Debunking 3 myths about the solar eclipse

As people across Europe waited for the August 12 solar eclipse, misinformation was spreading on social media and messaging apps. Here's what's true and…

Aug 12 • Maria Flannery

Spain border crisis: Did misinformation or foreign interference cause Ceuta's mass crossings?

Disputed reasons were put forward after tens of thousands of people rushed Ceuta aiming to reach Spain. We examine claims of legal misinformation…

Aug 7 • Maria Flannery

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July 2026

Mapping & fact-checking the wildfires burning through Europe

An interactive map tracks Europe's 2026 wildfires as fact-checkers debunk AI-faked animal rescues, recycled footage, and misleading firefighting claims.

Jul 29 • Maria Flannery and Luc Martinon

Dispatch: Fact-checking the World Cup final's fallout

Online misinformation followed the World Cup final, after six weeks of competition that was coupled with plenty of political discourse and AI fakes

Jul 23 • Maria Flannery

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Melted traffic lights and climate manipulation: extreme heat sparks wave of false claims

The heat wave that has been hitting Europe for weeks became the centre of multiple false narratives and viral misleading claims that spread across…

Jul 15 • Sara Badilini

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Manufactured debate: How coordinated networks are hijacking European news comment sections

An investigation by Eurovision News Spotlight members finds bot networks, fake accounts and coordinated campaigns targeted the comment sections of…

Jul 9

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June 2026

World Cup 2026: AI fan girls, a Hitler hoax, and the truth about Cape Verde

Spotlight fact-checkers unpack the doctored images, false player stories, and synthetic influencer accounts spreading across social media as the…

Jun 19 • Maria Flannery

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May 2026

Dispatch: Hantavirus claims debunked as MV Hondius reignites Covid-19 conspiracy theories

New claims linked specifically to hantavirus emerged, while familiar theories from the Covid-19 pandemic were revived for 2026

May 15 • Maria Flannery

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Giorgia Meloni warns of 'dangerous' deepfakes as AI lingerie images of her circulate

Italy's PM rebuked suggestive AI images that came soon after the UN highlighted the wider issue of deepfakes targeting women in public life

May 6 • Maria Flannery

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April 2026

Dispatch: 5 viral myths as dinner shooting sparks fresh conspiracy theories

From AI-generated shooter videos to mentalist 'secret signals', Eurovision News Spotlight debunks the viral misinformation surrounding the Washington…

Apr 29 • Maria Flannery

'Slopaganda': How Iran is using AI memes and its network of embassies to troll Donald Trump

Iran is capitalising on Trump’s feud with Pope Leo XIV and disquiet over the Epstein files with viral content distributed through its embassies and…

Apr 17 • Maria Flannery

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Artemis II: AI 'slop' used for new generation of moon misinformation

Missions to the moon have always been associated with long-debunked conspiracy theories — now new AI technology is being weaponised to create misleading…

Apr 10 • Maria Flannery

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