The 31 organizations* part of the EDMO fact-checking network that contributed to this brief published a total
of 1.888 fact-checking articles in March 2025. Out of these articles, 303 (16%) focused on Ukraine-related
disinformation; 169 (9%) on disinformation related to the EU; 123 (7%) on disinformation related to immigration; 8 (5%) on COVID-19-related disinformation; 81 (4%) on climate change-related disinformation; 21 (1%) on the Middle Eastern regional conflict, and 20 (1%) on disinformation about LGBTQ+ and gender issues.
After doubling in February, false information about the war in Ukraine continued to rise in March, increasing by 5% in one month and eventually accounting for 16% of total detected disinformation. This is the highest value recorded since March 2023. The number of false stories targeting the EU also grew by 2 percentage points, rising to 9% from 7%. The increase in disinformation on these two topics followed a path started in February 2025, when a major shift in foreign policy by the new US administration opened a second front of interference for the EU infosphere.
AI-GENERATED DISINFORMATION
The percentage of disinformation stories using AI-generated content remained stable in March, resembling
February’s figures. Out of 1.888 fact-checking articles, 127 addressed the use of this technology in disinformation,
representing 6% of the total
AI-generated images of US Vice President JD Vance allegedly telling pro-Ukrainian protesters
to join the Ukrainian army circulated on social media after the public spat between Trump
and Zelensky. Later in March, images and videos of the Myanmar earthquake were found to
be generated with AI software, as was the case of an AI-edited video showing two Slovenian
politicians allegedly kissing each other. Another interesting case was reported in Spain, where
Maldita identified two TikTok profiles posting AI-generated videos on presumed corruption cases
affecting Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez and his government, reportedly uncovered by the Trump
administration.
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