On 31 October 2025, the Headquarters of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) at the United Nations Campus in Turin (Italy) hosted the second session of the exercise “Spot the Fake: a table-top simulation against disinformation”.
The event brought together a group of students from the Liceo Scientifico Statale “Galileo Ferraris”, accompanied by Principal Antonietta Mastronique and Professors Anna Bersano, Gavino Redento Olmeo, and Selma Pennacchietti.
The session was opened by Gianni Armand Pilon, Deputy Director at La Stampa, who offered an insightful overview of the historical roots and contemporary impact of disinformation.
The simulation was conducted by Francesco Marelli and Alice Rena, UNICRI Officers, who guided the students through interactive, scenario-based exercises aimed at illustrating the mechanisms behind the production of disinformation and at enhancing participants’ ability to recognise, analyse and counter online manipulation.
Understanding the Challenge
In an age when information spreads instantly and widely, the ability to critically assess and verify content has become essential. Disinformation—the deliberate dissemination of false or misleading information—poses a growing threat to democratic debate, public safety and trust in institutions.
Through the “Spot the Fake” initiative, UNICRI seeks to strengthen young people’s ability to identify and respond to manipulative narratives, while promoting digital literacy, critical thinking and teamwork.
From Theory to Practice
The “Spot the Fake” activity is part of a two-session programme designed for secondary school and university students. The first session, held on 7 October, provided the theoretical foundation for understanding the mechanisms of disinformation and introduced tools for Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), fact-checking and strategic communication.
During the second session, students participated in “Zombies versus Humans”, an interactive role-playing exercise. Divided into two teams, they simulated opposing roles within a fictional crisis scenario:
Team Zombies developed and disseminated a disinformation campaign;
Team Humans monitored, analysed and countered the campaign using OSINT tools and communication strategies.
The activity, conducted via instant messaging to simulate a real-time crisis environment, encouraged creativity, collaboration and critical analysis.
Unexpected and Excellent Results
The debriefing that followed the simulation revealed unexpected and excellent results, as students demonstrated strong analytical skills, innovative thinking and a deep understanding of the complexities of disinformation dynamics.
UNICRI extends its special thanks to the students of Galileo Ferraris, Principal Antonietta Mastronique, Professors Anna Bersano, Gavino Redento Olmeo, and Selma Pennacchietti, and Deputy Director Gianni Armand Pilon, whose enthusiasm and engagement made the exercise a success.
By involving young people directly in the process of recognising and countering disinformation, initiatives like “Spot the Fake” aim to empower the next generation of communicators and decision-makers to uphold truth, trust and responsible communication in the digital age.