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The rise of technological advancements, the internet, and globalisation have enabled antagonistic states to spread illegitimate information across borders. This harmful use of information, known as malignant information influence (MII), threatens liberal democracies and requires effective countermeasures. However, prior research on countermeasures highlights dilemmas and shortcomings, such as increased scepticism that undermines trust in all media. Addressing this gap, this study examines whether education in source criticism offers a more effective and democratic alternative by enhancing resilience to MII.

Using a survey experiment with 192 Swedish respondents, this study examined the impact of education in source criticism on Swedish citizens’ ability to detect, mistrust, and refrain from sharing Russian media while still maintaining trust in Swedish news. Although results were statistically insignificant, notable patterns were seen: the education in source criticism appeared to increase resilience against Swedish media and decrease resilience against Sputnik. Additionally, respondents consistently rated the Swedish articles higher than the Russian ones, suggesting that Swedish citizens may already possess source criticism skills. These findings highlight the potential of source criticism to counter MII while safeguarding democratic values. However, the statistically insignificant results emphasise the need for further research to improve the results and better understand the role of education in source criticism in enhancing resilience to MII.