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AI Study Reveals Widespread Climate Misinformation in French Media
A groundbreaking AI-powered study has uncovered alarming levels of climate misinformation across French television and radio, with approximately ten cases per week identified during the first quarter of 2025. The research, conducted by a coalition including Data For Good and QuotaClimat with fact-checking by Science Feedback, examined news programs from 19 French broadcasters.
The study employed an innovative AI tool to scan thousands of news segments for climate-related content, with experts then manually reviewing flagged segments. This approach identified 128 verified instances of climate misinformation within just three months, with findings expected to continue through September 2025 when the comprehensive report will be published.
Sud Radio emerged as the worst offender, accounting for nearly one-third of all misinformation cases despite having received a formal warning from French regulator ARCOM in 2024 specifically for climate change denial. The popular radio station, which reaches 4.5 million monthly listeners, has apparently continued broadcasting misleading climate information despite regulatory sanctions under the 1986 Leotard Law.
CNews, France’s second most-watched 24-hour news channel, also performed poorly despite being fined €20,000 in 2024 for climate misinformation violations. Similarly, BFM TV, the country’s largest news channel, was found to air segments containing unchecked misinformation that contradicted its regulatory commitments to honest reporting.
Other media outlets implicated include LCI, which broadcast misleading claims about electric vehicles, and Radio Classique, which aired content featuring a known climate science denier. Europe 1 and RMC were also cited for amplifying narratives that undermine climate science and proposed solutions.
The study did identify several “watchdog channels” that maintained editorial integrity in their climate reporting. Radio France Internationale (RFI) stood out for covering more climate-related topics than any other outlet while maintaining accurate, science-based reporting with zero detected instances of misinformation. France Inter, France Culture, and Arte were also free from climate misinformation, though they featured fewer climate-related segments overall.
Energy topics represented half of all misinformation cases, with renewable energy sources frequently mischaracterized. Common misleading claims suggested renewables are unreliable, more polluting than fossil fuels, or unnecessary in France due to its nuclear infrastructure.
Transportation was another significant target, comprising 47 percent of cases, with electric vehicles facing particularly widespread misinformation. Claims that EVs pollute more than conventional vehicles or that battery production negates climate benefits directly contradict scientific consensus on transportation electrification.
Direct attacks on climate science appeared in 13 percent of cases, with some outlets denying climate change entirely or questioning human causation. These claims often aligned with political agendas or conspiracy theories, with researchers noting strategic spikes in misinformation around elections and major policy announcements.
The research carries particular significance as the first comprehensive evidence that climate misinformation extends beyond social media into mainstream outlets. According to the French Barometer of Media Confidence, 69 percent of French citizens trust television news compared to just 29 percent for social media, highlighting the potentially greater impact of misinformation in traditional media.
The study recommends several actions to combat this trend. Media consumers are encouraged to verify information before sharing, diversify news sources, and hold outlets accountable for misleading content. For media organizations, the researchers suggest improved climate science training for journalists, enhanced fact-checking protocols, and moving away from sensationalized “infotainment.”
The researchers also call on ARCOM to take more decisive regulatory action against repeat offenders and note that increasing the frequency and depth of climate reporting—currently just 2 percent of airtime—would help create a more balanced information landscape.
Beyond France, the study demonstrates a scalable model for detecting climate misinformation that could be implemented in other countries, potentially transforming how media accountability is approached globally on this critical issue.
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5 Comments
Glad to see this in-depth analysis shining a light on climate misinformation in French media. Fact-checking and accountability will be essential as the public relies on news sources to stay informed on these vital issues.
Interesting report on climate misinformation in French media. Fact-checking and AI tools seem crucial to identify and address such issues. I wonder what specific steps broadcasters and regulators will take to improve accuracy and accountability around climate coverage.
This is an important study that highlights the need for more rigorous fact-checking and editorial oversight, especially when it comes to complex topics like climate change. Media outlets must be held responsible for the accuracy of their reporting.
The mining and energy sectors have a major role to play in the climate transition, so it’s critical that reporting on related issues is factual and balanced. Kudos to the researchers for using innovative methods to uncover these troubling patterns of misinformation.
This is concerning, especially the high number of cases identified at Sud Radio. Transparency and adherence to journalistic standards should be priorities for all media outlets covering climate change. Regulators will need to take firmer action against repeat offenders.