Slovakia grapples with misinformation surge after Prime Minister attack

On Friday, an article was published in the Slovak daily "SME" highlighting the phenomenon of spreading false information, conspiracy theories, and disinformation immediately following the attack on the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico. One example of false information that exacerbated the uncertainty after the attack was the public statement that Fico's life was not in danger.

"It was an absolutely unprecedented event. The way the attack was reported and discussed deepened the uncertainty. An example is the initial report that the Prime Minister was not in any danger," the newspaper quotes disinformation expert Adam Jajcay as saying.

The daily "SME" emphasizes that in cases of such dramatic events as the attack on the Prime Minister, it is extremely important to quickly and reliably explain the situation. If traditional media do not provide such information, the interest shifts to social media.

"Unfortunately, on social media platforms, there are often unverified speculations, provocations, and even blatant stupidity and dishonest humour," the newspaper notes. It pointed out that conspiracy theories about the motives and connections of the attacker are constantly emerging and being spread, although the public already has a lot of information about the perpetrator. The expert blames this on polarization.

"There is no longer any medium that is not labeled by one side or the other. In such an atmosphere, many people feel the need to seek the truth in solitude or in closed groups of like-minded people," said Jajcay.

The newspaper also cites examples of fake news that portray some media and politicians in a bad light.