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Disinformation
Handbook on Disinformation

How to Identify, Debunk and Combat It (with examples from Latin America and Germany)
2.0 Minutes
Alfredo Suarez Garcia at FNF Mexico's office
  Alfredo Suárez García
The disinformation web
© FNF

Why it’s relevant

Disinformation has become one of the greatest threats to democracy, affecting public opinion, electoral processes, and societal cohesion. This handbook explores the intricate mechanisms, psychological factors, and technologies behind disinformation campaigns. It is grounded in real-life examples from Latin America and Germany—two regions experiencing significant political and social challenges due to coordinated misinformation efforts. By offering both conceptual clarity and practical tools, the document stands as a crucial resource in an age where truth is increasingly contested.

Why you should read it

This handbook is essential reading for journalists, policymakers, educators, and active citizens who want to critically navigate today's chaotic information landscape. It doesn't just highlight the problem; it empowers readers with the knowledge and tools needed to identify, debunk, and denounce disinformation. The inclusion of up-to-date case studies (e.g., Venezuela’s election campaigns and Germany’s TikTok manipulation) makes it especially timely and applicable.

Handbook on Disinformation: Identify, Debunk & Combat It

Handbook on Disinformation: Identify, Debunk & Combat It

Disinformation is no longer a fringe phenomenon but a ubiquitous force shaping opinions, elections and social cohesion worldwide. This December 2024 handbook from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom provides both a theoretical foundation and hands‑on strategies to navigate and counter today’s “war of trust.”

Part I breaks down the anatomy of disinformation—defining misinformation, disinformation and malinformation; exploring psychological vulnerabilities (confirmation bias, repetition effects, social conformity) and technological enablers (bots, deepfakes, astroturfing). It introduces the “9 Ps + 1” framework (from Provocation to Paranoia) to understand the motives and mechanics behind false narratives.

Part II turns to Germany’s 2024 elections, revealing how both domestic actors (AfD’s “shadow” TikTok networks) and exogenous agents (Russia’s “Doppelgänger” campaign) exploited fear, manipulated visuals and impersonated reputable outlets to undermine democratic trust.

Part III surveys Latin America—detailing Kremlin‑funded “information laundering” via local media, and Venezuela’s pioneering “troll armies” and AI‑generated avatars used to harass dissenters and manufacture consent in the 2023–24 electoral cycle.

Part IV is a hands‑on “3 Ds” toolkit—Detect (verify sources, reverse‑image search, spot bots), Disprove (rapid fact‑checks, simple clear messaging) and Denounce (report coordinated inauthentic behavior, build information alliances). Step‑by‑step checklists guide readers from “stop and doubt” to “search and cooperate,” empowering individuals, journalists and institutions to protect the information ecosystem.

By combining rigorous analysis with concrete techniques and real‑world examples, this handbook equips readers across Latin America—and beyond—to defend themselves and their societies against the pervasive threat of disinformation.

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