TheCube

The Cube

Is France going to link its digital ID to your social media accounts?

Misleading narratives about digital IDs are commonplace online, as various European countries and the EU itself gear up to introduce them to the public.

06/11/2025

The Cube

Russian propagandists spread sham stories with journalists' identities

As part of a trend that is becoming an increasing headache for the media, pro-Russian actors are spreading propaganda through fake news outlets and by impersonating real journalists.

04/11/2025

The Cube

No, picture of heavily guarded German Christmas market isn't real

Misinformation about the festive season has already begun, particularly regarding the alleged closure of German Christmas markets.

03/11/2025

The Cube

Did Trump invite the AfD's Alice Weidel to the White House? Not really

Social media is awash with claims that Donald Trump invited Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader Alice Weidel to Washington. He didn’t, but a Republican congresswoman did.

31/10/2025

Europe Decoded

Vast disinformation networks hit Europe ahead of EU elections

There was a large coordinated attempt on social media to peddle pro-Russian, anti-vaccine and anti-LGBT narratives as the June European vote approached, a new report says “with absolute certainty”.

18/07/2024

Europe Decoded

Did parties field fake candidates in the UK general election?

Rumours have been rampant on social media that a candidate for the right-wing populist party Reform in the recent UK election wasn’t real.

16/07/2024

Europe Decoded

Fact-check: Italian football commentator is not Trump shooter

Social media users have wrongly identified Donald Trump's would-be assassin as an Italian sports writer after the former US president was shot at during a campaign rally on Saturday.

15/07/2024

Europe Decoded

Did Zelenskyy’s wife spend €4 million in aid money on a Bugatti?

Social media users are accusing Olena Zelenska, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s wife, of using millions in taxpayers’ money to purchase a hypercar not yet released to the market. The Cube takes a look.

12/07/2024

Europe Decoded

Euro 2024-linked misinformation takes aim at minorities

The UEFA European Championship is entering its final stages, but what should be a celebration of European football has been clouded by false claims online designed to stir up hatred against marginalised groups.

10/07/2024

Europe Decoded

TikTok ‘promoted misogyny’ in run-up to European elections

A new study has found that TikTok’s search suggestions contained toxic language towards women and minorities in Finland.

08/07/2024

Europe Decoded

Fake news batters UK and France ahead of elections

Both sets of votes are expected to shake up each country's political direction, but as usual, there’s plenty of disinformation making the rounds, particularly targeting individual politicians.

02/07/2024

Europe Decoded

Did Albania’s PM call the US ‘one of the three evils in the world’?

A video circulating on social media claims to show Prime Minister Edi Rama labelling the US, Soviet Union and Israel as the world’s three “evils”.

24/06/2024

Germany

Did German police tell Euro fans to smoke weed over drinking alcohol?

German police have denied claims that they advised fans travelling to the country for the Euro 2024 championship to consume cannabis instead of alcohol, after news reports emerged stating the contrary.

20/06/2024

Europe Decoded

False claims about Biden’s mental health flooding social media again

As the US presidential election draws closer, swathes of posts ridiculing President Joe Biden’s fitness to serve another term are being shared widely, but the pictures are usually either manipulated or taken out of context.

20/06/2024

Europe Decoded

Operation Overload: Pro-Russians flooding newsrooms with fake news

A new report says that the scheme also seeks to amplify certain fake narratives by having reporters publish their debunks and share them far and wide.

15/06/2024

Europe Decoded

No, 97% of people on Spain’s minimum basic income are not migrants

Ahead of the EU and UK elections, commentators and social media users are making factually incorrect claims about immigration in Europe.

05/06/2024

Europe Decoded

No, an oversized cross won’t void your ballot in Germany

Rumours on German social media are spreading false claims about ways you can supposedly invalidate your vote in the European elections by accident.

31/05/2024

Europe Decoded

Fact-check: Is the EU setting up a European army?

Critics of the EU have long claimed that the bloc has created a joint army or soon will, citing calls from pro-European voices who want an ever-closer union. The Cube unpacks the myth.

29/05/2024

Europe Decoded

No, this video doesn't show turbulent Singapore Airlines flight

The video is being shared widely on social media and even in news reports in the context of the Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence and left one man dead, but the footage has been misattributed.

24/05/2024

Europe Decoded

Why is Central Europe prone to fake news ahead of European elections?

Recent statistics show that at least half of the population in countries such as Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic are exposed to misinformation online.

22/05/2024