LEFT-CENTER BIAS
These media sources have a slight to moderate liberal bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes) to favor liberal causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information but may require further investigation. See all Left-Center sources.
- Overall, we rate EUvsDisinfo as Left-Center biased based on fact-checking right-leaning information more than left. We also rate them as Mostly Factual in reporting rather than High due to a lack of transparency with funding, occasional use of poor sources, and evidence of mislabeling information.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL
Country: Belgium
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
EUvsDisinfo is the flagship project of the East StratCom Task Force (ESCTF), established in 2015 by the European External Action Service to counter Russian disinformation. The task force, funded by the EU since 2018, focuses on identifying, analyzing, and raising awareness about disinformation in various forms. It covers topics such as Russian information manipulation campaigns related to Ukraine.
EUvsDisinfo is based in Brussels, Belgium, within the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Read our profile on Belgium Media and Government.
Funded by / Ownership
The website is owned and operated by the European Union, specifically led by the East StratcomTask Force. Being a project of the European Union, it is likely funded by the EU’s budget; however, specific funding details are not provided on the website, thereby lacking transparency.
Analysis / Bias
EUvsDisinfo primarily focuses on providing factual and analytical counter-arguments to disinformation. The organization categorizes its articles into specific sections, such as Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Eastern Partnership, China, and Africa, allowing users to explore disinformation in these regions or topics. It has a database of disinformation cases and offers resources for learning more about the topic.
In the articles analyzed, including “The Kremlin’s Disinformation Love Song to North Korea,” EUvsDisinfo frequently employs emotionally loaded language. This usage could influence the reader’s perception and suggest an editorial stance that departs from an analytical tone.
In their fact-checking reports, EUvsDisinfo debunks disinformation claims using various sources, each with different biased and factual reporting ratings. For example, in the report titled “Israel bombs civilians while Russia hits only military targets,” the organization cites sources like the Times of Israel (Left-Center Bias, High factual reporting), The Guardian (Left-Center Bias, Mixed factual reporting), and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Least Biased, Mostly factual reporting). Another source, Ukraine at War, is not rated by Media Bias/Fact Check but focuses on documenting Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine.
EUvsDisinfo seemingly has a minimal left-right bias as they tend to focus on misinformation from authoritarian regimes. However, they have been sued by three publications in the Netherlands that hold right-leaning anti-EU sentiments. The sources claim that EUvsDisinfo “didn’t label disinformation at all but rather went after news and commentary it didn’t like.” After the lawsuit was initiated, they retracted the disinformation labels. Based on this, EUvsDisinfo tends to hold left-leaning political perspectives, as evidenced by mislabeling right-leaning perspectives.
Failed Fact Checks
Overall, we rate EUvsDisinfo as Left-Center biased based on fact-checking right-leaning information more than left. We also rate them as Mostly Factual in reporting rather than High due to a lack of transparency with funding, occasional use of poor sources, and evidence of mislabeling information. (M. Huitsing 10/13/2023)
Source: https://euvsdisinfo.eu/
Last Updated on October 13, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources