Trust in disinformation among the Czechs

To understand the spread of disinformation in the Czech context, it is crucial to look at recent surveys describing the target group of disinformation and which Czech citizens are most susceptible to disinformation. In June, the Syri Institute published a survey showing that only 6 percent of the Czech population are strong supporters of conspiracies and disinformation, and that they themselves spread it. In contrast, 17 percent of Czechs are strong opponents. Crucial to the longevity of disinformation, however, are people with a high level of distrust in the political system, traditional media and institutions. It is they who, according to the survey, are most likely to view the world through distrust, assuming that “we are automatically lied to” and “nothing can be trusted.” Sources of information in this case are disinformation sites such as Aeronet, Sputnik or AC24. Pro-Kremlin disinformation finds fertile ground with this group, as it targets already broken trust.