Finland is tackling fake news from preschool age, integrating media literacy into its national curriculum since the 1990s. This initiative aims to build resistance against disinformation and propaganda, especially from Russia, as the country shares a long border with it. Educators now face the challenge of incorporating artificial intelligence literacy into their lessons due to increased disinformation campaigns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Finland’s NATO membership in 2023.
Teachers, like Ville Vanhanen at Tapanila Primary School, focus on teaching fourth-graders to recognize misleading information and the influence of AI-generated content. Finnish media supports this effort with initiatives like “Newspaper Week” and distributing an “ABC Book of Media Literacy” to all 15-year-olds. With Finland ranked high on the European Media Literacy Index, its government emphasizes the importance of being able to discern truth from fake information.
Amid rapid advancements in AI technology, experts express concern that distinguishing real from fake will become increasingly difficult. As the landscape of information evolves, educators and organizations are prioritizing skills to combat misinformation effectively.
