Spanish expert: Russia is using disinformation to influence Western democracies

Russia uses coordinated networks to reinforce any narrative that harms the West, says Spanish fact-checking expert Carlos Hernandez Echevarria.

In an interview with The Geopost, Echevarria says that pro-Russian networks have become more sophisticated, using and amplifying domestic disinformation that aligns with their interests.

According to him, their main goal is to undermine support for Ukraine and weaken trust in the European Union and democratic values. He also talks about the role of fact-checkers.

Full interview:

The Geopost: How do you see the situation in Europe regarding "fact-checking"?

Echevarria: To be honest, I think that all over the world, not just in Europe, these are bad times for facts, because we have powerful people who don't want to be challenged. So I think in some ways these are great times for fact-checking organizations, because there's a lot to do, there's a lot to fact-check, there's a lot to investigate, and I think more people are relying on our work. But at the same time, it's clear that our enemies have become more powerful, people who never want to be corrected or challenged. So in that sense, it's a bit of an ambiguous situation. I think that even the major digital platforms are clearly increasingly disinterested in fighting disinformation. And for those like us who fight disinformation, that's never good news, because obviously the impact that they say these big platforms have on society and the implications for public opinion are really big. So in that sense, we live in very, very challenging times.

The Geopost: What are the emerging narratives and challenges within fact-checking stemming from Russia's information operations targeting Western democracies?

Echevarria: I think we've seen this, and you've known for a number of years now that sometimes there are coordinated networks linked to Russia that will basically amplify any narrative or disinformation that's damaging Western institutions. I think there's a fundamental message from Russia that says there's no difference between the West and Russia. Yes, we may not be perfect, but the West is actually just as authoritarian or, it's in decline. I think the pro-Russian networks have been very good at amplifying that. I'm sure they have. Obviously inventing some hoaxes and planting hoaxes, but also, I would say, upping their game in terms of facilitating and amplifying domestic disinformation that aligns with the larger goal. And the larger goal is always to undermine support for Ukraine, to undermine the ideals of the European Union. I think we can see a clear pattern in that.

The Geopost: Is artificial intelligence improving fact-checking or creating new challenges for it?

Echevarria: I would say both at the same time. For starters, it's clear that if you're a guy who works in the disinformation industry, like creating hoaxes or whatever, it gives you amazing tools to do that kind of content in a more polished and faster, less expensive way. All of that is true. But at the same time, everyone who does fact-checking is also using AI-powered tools to try to have better capabilities in identifying misinformation, supporting exactly why it happened in that place at that time or not, to also facilitate the distribution of our fact-checks and to see how all the things that we've already debunked have come back. I think AI is helping us in a lot of ways. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's helping us more than it's hurting us. I'm not sure about that, but I know it is. What I do know is that the world has changed and everyone is benefiting. The good guys are benefiting and the bad guys are benefiting. And there really is no other option, because this is the new reality in which we live.

/The Geopost