By funding ten new research projects against fake news, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research wants to step up the fight against disinformation on the internet and in social networks.

The motto is "understand, recognize, fight," said Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP) on Monday at the presentation of the research projects in Berlin.

Disinformation campaigns are being conducted more and more professionally, cover ever new subject areas and are aimed at expanding the target groups.

Increased research against fake news is not least necessary because false information is also being spread in the guise of science.

A total of 15 million euros is to be made available for the research projects over three years.

Katja Gelinsky

Business correspondent in Berlin

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The mountain of disinformation is still growing, said Michael Waidner, director of the National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity Athena.

But research is making increasing contributions to being able to distinguish truth from lies.

Not only security researchers and experts in artificial intelligence are required, but also scientists from the fields of psychology, sociology and law.

What are the patterns behind disinformation campaigns?

Minister Stark-Watzinger presented, among other things, a project ("DYNAMO") in which disinformation in messenger services such as Telegram and the other ways in which fake news is spread are being investigated.

In addition, research is to be carried out into the patterns behind disinformation campaigns and the influence of emotional content on the spread of fake news.

Another project (“NOTORIOUS”) investigates the role played by celebrities in spreading fake news.

Researchers in the “HybriD” project, on the other hand, are developing analysis tools that experts can use to evaluate disinformation campaigns in online media in real time.

As part of another research project (“PREVENT”), a training tool for officials is being developed so that they can counteract the manipulation of opinions better.

Citizens also want to support the researchers in the fight against fake news.

For example, the "VERITAS" project is working on a data set that is intended to help better identify disinformation on health issues in everyday life.