taken out of context<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> . In the practical part of the course, participants are offered a video circulating on Telegram, which is claimed to have been filmed \u201cin Armenia today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-77323 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_2.jpg\" alt=\"Factchek\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_2-31x21.jpg 31w, https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_2-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_2-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_2-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_2-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/factchek_2.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">Attention is paid to detail during the inspection.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">car license plates,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">road signs,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">on shop signs,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">weather conditions,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">the language of conversation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">This method shows that sometimes even small details can reveal the true origin of a video and prove that it was filmed in another country or during another time period.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span dir=\"auto\">&#8220;What if you were a journalist&#8230;&#8221;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">One of the most active parts of the course is a journalistic simulation game. Participants are asked to imagine that they are a journalist, have received a photo and must <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">publish it immediately<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> . Then, they discuss what steps should be taken before publishing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">The steps suggested by the participants include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">check the source,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">contact the scene of the incident,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">compare with other sources,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">check the photo,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">check the date,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">find an official comment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">This exercise develops <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">responsible journalistic thinking<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> and helps to understand that speed should never take precedence over accuracy.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span dir=\"auto\">The main message of the course<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">The end of the article emphasizes that the goal of such practical seminars <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">is not to \u201ccatch mistakes<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> ,\u201d but <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">to create a fact-based and responsible information culture<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> . For the effectiveness of the lecture, it is recommended to use real or prepared examples for training purposes so that participants can immediately apply the presented tools.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span dir=\"auto\">Media literacy as a public safety skill<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">Ani Sukiasyan&#8217;s course shows that media literacy has long been no longer just a professional skill for journalists. <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">Every citizen<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> who uses social networks, shares publications, or receives information from online platforms should be able to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">be suspicious of overly sensational claims,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">check the origin of photos and videos,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">distinguish an official source from a fake page,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">understand the main signs of manipulative language,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"auto\">Be responsible in disseminating information.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">Thanks to this practical approach, the course becomes not only theoretical training, but also <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">practical experience<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> that participants can immediately use in their daily lives, during their studies, in their journalistic activities, and in the community information environment. It is precisely such initiatives that contribute <\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\">to strengthening the culture of information resilience, critical thinking, and fact-based public communication in Armenia<\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\"> .<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><span dir=\"auto\">The material was prepared within the framework of the Disinformation Flows Monitoring Project<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"auto\">#CivilSocietyCooperation #ishrarmenia #ishrfactcheck<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong data-start=\"5592\" data-end=\"5708\"><span dir=\"auto\">The project is implemented with the financial support of the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.auswaertiges-amt.de\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/ishrarmenia.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/logo_opr_amt.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"155\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fact-checking tools and practical methods for exposing disinformation How to learn to distinguish the real fact from manipulation The modern information environment creates unprecedented opportunities to obtain, disseminate information, and participate in public debate. However, the same environment has also become a platform for the rapid spread of disinformation, manipulative messages, and fake content . Photos, videos, \u201curgent\u201d announcements, health tips, and various contests are shared on social networks every<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":77315,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"Fact-checking tools and practical methods for exposing disinformation - Menschenrechte Osteuropa - News &amp; Konflikte","description":"Fact-checking tools and practical methods for exposing disinformation How to learn to distinguish the real fact from manipulation The modern information environ"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[220,218,471,1376],"tags":[823,1381],"class_list":["post-77314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-armenia","category-bl-en","category-country-armenia-en-2","category-opr-armenia-2026","tag-civilsocietycooperation","tag-opr-armenia-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/113"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77314"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77314\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77347,"href":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77314\/revisions\/77347"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/humanrights-online.org\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}