Fake news and social networks: analysis of the Newtral fact-checker during the 2018 Andalusian Parliamentary elections

Newtral's management in the 2018 Andalusian Parliamentary elections

Abstract

This study analyzes how Newtral (a Spanish start-up founded by the also Spanish journalist Ana Pastor in 2018) covered the elections to the Junta de Andalucía (Spain) of December 2, 2018. Specifically, we will analyse the use of Newtral’s social networks during the elections and the fact-checking process to verify statements expressed in both electoral debates held in the election campaign, the debate and investiture session (held on January 15 and 16, 2019), as well as in campaign rallies, in the government control session of November 21, 2018, and in some interviews conducted to politicians in Spanish media. Newtral analysed 42 interventions, classifying them in true, false, deceptive, half true or improvable, using the typology that marks its methodology. Our goal is to show, taking Newtral as a case study, how the verification companies are playing a role of control over the information exposed in the campaign by the political parties and the use they make of social networks to get the audience involved, improving digital literacy, both when identifying fake news and spreading the results of their verifications.