FakeNews.pl, operated by the Foundation “Counteracting Disinformation”, is an organization dedicated to fighting all forms of disinformation. Established in 2020, in less than three years it has gained the trust of hundreds of thousands of social media users, becoming the largest fact-checking organization in Poland in terms of follower count.

It is active on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X) and TikTok. Since 2021, it has been a member of the IFCN (International Fact-Checking Network), a global network of fact-checking organizations. IFCN membership confirms that the Foundation operates with reliability, financial transparency, and high substantive standards in its reports and analyses.

Since 2020, the Foundation has also been part of the Open Information Partnership, an initiative bringing together organizations that combat disinformation across Europe.

FakeNews.pl cooperates with many partners in Poland and abroad, including the U.S. Embassy, the Centre for Information Resilience, and the European Media and Information Fund.

In February 2023, together with TikTok, we organized an educational campaign on disinformation during the war in Ukraine. The campaign was highly successful and reached more than 30 million views.

On 28 April 2023, our Foundation, together with other professional fact-checkers, was honored with a special award by Press Club Poland for supporting journalists and their audiences in defending themselves against disinformation.

By carrying out daily fact-checking activities on various platforms, we have so far published over 600 fact-checks on our website and social media channels (which together receive more than 500,000 visits per month), covering topics from health and biology to technology and social issues.

Since 2021, we have also been running trainings for non-governmental organizations, companies, and corporate clients. We also provide analytical and expert services in the field of combating disinformation and propaganda.

Funding

2024

• Grant of USD 12,475 from The Poynter Institute for Media, allocated to support the development of our organization.
• Grants totaling GBP 39,417 from the Open Information Partnership, allocated to research Russian propaganda activity in Poland and to educational activities countering disinformation.
• Donations and Patronite.pl – approx. 11,234 PLN.

2023

• Grant of USD 12,475 from The Poynter Institute for Media, allocated to support the development of our organization.
• Grants totaling GBP 28,838 from the Open Information Partnership, allocated to research Russian propaganda activity in Poland and to educational activities countering disinformation.
• Donations and Patronite.pl – approx. 10,368.08 PLN.

2022

• Grant of EUR 54,858 from the European Media and Information Fund, allocated to activities that play a key role in limiting the negative impact of disinformation on public discourse and democratic processes.
• Grants totaling GBP 24,900 from the Open Information Partnership, allocated to research Russian propaganda activity in Poland and to educational activities countering disinformation.
• Donations and Patronite.pl – approx. 12,000 PLN.

2021

• Grant of USD 19,000 from the U.S. Embassy in Poland, allocated to creating a COVID-19 information hub and a series of educational materials related to combating disinformation.
• Grant of GBP 5,000 from the Open Information Partnership, allocated to research Russian propaganda activity in Poland. The grant was completed in March 2021.
• Donations and Patronite.pl – approx. 26,000 PLN.

2020

• Grant of GBP 20,000 from the Open Information Partnership, allocated to the development of the Foundation and the FakeNews.pl portal. The grant was completed in March 2021.
• Donations and Patronite.pl – approx. 7,000 PLN.

2019

• 2019 was the year in which the FakeNews.pl portal started its operations. As a result, the initiative did not receive any funding or grants in that period.
• In November 2019, a crowdfunding account was launched on Patronite.pl. In November and December 2019, a total of 400 PLN was raised. Below are the financial statements from Patronite.pl.

Financial Reports

Financial Report – 2020
Financial Report – 2021
Financial Report – 2022
Financial Report – 2023
Financial Report – 2023
Financial Report – 2024

Founding Documents

Statute of the Foundation “Counteracting Disinformation”

Full Foundation Details

Foundation “Counteracting Disinformation”
KRS: 0000850583
NIP: 7252301561
REGON: 38666335900000

Bank account number: 17114020040000310280273942