The Department of Media in Ireland isathaming awaiting funding for transformative initiatives aimed at reducing the spread of misinformation across society. A new National Disinformation Strategy is being developed, which outlines a comprehensive plan to counterbalance and combat the increasing threat of disinformation. The strategy includes a suite of actions designed to strengthen media literacy, support media pluralism, and enhance the regulatory framework, with a primary focus on building national expertise in identifying and countering misinformation before it spreads — a process known as pre-bunking.
The strategy emphasizes the need for sustained investment in training, professional development, and knowledge-sharing across Ireland’s media sector to ensure the timely delivery of fact-checking and disinformation analysis. It highlights the importance of resourced transparency and sustainability, noting that the strategy must be adequately resourced without delay.
The Minister for Media, Patrick O’Donovan, stressed that disinformation, described as a “global scourge,” poses a serious threat to democratic processes and public trust. He emphasized that the strategy will be supported by Government funding and stressed the importance of collaboration across public service and commercial broadcasters, as well as social media platforms, to address the issue head-on. This involves exploring the creation of a dedicated funding stream within the Media Fund to support fact-checking and pre-bunking organizations.
The strategy also outlines the need for coordinated national approaches to tackling foreign information manipulation and interference, alongside domestic efforts aimed at enhancing the availability of high-quality, locally relevant public service journalism. These initiatives are intended to strengthen the media industry while ensuring that the public remains armed with accurate and ethical information.
Overall, the National Disinformation Strategy aims to provide robust support for media literacy, advocate for media pluralism, and maintain a resilient regulatory environment. By focusing on the pre-bunking of information and investing in robust infrastructure and professional development, the strategy seeks to protect the public and maintain democratic integrity in Ireland.