2025 in review: How we fact-checked a year of global crisis
From Israel's wars to a pope's death and anti-migrant riots in Europe, explore the top investigations from Eurovision News Spotlight’s inaugural year
In the year that Eurovision News Spotlight was launched, public service fact-checkers and verification teams across Europe collaborated on several of 2025’s major news developments. From the competing narratives surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict to Donald Trump’s return to the White House, and from aviation incidents to the conflict in the Red Sea, the journalistic network maintained a consistent reporting schedule.
Check out our top picks from the year that was.
Tracking Israel’s state-sponsored information campaigns
The Spotlight network conducted extensive research this year on the digital infrastructure used by the Israeli government to distribute advertisements in international territories.
In September, an OSINT reporting group published findings on coordinated messaging campaigns aimed at shaping global perspectives on Gaza, noting contracts valued at tens of millions of dollars. Among the messaging identified were claims that famine conditions did not exist in Gaza — a point of contention following an official Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report that had declared famine conditions weeks prior.
While the Israeli government criticized the IPC methodology as “tendentious,” the Spotlight network documented the use of paid advertising to prioritize the state’s rebuttal over international humanitarian data.
Earlier in the year, the network investigated advertisements run by the state agency LAPAM to encourage public voting for the Israeli Eurovision Song Contest entry. This documentation was later referenced in reporting when contest organizers announced reforms designed to maintain the competition’s integrity.
The most recent report on these communication systems identified a new digital campaign following a fragile ceasefire. These advertisements appeared on social media accounts that did not initially disclose government affiliation; verification teams found that some video segments used in the campaign were archive footage unrelated to the current ceasefire.
Analysis of anti-migrant sentiment in Europe
An analysis of the surge in anti-migrant incidents across Europe identified recurring patterns in the digital information ecosystem, where cross-border social media networks frequently amplified local tensions.
In 2025, violent clashes occurred in Spain, the UK, and Ireland. Reporting indicated a broadening of narratives that have historically existed in other European nations, such as Germany. Documentation showed that local influencers — including Tommy Robinson and accounts like ‘RadioGenoa’ — coordinated communication across territories. In Hungary, researchers noted that similar rhetoric was prominently featured in official government communications.
COP30 and narratives on climate action
An analysis of 70,000 social media posts regarding climate action identified a shift in rhetoric within climate-skeptic circles. Researchers observed a move away from challenging established climate science toward emphasizing the economic costs of green transitions and the financial impact on consumers.
During the conference in November, digital discourse focused on the logistics of the event, including the use of cruise ships for accommodation and the opening of a new motorway in Belém. These topics were frequently used to frame the event as “elitist” or inconsistent with environmental goals.
Israel and Iran’s ‘Twelve-Day War’
In June, a direct military confrontation began following an Israeli strike on military and nuclear infrastructure in Iran. Iran responded by launching several hundred missiles and drones toward Israeli population centres.
The United States subsequently conducted Operation Midnight Hammer, deploying B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to strike three Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Iran retaliated with further missile strikes, including one targeting the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. A ceasefire was reached shortly thereafter on June 24.
The rapid escalation generated a high volume of online engagement. Fact-checkers identified that much of the visual material circulating during the crisis (intended to depict the conflict) was either AI-generated or recycled footage from more than 20 years ago.
Pope’s death reignites Vatican conspiracy theories
Following the illness of Pope Francis in February, a large volume of AI-generated images appeared online depicting the pontiff in a hospital setting. This trend expanded to include composite images of deceased public figures alongside religious icons.
When Pope Francis died in April, the event led to a resurgence of unverified claims and conspiracy theories regarding the Catholic Church. These included claims of hidden messages and symbols in Vatican architecture and art.
The death of a pope kicks off a long process that holds a certain mystique for election-watchers. The 2025 conclave was perhaps even more popular as it came soon after a hit film of the same name, which delved into the process, the politics and the intrigue of the election process.
To counter the claims of “prophecies” and speculation that had gained traction due to popular culture portrayals of the papacy, verification teams detailed the formal procedures of the 2025 conclave and clarified the sequestered voting process for cardinals.
World Cup tickets and extreme markups
Despite initial commitments to an accessible 2026 World Cup, an analysis of the official resale platform by Eurovision News Spotlight revealed a lack of price capping. Standard stadium seats were observed at prices exceeding $100,000, with one listing reaching nearly $1 million.
FIFA officials stated that their pricing model reflects “existing market practice” in North America and that fees are aligned with industry trends. However, the network’s investigation into every tier price for every match revealed that FIFA stands to gain from the sizeable commission it charges to both buyers and sellers on the platform.
In response to widespread criticism, FIFA later introduced a “Supporter Entry Tier” with fixed $60 tickets, though fans’ groups argued this allocated inventory was insufficient to address broader affordability concerns.
Eurovision News Spotlight collaborations in 2025 featured the work of: Derek Bowler, Maria Flannery, Sara Badilini, Jenny Hauser, Borja Díaz-Merry, Lili Rutai, Kate McDonald, Carlos Baraibar Padró, Jack McCarron, Karen Bauer, Jana Heigl, Max Gilbert, Kathrin Wesolowski, Michael Schlegel, Eva Wackenreuther, Alima de Graaf, Daan Nicolay, Mahsa Aminolahi, Satu Helin, Ville Juutilainen, Giles Pitts, Johanna Vehkoo, Sarah Elmer, Blanca Bayo Pérez, Uta Steinwehr, Milena Aellig, Grégoire Ryckmans, Estefanía de Antonio, Camille Pettineo, Anita Fichtinger, Justyna Kurczabinska, Gunnar Krüger, Sarah Schmidt, Alice Palussiere, and Valentine Joubin.