In collaboration with EDMO BeLux and the European Union, RTL plans to produce 12 video clips by early 2027 for the campaign. The primary goal is to raise awareness among people who did not grow up with the internet about the risks associated with digital media. The campaign’s ambassadors are actors and couple Jemp Schuster and Michèle Turpel. The common theme of the videos is misinformation, with the aim of strengthening media literacy among all users.
Under the EDMO project, RTL has committed to combating the spread of fake news and misinformation in Luxembourg and to raising awareness of these issues. In addition to fact checks published on RTL.lu, RTL Infos as well as RTL Today, the “Safety First” video campaign forms a central part of this effort. The campaign is mainly aimed at people who are not considered digital natives, meaning those who did not grow up with the internet but now use it regularly. However, the content is designed to appeal to a broad audience and to help users recognise the dangers of the internet.
The campaign’s ambassadors are theatre actors and couple Jemp Schuster and Michèle Turpel. Both well known figures in Luxembourg’s cultural scene, they are intended to serve as relatable faces for the target audience. Although both are experienced media personalities, they too face the same challenges as many people who did not grow up with smartphones and social media. Through short sketches, they approach the serious topic with a touch of humour, re enacting realistic everyday situations involving internet use.
The concept behind the videos was developed by RTL journalist Tim Hensgen in collaboration with graphic designer Robine Gillen.
The first three video clips were officially launched on 3 July 2025 as part of Kloertext, which focused on the topic of disinformation. Guests on the programme included Romain Schroeder from the Centre for Political Education (ZpB), Karin Weyer from Respect.lu, Jeff Kaufmann from Bee Secure, Mara Kroth from Golden Me and Tim Hensgen.
During the discussion, participants noted that many people tend to overestimate their ability to fact check information online. It was observed that people aged between 50 and 70 in particular often share misinformation on social media, despite having solid general knowledge. One difficulty is that disinformation frequently contains elements of truth, making it harder to detect.
The topic of echo chambers was also addressed. Many users are unaware that algorithms reinforce their existing preferences, creating isolated information environments that are not easy to leave.
The existence of such separate realities, where different communities become closed off and communicate less and less with each other, poses challenges for democratic discourse. Political education therefore has a role to play in creating spaces where different perspectives can meet again.
Six of the planned twelve topics are already available on RTL.lu, with the remaining videos to be published in the coming months. The clips are broadcast not only online but also regularly on television.
As part of EDMO, RTL is also involved in the Lie Detectors project in Luxembourg. Here too, the aim is to tackle fake news on the internet but through means beyond the usual channels offered by RTL. Specially trained journalists visit primary and secondary schools to speak with pupils about journalism and the issue of fake news. Under the motto “Curious minds sort facts from fakes”, the project aims to equip young people and teachers with the tools to recognise misinformation and polarisation online and to understand the principles of ethical journalism.
Fact checking was one of EDMO’s first projects to combat online misinformation. RTL has been involved from an early stage, identifying and analysing topics relevant to Luxembourg. These include fake videos of politicians or journalists circulating online, as well as misleading statements presented as facts. RTL also cooperates with international partners such as Agence France-Presse, RTBF and Deutsche Presse-Agentur, translating selected fact checks into Luxembourgish.
EDMO BELUX 2.0 is a multidisciplinary hub that connects fact checkers, disinformation analysts, media literacy organisations and academics. Its aim is to counter the spread of disinformation, ensure the reliability of information in society, and support a broad and diverse community dedicated to democratic processes in Belgium and Luxembourg.
Members of EDMO BELUX:
In the next phase of the project, new Luxembourg partners will join, including the University of Luxembourg and the Centre for Political Education.
The EDMO project is co financed by the European Union. Responsibility for the content lies with the independent consortium.
