What fact-checkers in Central and Eastern Europe learnt from covering dozens of high-stakes elections

Across Central and Eastern Europe, newsrooms are on the front lines of high-stakes election campaigns marked by domestic propaganda, AI-generated content, and foreign influence operations. Drawing on real-world experiences from fact-checking organizations across Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Moldova, and Hungary, this piece highlights five essential takeaways for debunking falsehoods before voters head to the polls: 1. Prepare for the Unthinkable with Pre-Bunking: Anticipate high-interest topics, track dark-horse candidates early, and write detailed explainers on complex processes—like postal voting or AI satire—to pre-bunk misleading narratives before they spread. 2. Leverage New Formats & Trusted Local Voices: Expand beyond traditional text with short vertical videos (TikTok/Reels), live-blog debate checks, and partnerships with local influencers, social workers, and rural figures who hold community trust. 3. Focus Media Literacy Efforts on Seniors: Build targeted initiatives for older demographics who spend significant time online and are frequently targeted by political propaganda and digital scams. 4. Evaluate Russian Interference Realistically: Recognise foreign influence operations while remaining focused on domestic actors, who often generate the most viral and damaging disinformation campaigns. 5. Prepare for Strategic Backlash and Censorship Accusations: Expect political actors and bad-faith critics to label fact-checkers as "censors," and establish clear protocols for managing online harassment and bad-faith attacks.