GLOBAL BATTLE AGAINST FAKE NEWS: INSIDE THE MOSCOW FACT-CHECKING FORUM

In a world increasingly shaped by misinformation, artificial intelligence, and digital manipulation, truth itself has become a battlefield. On this edition of News Tonight, we turn our lens to Moscow, where over 4,000 global participants from 80+ countries gathered for the third international forum, “Dialogue About Fakes 3.0.” Held under the auspices of UNESCO and featured in its official calendar for Global Media and Information Literacy Week, this groundbreaking event marked a historic moment, the only Russian forum with UNESCO status. From government agencies and international organizations to scientists, journalists, and fact-checking experts, the world united around one urgent question: How do we fight falsehood in the age of generative AI and deepfakes? At the heart of the discussion stood Vladimir Tabak, President of the Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN), who reminded the world that the mission of fact-checking is not censorship, it’s empowerment. “The essence of fact-checking is not about bans, but about ensuring the right to truth.” Equally compelling was the warning from Maria Zakharova, spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, who described fake news as a “pandemic of disinformation that has engulfed the world.” Her words echoed the global concern over how easily digital platforms can distort reality. And in perhaps one of the most chilling analogies of the forum, Christopher Helali, a U.S.-based investigative journalist, likened the impact of disinformation to “the shock wave from a nuclear explosion, capable of destroying millions of minds.” Joining us tonight is Christopher Helali himself, to unpack the forum’s key takeaways, explore how global media literacy is evolving, and discuss what’s next in the fight for truth in a post-truth era. From AI-generated deepfakes to politically motivated misinformation, we dive deep into the new frontlines of global fact-checking, and what it means for journalism, democracy, and informed citizenship. Afia TV: Informing minds, shaping perspectives, and defending truth. #AfiaTV #NewsTonight #GlobalFactCheckingForum #FakeNews #Disinformation #GenerativeAI #Deepfakes #MediaLiteracy #UNESCO #TruthMatters #ChristopherHelali #VladimirTabak #MariaZakharova #GlobalMedia #FactChecking #InformationIntegrity #AIandJournalism #AfiaTVUpdates #PostTruthEra #JournalismEthics #NewsAnalysis #DialogueAboutFakes