Student Sheds Light on the Effects of AI-Generated Fake News
Haarlem, zaterdag, 10 mei 2025.
Sjoerd Huijboom, a third-year student at Inholland University of Applied Sciences Haarlem, has published an article exploring the societal impact of AI-generated disinformation. He examines how fake news disseminated via social media platforms, ranging from manipulated images of natural disasters to false statements by political leaders, challenges journalism and media literacy. The importance of critical media consumption and awareness of AI influence is highlighted as essential in his research, which was published on Friday and offers readers practical tips on recognising and combating disinformation. Huijboom’s findings underline the growing need to enhance media literacy in a digital world where disinformation is commonplace.
The Role of AI in the Spread of Fake News
AI plays an increasingly significant role in the creation and dissemination of fake news. Innovations such as advanced image editing techniques enable the production of convincing deepfakes. These images are often spread through social media, containing manipulated content like natural disasters or political leader statements that never occurred [1][2]. Examples include attempts by North Korean hackers to infiltrate companies by creating deepfakes within an hour, highlighting the vulnerability to disinformation [8].
AI as a Weapon in the Fight Against Fake News
Opposing the threat of fake news is the potential of AI as a tool to counteract this information. Innovative applications, such as breakthroughs in threat detection by companies like Barracuda with multimodal AI, aid in better identification of threats such as phishing and deepfakes [8]. Organisations like EUvsDisinfo employ AI to monitor the international information landscape and promptly flag or refute disinformation [6].
Impact on Media Literacy and Democracy
The dissemination of fake news by AI raises questions about the impact on media literacy and the potential for democratic manipulation. The ease with which disinformation can be produced and shared makes critical scrutiny by media consumers more urgent than ever [1][3]. Initiatives such as workshops at Montferland Library focus on strengthening media literacy, essential for learning how to recognise fake news [2].
Practical Tips to Recognize Fake News
Given the growing risk of AI-generated fake news, it’s important for individuals to equip themselves with tools to distinguish fact from fiction. Some practical tips include: verify the source of information, compare the news across different platforms, be alert to extreme or sensationalist tones, use fact-checking websites, and be aware of the possibility that content is AI-generated [1][5].