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- The Semiotics of Hate in Hoaxes about Immigrants Detected by Fact-Checking Platforms in Spain, Greece, and ItalyPublication . Vázquez Diéguez, Ignacio; Merino, Dory; Sánchez Esparza, MartaThe rejection of immigrants is socially constructed and fuelled by the viral spread of false information, giving rise to hate speech loaded with symbolism. Hence, this study undertakes a semiotic analysis of hate speech in hoaxes about immigrants published on social media in Spain, Greece and Italy from January 2022 to August 2023. These hoaxes were identified on the leading fact-checking platforms in each selected country: Newtral, Ellinika Hoaxes and Facta News/Open. A valid sample of 52 hoaxes was analysed using an interpretative perspective methodology, delving into the fundamental aspects of semiotics (denotative and connotative signs). The study highlights signs that give meaning to cultural codes, social representations, myths, or imaginaries. In addition, it concludes that these hoaxes repeat the same patterns across the three countries despite dealing with different information. The immigrant figure is associated with attributes such as vandal, anti-social, usurper or criminal, leading to the construction of meaning systems (myths) and social imaginaries that stigmatise this group and portray them as inconvenient in the host society.