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Finding information you can trust

Information you can trust

Cutting through the noise

Nowadays, we encounter more information online than ever before. News articles, health advice, scientific claims, political debates - not all of it is trustworthy. False claims, manipulated content and missing context can make it harder to know what to trust.

The EU is working to make the information space more reliable, and to give you the tools to navigate it with confidence.

Where to find information you can rely on

Reliable information starts with reliable sources. Here are some good places to start:

🗒️Official sources

Government and EU institution websites are authoritative sources for information about laws, policies, or public services. They also publish statistics and official data.

💻Established news outlets

Outlets with a long-standing reputation, clear editorial standards, and named journalists are generally more reliable than sites with no track record. Most are also signatories to recognised press standards.

⚕️Public health and scientific bodies

For health and science topics, national health authorities and EU agencies are reliable, evidence-based sources - far more so than social media posts or unverified blogs.

✅Fact-checking organisations

Independent fact-checkers specialise in verifying claims and debunking false content. They are a useful first stop whenever you're unsure.

Example: finding reliable information during an emergency

During a wildfire, public authorities track and provide real-time information on the spread of the fire, air quality, and evacuation routes to help you stay safe. Established news outlets provide verified updates on fire containment, road closures, and emergency measures. Health authorities explain how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke, while fact-checkers can help you spot false claims that can put you in danger.

How online manipulation works

Knowing where to look is only part of the picture - it's also important to recognise when something is designed to manipulate you. Here are some of the most common tactics to watch out for:

  • Playing on your emotions
    Manipulative content is designed to provoke a strong emotional reaction. The stronger the feeling, the more likely you are to share.
  • Borrowing credibility
    Some manipulative content mimics legitimate news outlets, official communications, or trusted individuals to appear credible.
  • Altering images and video
    Images, audio and video can be edited, taken out of context, or generated entirely by artificial intelligence.
  • Stripping away context
    Not all manipulative content is entirely false. Some uses facts but leaves out the context you need to understand their implications.
  • Overwhelming you with noise
    Some manipulative content aims to overwhelm you with so many conflicting versions of events that you stop trusting any source at all.
What are deepfakes?

Deepfakes are images, videos or audio recordings that have been edited or generated using artificial intelligence or audio/video editing software to make it appear that someone said or did something that was not actually said or done.

Spot the signs

Before you believe or share something you come across online, run a quick check.

  • Signs you can trust it
    • Comes from a known, reputable source
    • Reported by multiple credible sources
    • Calm, factual tone
    • Familiar, correctly spelled web address
  • Signs to be careful
    • Comes from an unfamiliar or unverifiable source
    • Only one obscure source is covering it
    • Designed to provoke strong emotion
    • Unusual domain name, or one that imitates a known site with small changes

Something doesn't feel right?

Recognising manipulative content is important. What you do next matters just as much.

Don't share it: Manipulative content depends on well-meaning people passing it on.

Report it: In the EU, all social media platforms must allow you to flag misleading or false content directly. They are required to take action on reported content, so your report has real weight.

How the EU is building a healthier information space

🌐 Making online platforms more accountable

The EU has introduced rules to make large online platforms more transparent and accountable. Under these rules, platforms must assess and address systemic risks, including the dissemination of disinformation and other harmful content, or face significant fines.

⚙️ Increasing transparency around political advertising and AI-generated content

EU rules allow citizens to see who is behind political ads and understand when content has been artificially generated or manipulated, including deepfakes.

📝 Protecting free and independent media

Free and independent journalism is essential to a healthy information space. The EU has laws that protect editorial independence and shield journalists, activists and researchers from abusive legal action designed to silence them.

🏢 Helping citizens build digital and media literacy

The EU supports media literacy initiatives, helping people of all ages develop the skills to find reliable information and navigate the online environment confidently.

References and resources

This page was last updated on 16 July 2026