Building a Cross-Border European Information Network: Hyperlink Connections Among Fact-Checking Organizations

Abstract

This article examines the hyperlinking practices of European fact-checking organizations as one of many indicators of efforts to establish a transnational community and identify organizations perceived as "opinion leaders" in combating disinformation. Through a content analysis of 1,976 fact-checking articles from 12 organizations (independent, in-house, and global news agencies) in Germany, Portugal, Spain, and the UK, the study reveals significant variations in hyperlink practices. We measured internal and outbound hyperlinks to fact-checking units used as verification sources or further reading material. The article also evaluates the transnational character of disinformation by analyzing the scope of verified falsehoods. Among the core findings, independent organizations are more likely to establish cross-border connections through outbound links to peer organizations, primarily linking to global news agencies like Reuters and AFP or to other independent fact-checking units from former colonies. In contrast, legacy media units rarely hyperlink to other fact-checkers as evidence sources or for reading suggestions. The study identifies European global news agencies as key opinion leaders, frequently linked for their reliability, particularly amid the heightened disinformation landscape following the Russia-Ukraine war. US fact-checking units, such as PolitiFact and Snopes, also maintain significant influence. This research enhances fact-checking studies by extending beyond liberal systems and emphasizing the strategic importance of hyperlinks in creating a global network of organizations. It offers new insights into linking practices within this domain, complementing existing literature on journalism and political communication. Additionally, the findings advance disinformation research by demonstrating the transnational nature of the issue.