Download the graphic presentation: 11.06.26 Barometrul Informat.ro-Inscop Research – Capacitatea de a detecta informațiile false
According to the Informat.ro – INSCOP Research BAROMETER, 12th edition, conducted between June 2–8 2026, more than half of Romanians are confident that they can differentiate real information from false information when news about security or war appears. However, the majority of those interviewed are skeptical about the public’s ability to detect false news on this subject.
The Informat.ro – INSCOP Research BAROMETER is a monthly opinion poll conducted by INSCOP Research at the request of the news platform Informat.ro, in partnership with the Strategic Thinking Group think tank.
The Informat.ro – INSCOP Research BAROMETER aims to bring to public attention topics of interest to stimulate national conversations on diverse subjects and key public policies for Romania’s present and future, based on citizen’s opinions, in partnership with prestigious think tanks and academic institutions. It is an initiative intended to contribute to strengthening democracy by using scientific and credible tools that place citizen’s voices at the center of public debate.
Methodology: Data were collected between June 2-8 2026. Research method: questionnaire-based interviews. Data were collected using the CATI method (telephone interviews). The simple random sample included 1,100 respondents and is representative of the significant sociodemographic categories (gender, age, occupation) for Romania’s non-institutionalized population aged 18 and older. The maximum margin of error is ±3% at a 95% confidence level.
Remus Ștefureac, director of INSCOP Research: “Romanians have much more confidence in their own ability to detect false information than in the ability of others, a sign of a strong illusion of informational control. The difference between self-assessment and the assessment of the population suggests that the problem of disinformation is perceived as being ‘of others’, not a personal one. Each individual sees themselves as more resistant to manipulation than the average of society, which can reduce vigilance towards their own vulnerabilities. Paradoxically, although most believe that they distinguish truth from falsehood, the same majority considers that society, as a whole, is easy to mislead.”
Personal capacity to identify false information
22.3% of Romanians declare themselves very confident that they can differentiate real information from false information when news about security or war appears. 32.2% say they are rather confident, 24.2% rather not confident, and 15.6% not at all confident. The share of non-responses is 5.7%.
The following groups are confident that they can identify false information in a higher proportion than the average: PNL and USR voters, men, people aged between 18 and 44, those with higher education, residents of Bucharest, employees in the private sector.
AUR voters, women, people over 45 and those with primary education have the least confidence in their own ability to distinguish real from false information.
Population capacity to identify false information
8.3% of survey participants declare themselves very confident that people, in general, can differentiate real information from false information when news about security or war appears. 15.7% are rather confident, 41.8% rather not confident, and 24.9% not at all confident. 9.2% do not know or do not answer.
The following groups are confident that people, in general, can differentiate real information from false information when news about security or war appears in a higher proportion than the average: PSD voters, men, people with primary education, residents of rural areas.
PNL and USR voters, young people under 30 and people aged between 45 and 59, those with higher education, residents of Bucharest and large urban areas and employees in the public sector are skeptical about the public’s ability to detect false information at a higher rate than the rest of the population.
Download the graphic presentation: 11.06.26 Barometrul Informat.ro-Inscop Research – Capacitatea de a detecta informațiile false
