Europe facing the generative AI tornado: the risk that nothing is true enough
Content produced by generative artificial intelligence is winning over millions and fueling disinformation. Cases are multiplying.
Latest news and stories about disinformation in Portugal for expats and residents.
Content produced by generative artificial intelligence is winning over millions and fueling disinformation. Cases are multiplying.
Disinformation has become a strategic tool for external interference. From Moldova to Hungary, there have been many recent episodes of campaigns aimed at discrediting.

In an era of political polarisation driven by social media, Artificial Intelligence promises to help combat populism and extremism. It could also contribute to the fight against disinformation if used correctly.

At a conference at the Lisbon University Institute (Iscte), the Supreme Federal Court justice warns of the impact of disinformation and advocates for reforms to strengthen institutional credibility.

Progress is being made, but the road is still long, admits European Parliament spokesperson Delphine Colard. These statements come after a Eurobarometer survey in February of this year revealed that nearly 70% of citizens admit to being concerned about disinformation, misleading content, and hate speech.
A declaration signed by editors and directors from more than 30 countries also advocates for “ethics in capital and governance” of media outlets and denounces the abuses of disinformation.

According to the report, election periods are the contexts most used for disinformation campaigns. In 2025, Russia was the main source of disinformation against the EU.

The social network X is the primary channel used for disinformation activities against the European Union, with politicians being the main target, according to a report released this Tuesday by the European diplomatic service. In a report titled 'Foreign interference and information manipulation threats', the European External Action Service (EEAS) indicates that, of the approximately...

A report indicates that, of the approximately 43,000 pieces of content related to disinformation analyzed in 2025, 88% passed through the social network X.

The social network X is the main channel used for disinformation activities against the European Union and politicians are the primary target, according to a report released today by the European diplomatic service.
In an interview with SIC, António José Seguro said that André Ventura is “a risk to democracy” and urged the Portuguese to repudiate him, accusing him of promoting disinformation.

Immigration, insecurity, decontextualisation and emotional language: these are some of the ingredients that make up the cocktail of disinformation in Portugal.

The complaint refers to the page 'Recriar.Portugal' and to a post showing photographs of several celebrities with the caption 'Votamos André Ventura'. The post has since been removed.

Cyberattacks, infrastructure sabotage and disinformation campaigns targeting democratic institutions are increasingly frequent and highlight the need to make the cybersecurity of public and private institutions more robust. In 2025 alone, global cyberattacks increased by 21%. And, between 2023 and 2024, the International Institute for Strategic ...

The Regulatory Authority for the Media highlights RTP's work in combating disinformation.
The researcher from the organisation EU DisinfoLab, Raquel Miguel, told Lusa that disinformation and foreign interference marked the 2025 election year, without causing immediate ruptures in electoral processes but leaving “long-term damage.” “In practically all the electoral contexts analysed there was disinformation activity, sometimes with a component ...”

Researchers highlight the repetition of narratives targeted at parties, politicians and institutions, with “campaigns aimed at discrediting electoral processes”.

Lawyer Inês Rogeiro legally analyses Luís Montenegro's complaint against the humour page Volksvargas.

To fight politically, relentlessly, within the rules of democracy, so that extremism, disinformation, hatred, the basest human sentiments and ill-considered protest do not prevail.

A brief profile of Luís Vargas and the circumstances behind the Government's accusation that he has spread 'disinformation', outlining the claims made against him and responses from the parties involved.
German and Italian leaders want to hold the line against Russia's hybrid threats.

The popularisation of generative AI has made it easier to create hyper-realistic fake videos. Learn how to identify these manipulations and avoid sharing disinformation.

Volksvargas was the target of a complaint. Disinformation itself is not punishable, but defamation or insult can be alleged. Factors that matter include the page's reach, whether it is presented as satire or uses a watermark, and how viewers perceive it.

The act of disinformation 'attacks Portugal's international standing', said the Minister of the Presidency, Leitão Amaro, on Thursday at the Council of Ministers. The comment came after the Prime Minister's office announced it would file a complaint about a 'fake post purporting to be from the President of the United States of America, featuring an image of a message attributed to ...'

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced this Thursday that he was the target of 'an act of disinformation with wide public dissemination', against which he will file a complaint. “Apparently, originating from the user 'Volksvargas', a fake post purportedly from the President of the United States of America was spread on the social network X, containing an image of a message attributed to the Prime Minister of Portugal” ...

Marques Mendes's campaign apparatus identifies some of the factors behind the poor electoral result. Demobilisation within the PSD and disinformation on social media are among the explanations found.

Disinformation linked to the presidential election totalled more than 8.3 million views on social media in the first round, and André Ventura accounted for 82.4% of the cases, according to LabCom — the Communication Laboratory of the University of Beira Interior (UBI). LabCom's study, carried out within ODEPOL — the Political Disinformation Observatory, monitored disinformation related to ...

André Wemans, of the National Elections Commission, told RTP that there has been only one disinformation incident so far. An individual urged a vote that would be recorded as an invalid ballot.

André Wemans, spokesman for the National Elections Commission (CNE), says Sunday's voting is proceeding “normally”, despite some “disinformation” on social networks about how to vote.
