Far-right populists in Netherlands more likely to spread misinformation, study finds
A new study has revealed that far-right populist politicians in the Netherlands, along with their counterparts across Europe, are significantly more likely to spread fake news on social media compared to their peers in mainstream or far-left parties.
The study, conducted by Petter Törnberg of the University of Amsterdam and Juliana Chueri of the Free University in Amsterdam, analyzed tweets from members of parliament (MPs) in 26 countries between 2017 and 2022. It found that radical right populists, including politicians from the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), were more inclined to share misinformation as a political strategy.
The research, which used a dataset of 32 million tweets from over 8,000 MPs, was based on political science databases that provided detailed information about the parties’ positions on the left-right spectrum and their degree of populism. The researchers cross-referenced this data with fact-checking services to evaluate the accuracy of links shared by the MPs, leading to the creation of an aggregate "factuality score" for each politician.
Törnberg explained, “Radical right populists are using misinformation as a tool to destabilize democracies and gain political advantage.” The study concluded that far-right populism was the strongest predictor of a politician's propensity to spread misinformation.
In the Netherlands, the PVV, led by Geert Wilders, is one of the most prominent far-right populist parties. The study's findings suggest that members of the PVV, along with other far-right parties in Europe, actively participate in spreading misleading information, a trend that has been gaining traction in several countries, including France and Germany.
The study also emphasized the role of "alternative" media ecosystems in amplifying these falsehoods. Törnberg noted that far-right populists have been particularly effective in creating media outlets that promote their ideological viewpoints and amplify misinformation. These alternative media channels strengthen the far-right movement, foster a sense of community among supporters, and provide a counter-narrative to mainstream media.
Törnberg emphasized the need for policymakers, researchers, and the public to recognize the link between radical right populism and misinformation. “The intertwined dynamics of misinformation and radical right populism need to be addressed,” he said, noting that misinformation has become an integral part of the far-right’s strategy to destabilize democratic processes.
