Ramón Salaverría, Professor of Journalism at the Universidad de Navarra, has announced that Spain is expected to implement a rapid-response system to monitor disinformation on social media during upcoming electoral processes. The initiative, similar to a model already used in Portugal, aims to detect and track disinformation campaigns in real time that could influence public debate.
In an interview on the television programme “Cara a Cara”, broadcast by Televisión de Navarra, the academic — who also coordinates the IBERIFIER project — explained that the mechanism will enable continuous observation of digital activity during the pre-election period, contributing to a faster response to misleading or manipulated content. The interview took place on 10 March.
During the interview, Salaverría stressed that one of the greatest challenges facing contemporary journalism is adapting to new technologies without compromising the profession’s fundamental principles. Despite the exponential growth in the volume of information available, he emphasised that a greater quantity of content does not necessarily translate into higher-quality information.
According to the media specialist, the ease with which citizens access information online contrasts with the rigorous work of professional journalism, which is based on verification standards and editorial responsibility. In this context, he argues that the phenomenon of disinformation may also represent an opportunity for journalists to reaffirm their role in fact-checking and in safeguarding the credibility of information.
Salaverría also warned of the growing impact of artificial intelligence and digital platforms, which often prioritise content designed to capture attention and provide entertainment over factual accuracy. For the academic, strengthening media literacy among the public is therefore essential, enabling citizens to distinguish reliable content from false or manipulated information.
