The Dutch cabinet will launch an online campaign to make people aware of  disinformation next February and is to carry out research into the impact of fake news during elections, home affairs minister Kajsa Ollongren has confirmed.

Elections for the members of the 12 regional councils take place on March 20 and the European parliamentary elections follow in late May.

An earlier report by the Rathenau Insitute shows that disinformation has not had a ‘major negative impact’ on Dutch society because of ‘the strong media system, the variety of news on offer and high trust in the media,’ the home affairs ministry statement said.

The new research will begin in early 2019 and focus on analysing the use of social media during the election period and the way messages are swapped between media, politicians and citizens.

At the same time, the government will launch an online campaign to make citizens ‘more aware of the phenomenon… and their own responsibilities in recognising it,’ the ministry said.

‘The protection of freedom of speech and independent journalism are primary in this. We are not talking about pointing out disinformation in individual news items.’