Misinformation in emergencies

In crises, false information spreads faster than facts. Learning to verify what you read and share can protect your community.

In crises, misinformation spreads faster than facts

False information can cost lives. During emergencies, rumours about evacuation routes, shelter locations, or water safety can lead people into danger. Always verify before you share.

The problem

Why misinformation thrives in crises

In moments of panic, false information circulates rapidly on social media. Old images are recycled, numbers are exaggerated, and rumours become "news" in minutes.

  • Fear amplifies sharing: people share alarming content without checking because they want to warn others
  • Information gaps: when official updates are slow, people fill the void with speculation
  • Emotional manipulation: fake posts use dramatic language and images to provoke shares
  • Algorithm amplification: social media platforms prioritise engagement, which often means sensational content

Real consequences

  • Wrong evacuation routes can lead people into danger zones
  • False medical advice can cause harm or delay treatment
  • Fake charity scams divert money from real victims
  • Panic buying caused by exaggerated shortage claims
  • Distrust of authorities when false claims undermine official guidance
  • Wasted emergency resources responding to hoaxes or false reports

Official sources in Portugal

ANEPC

National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection. The primary source for emergency alerts, evacuation orders and civil protection information.

prociv.pt

IPMA

Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere. Official weather alerts, seismic activity and tsunami warnings.

ipma.pt

DGS

Directorate-General of Health. Official health guidance during pandemics, heatwaves and other health emergencies.

dgs.pt

GNR / PSP

National Republican Guard and Public Security Police. Official security information, road closures and public safety warnings.

Local authorities

Your local council (camara municipal) and parish council (junta de freguesia) issue local-level alerts and provide shelter information.

RTP / Antena 1

Portugal's public broadcaster. In major emergencies, RTP and Antena 1 (95.7 FM Lisbon) serve as the official broadcast channels for civil protection messages.

How to verify information

Before you share

  • Check the source: who published it? Is it an official account or verified news outlet?
  • Cross-reference: verify the claim with at least 2 independent sources before sharing
  • Check the date: old images and articles are frequently recycled during new crises
  • Read beyond the headline: many misleading posts rely on people sharing without reading the full content

Red flags

  • Extreme urgency: "SHARE NOW before they delete this!" is almost always a sign of misinformation
  • No source cited: legitimate news always identifies its sources
  • Emotional manipulation: content designed primarily to make you angry or scared
  • Too good/bad to be true: extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence
  • Reverse image search: use Google Images or TinEye to check if a photo is from a different event or date

Social media in crises

Safe practices

  • Do not share without verifying. Even well-intentioned sharing of false information causes harm
  • Follow verified official accounts: ANEPC, IPMA, DGS, GNR, PSP on social media
  • Mute or report false content when you encounter it
  • Correct misinformation calmly: share the official source when responding to false claims

Be cautious of

  • Recently created accounts spreading alarming claims
  • Screenshots of "official" messages that cannot be traced to an original source
  • Audio and video clips shared without context or origin
  • Claims that contradict official guidance from ANEPC or IPMA
  • Requests for money or personal data from unverified sources

Examples of misinformation in Portugal

Wildfires

During the 2017 wildfire season and subsequent years, false claims regularly circulated, including:

  • Old fire images shared as current events
  • False reports of fires in locations that were not affected
  • Conspiracy theories about the origin of fires
  • Incorrect evacuation advice contradicting official routes

Earthquakes

After seismic events, misinformation typically includes:

  • False "predictions" of larger earthquakes to follow
  • Exaggerated magnitude or damage reports
  • Photos from earthquakes in other countries shared as local
  • Fake tsunami warnings not issued by IPMA

Health crises

During COVID-19, Portugal experienced widespread misinformation:

  • False cures and treatments shared on messaging apps
  • Manipulated statistics and mortality figures
  • Fake government decrees and restrictions
  • Scam websites selling fake medical equipment

Fact-checking resources