“My aunt sent it to me, it must be true”: The chaos of fake news in the age of AI

We live in an age where a meme has greater reach than an editorial and a video on TikTok can make you question what your doctor, professor or even president has said. In this hyper-connected universe, fake news is more than just digital gossip; it's a powerful force that can affect elections, generate violence and mistrust of science. Even worse, it can make you believe that drinking industrial alcohol kills viruses (spoiler: it doesn't... and it can kill you).

As if that weren't enough, artificial intelligence (AI) has arrived to add to the chaos. Fake news has become more sophisticated, harder to detect and more dangerous as a result.

Why should you care (even if you're not a journalist or politician)?

Disinformation does not discriminate. It affects everyone: you, your parents, your boss and your dog (well, at least its reputation on networks). Let's see how:

1. Panic, violence and conspiracy theories.

A well-told lie can literally move the masses. In 2016, a gunman stormed a pizzeria in Washington, D.C., seeking to free children from an alleged human trafficking ring. In 2021, thousands of people stormed the U.S. Capitol, convinced that the election had been stolen. The result: death, injury and a shaken democracy.

2. Fake news that makes people sick (or kills).

During the pandemic, misinformation about vaccines spread almost as quickly as the virus itself. In Iran, more than 700 people died from drinking industrial alcohol, believing it would cure them of the virus. In Mexico, doctors were assaulted based on false accusations. The public health system descended into crisis due to multiple resubmissions.

3. Political manipulation: remix

From teenagers in Macedonia fabricating headlines for financial gain to digital campaigns designed to polarise voters, fake news has become a weapon in the arsenal of political warfare. And, of course, AI has already joined the team.

4. AI didn't come to help in this case.

Artificial intelligence has turned disinformation into a well-oiled machine, like an evil James Bond.

• Deepfakes are videos and audio recordings in which people appear to say or do things they never did. In Indonesia, these circulated during the 2024 elections. In June 2025, someone in the US used AI to impersonate Secretary Marco Rubio's voice and writing style and managed to contact senior US government officials.

• AI-generated texts are fake news written by robots that sound more trustworthy than your trusted newspaper. And people can't get enough of them.

• Hyper-realistic bots are fake profiles that argue with you, agree with you, or push you towards a radical stance. They even seem to have emotions! (But they have no soul, I swear).

5. Confusion, mistrust, and not knowing what to believe.

According to the Reuters Institute's Digital News Report 2025, lies designed to sound true and excite spread 70% faster than real news.

58% of people in the world no longer know what is real and what is fake.

38% of young people trust what they see on TikTok or Instagram more than formal media.

Filters are no longer a guarantee of truth.

6. Disinformation that Fuels Wars

In 2014, Russian media outlets circulated a false story about Ukrainian soldiers crucifying a child. Although it was completely fabricated, it served as an excuse to justify military action. Lies as a weapon of war in the 21st century.

So, what can we do?

Disinformation is like that cousin who tells unbelievable stories at family gatherings — you don't know whether to laugh or be alarmed, and now they have access to AI and millions of followers.

Now more than ever, knowing how to distinguish between truth and falsehood is a digital survival skill: not everything that flashes up in your feed is true, not everything that gets retweeted with emojis is trustworthy, and yes, your aunt probably needs a class in verifying sources.Según el Foro Económico Mundial, la desinformación amplificada por IA es el mayor reto global para 2025.

But all is not lost. Although misinformation may seem to have faster Wi-Fi than you, there are many ways we can protect ourselves without having to become full-time digital detectives.

1. Doubt the spectacular: If a news story makes you say 'Whaaaat?' or makes you want to share it immediately, take a deep breath, count to ten, then look for another source. Fake news relies on emotional impulse.

2. Look for the original source. Who is saying it? Is it a recognised media outlet or a blog with a black background and flashing red letters?

3. Check the date and context. There is real news that has been taken out of time or context. For example, someone might share a video of riots from 2015 and claim that it happened today in Lima.

4. Don't share it without confirming. That video that has been forwarded many times on WhatsApp could be fake. Before you hit 'share', spend five seconds googling it. This can prevent greater harm (and save your reputation as a digital gossip).

5. Don't argue with bots. If you're arguing with someone who claims to be a politician but responds like a bot and has no profile picture, they're probably a bot. Arguing with a bot is like arguing with a microwave.

6. Visit fact-checking sites: These sites are specifically dedicated to confirming or disproving the veracity of information circulating, especially on social networks. They are usually members of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), which gives them credibility.

   
   

   https://verifica.efe.com: The verification service of Agencia EFE, a leading Spanish-language news agency.

   
   

   https://latamchequea.com: Pioneer in fact-checking in the region, bringing together a network of Latin American fact-checkers.

   
   

   https://animalpolitico.com/verificacion-de-hechos (Mexico): Recognized for its research and verification work.

   
   

   Agencia Ocote: Relevant for Guatemalan context.

   
   

   Snopes.com: One of the oldest and most recognized fact-checking sites worldwide (mainly in English).

   
   

   FactCheck.org: Another reference in the United States.

   
   

   https://factual.afp.com: The verification service of Agence France-Presse, with presence and verification teams in many countries, including Spanish-speaking countries.

   
   

   Google Fact Check Explorer: International Fact Check search engine.

   
   

   Media Bias/Fact Check: To evaluate the bias and reliability of international media.

   
   

So, remember: think before you share. If you have any doubts, it's better to ask or verify first, or simply don't spread it. Don't contribute to amplifying the chaos with a new perspective.