Misinformation and Fact-checking on the disturbances of the Proces of Catalonia. Digital impact on Public and Media

Abstract

The outbreak of misinformation and digital propaganda has added to the invasion of fake news, and the prominence of audiences on social networks becomes a hallmark of the political and media agenda. The publication of the sentence of the Supreme Court that sanctioned the rebellion of independent politicians during the Procés of Catalonia in 2019 provoked citizen mobilizations that occupied the front pages of the media. The general objective of this paper is to determine the number and theme of hoaxes spread about the riots on different digital platforms. We apply a content analysis methodology to a general sample (n1 = 4,500) of hoaxes reported by fact-checking agencies (Maldito Bulo, Newtral, Verificat) and news items (n2 = 190) published in the national and international press (El País/El Mundo, El Periódico/Ara, The Guardian/Le Monde). The results confirm that private users are the main authors of fake news and that journalists use verification codes to combat misinformation.