The LabCom study, part of the ODEPOL – Political Disinformation Observatory, began on November 17, 2025, to monitor disinformation regarding political candidates in Portugal across social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Threads, and YouTube. Researchers João Canavilhas and Branco Di Fátima reported that disinformation content garnered 7.7 million views, with high user engagement reflected in 324,555 reactions, 51,922 comments, and 24,543 shares.
In a four-week span, 14 cases of disinformation were identified, predominantly linked to André Ventura of Chega, who was responsible for 85.7% of the cases. Video was the most common format, representing 71.4% of instances, while types included discrediting media (42.9%), manipulated content (28.6%), falsification (21.4%), and false context (7.1%). Most cases were found on Platform X (92.9%), with notable activity on TikTok (21%) and Threads (28.6%).
A significant example involved a video shared by Ventura on January 1, which claimed a fire at Vondelkerk Church was linked to the “Islamisation of Europe.” This video received over a million views and demonstrated how ideological framing can amplify disinformation. The study underscores the importance of continuous monitoring throughout the electoral process, as the media outlet OK Diário later adjusted the original article after public criticism regarding its portrayal.
