How Fake and “Fake Boost” Content Is Manufactured on Czech and Slovak Social Media (X/Twitter and Facebook)
Within a relatively short period of time, two “interesting” videos have surfaced. In the first one, a video commentary was inserted; in the second, a reshared post included an accompanying caption above the video. In both cases, the videos were shortened and edited with added subtitles that essentially claim the opposite of what is actually being said in the original video statement.
The most recent case
A politician states that what people have been sharing — claims that they were charged a €200–€300 transaction tax — is false, and that the entire topic is fabricated.
Sure, as of April 1st, 2025, it is technically possible to be charged up to €40 per transaction, but only if someone sends at least €10,000 in one go.
But who regularly sends €50,000 somewhere? Maybe once in a lifetime — when buying a car.What about freelancers and small businesses?
Yes, in these cases, even with a low number of employees (one employee = three to six transactions per month), the transaction tax can easily accumulate to several hundred euros monthly.And yet, in the politician’s comment, there is no mention at all of entrepreneurs, who are arguably the most affected — and the most frustrated.
Ingredients
It takes just one unprepared, clumsy speaker in a live TV discussion, and on the other side, a skilled demagogue ready to seize on a logical gap. He simply swaps the word “people” for “entrepreneurs” and reshapes the narrative completely…
Editor Jan Hargas (For a digital Slovakia and quality state services. Digitalisation expert at @progresivne_sk) posted the video on the X network with a short, unsaid comment:
“No words for this…”
Within moments, the video was shared on other profiles (e.g. Jakub Bajzath) – with a commentary:
“Entrepreneurs made up the whole transaction tax issue. They’re clearly mocking the public now.”
Keywords: disinformation, misinformation, narrative manipulation, cherry-picking, framing