Bavaria's new portal: How to expose fake news and lies!

Bavaria's new portal: How to expose fake news and lies!

On December 7, 2025, Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann launched a new internet portal dedicated to raising awareness about disinformation and conspiracy theories. The portal can be found at don't let yourself be manipulated.de, is operated by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, Sport and Integration and offers a variety of information and resources for interested citizens.

The goal of the portal is clear: to enable people to recognize disinformation and behave accordingly. The content provided includes definitions of terms related to disinformation and conspiracy theories as well as practical examples and tips for dealing with such content. Users can also find contact points for help and reports. A special feature of the portal are two fictional narratives that illustrate how disinformation works.

The problem of fake news

The debate about fake news and its spread on social media has been gaining momentum in recent years. According to the bpb Fake news, misinformation and disinformation are false or misleading media content, the spread of which is particularly worrying in times of crisis. Unclear definitions of terms and the distinction between different forms of information create additional trust in the dissemination of this content.

Empirical research has shown that fake news is less widespread overall, but is consumed more intensively in certain circles. Trust in political and media institutions seems to be declining, which increases receptivity to such content. The debate was particularly fueled by the election of Donald Trump in 2016 and the Brexit referendum, when reliable information was often questioned on social media.

Strategies against disinformation

Dealing with disinformation requires active media competence. According to that Deutschlandfunk There are specific approaches to detect and combat disinformation. Experts recommend critically questioning seemingly sensational or emotionally colored content and comparing different sources. The selection of established quality media is particularly emphasized.

The EU has responded to the problem and launched initiatives such as “EU vs. Disinfo” and the “Digital Services Act” to oblige platforms to combat disinformation. These measures are intended to help reduce the spread of disinformation and educate users about existing risks.

A recent report shows that in the first quarter of 2023, 48% of internet users in Germany said they encountered false or unreliable information. The increase in interest and awareness of fake news in public perception underlines the importance of educational initiatives such as the newly launched portal in Bavaria.

In summary, it can be said that protecting against disinformation and strengthening media literacy is a joint task. Tools like the new portal can provide important assistance in dealing with the flood of information and misinformation in the digital world.