Disinformation

Enlargement 21-03-2023

Russian disinformation in the Balkans: Predating the invasion?

Est. 5min

Russia's successful infiltration of media in the Balkans predates a possible invasion, thanks to a network of Kremlin-aligned businesspeople, politicians, and influence agents who shape editorial policies and amplify disinformation campaigns, write Goran Georgiev and Ruslan Stefanov.

Technology 02-11-2022

US and Europe share diagnosis on tech ills, yet risk confrontation

Est. 4min

European and American policymakers are responding at different speeds to digital challenges and the unilateralism must stop, Bill Echikson writes.

16-08-2022

To stop war breaking out in Kosovo, media freedom in Serbia must be addressed

Est. 5min

An explosion of Russian disinformation threatened a breakout of conflict in Kosovo, highlighting the urgent need to address the declining information environment in the region, writes Antoinette Nikolova.

Europe's East 05-08-2022

Russia is seeking new wars and Kosovo could be the next one

Est. 6min

Instead of seeking a diplomatic solution following the disaster it created with its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is seeking another conflict, so that its aggression will look as second-class news, writes Orhan Dragaš, according to whom Kosovo is such a target.

31-03-2022

Social media companies must increase regulation of their platforms to enable democracy in Serbia

Est. 6min

Elections in Serbia and an explosion of pro-Russian disinformation show why manipulation of social media in the Balkans by state actors is now a critical issue for Europe, writes Antoinette Nikolova.

Technology 22-03-2022

The Digital Markets Act is one of our best tools to resist to information wars

Est. 5min

The West is involved in at least two wars in Ukraine: a military war and an information war. Meanwhile, governments pressure the largest social media platforms as they are the biggest battleground for the information war, writes Maria Luisa Stasi.

Technology 21-03-2022

Disinformation: EU lawmakers ask platforms to do more, their DSA talks go the other way

Est. 4min

The war in Ukraine is playing out across digital services and social media platforms, with disinformation and propaganda at its core. In just a few weeks, the Spanish fact-checker Maldita.es has already listed more than 750 fact-checks produced to counter disinformation items.

Global Europe 16-03-2022

Ukrainophobia, Russian propaganda and war in Europe

Est. 5min

Questioning Ukrainian identity, the right to decide, defend themselves, and ask for sanctions to weaken the Russian economy and thus, ability to attack - remains a tool of Russian propaganda. Let’s make sure we don’t help spreading it, appeals Anna Romandash.

Media 16-03-2022

Media Freedom: A rebalanced ecosystem and sector consolidation

Est. 5min

Given the war in the East, and recent riots in the United States, the quality of the information ecosystem has become central. Media leaders could seize industrial, policy and budget opportunities, beyond the basic democracy principles, with a view to media resilience, write Pedro Ortún Silvan and Christophe Leclercq.

Technology 24-02-2022

Could the EU be on the cusp of a Paris Agreement For The Internet?

Est. 4min

It’s a global issue. It’s an existential threat to our way of life. And it threatens the collapse of entire ecosystems.

21-10-2021

Russia’s Worldwide Influence Relies on YouTube

Est. 6min

Without Silicon Valley's continuing goodwill, the Kremlin's information machine is in trouble.

Technology 20-10-2021

Digital Services Act: a media exemption would open a loophole for disinformation

Est. 6min

A carve out for media in the EU’s Digital Services Act would leave a dangerous loophole in legislation that is desperately needed to tackle disinformation, writes Diana Wallis.

How the competition against China could improve NATO

Est. 8min

Allowing the US to focus its military resources in the Pacific requires a division of labor within NATO that requires the Europeans to take responsibility for the defense of their continent, writes Antonia Colibasanu.

22-01-2021

After Trump: Rule of law and Big Tech Regulation

Est. 5min

The stunning events in Washington on January 6th not only showed the fragility of modern democracies but also demonstrated the untamed power of Big Tech, writes Marc Sundermann, Paolo Cesarini and Christophe Leclercq.

Technology 14-01-2021

After Trump, we must fight to rebuild the ruins of democracy

Est. 6min

Even after US President Trump is gone, the underlying causes of division, mistrust, and frustration won't go away and Europe must future-proof itself against any risks to democracy – particularly in the online world, writes Věra Jourová.

24-11-2020

COVID disinformation in Bulgaria: When mainstream media are no better than Facebook

Est. 6min

While in most other countries experts blame disinformation on social media like Facebook or foreign powers such as Russia or China, in Bulgaria, the country’s own mainstream media and politicians have contributed the most to spreading confusion and ignorance, write Julia Rone and Georgi Hristov.

Media 24-11-2020

Time to act against fake news

Est. 6min

Platforms committed in 2018 to a Code of Practice against disinformation, including changes to their algorithms based on ‘Trustworthiness indicators’. As the EU prepares a Digital Services Act and Action Plans on democracy and on media, clearer references are required, write Marc Sundermann, Christophe Leclercq and Paolo Cesarini.

Global Europe 22-10-2020

Ukraine is a valuable ally in defeating Russian disinformation

Est. 5min

Ukraine, the laboratory of Russia’s disinformation techniques, wants to work closely with the EU and NATO to defeat disinformation together, writes Andriy Yermak.

Europe's East 24-06-2020

Ukraine’s success is the best deterrent against the Russian revanche

Est. 6min

There is no better strategy for the West in dealing with Russia than strength and unity, and there should be no appeasement and no return to “business as usual”, writes Kostiantyn Yelisieiev.

18-06-2020

Time to aim high: tackling disinformation during the pandemic

Est. 7min

The EU needs a course correction in its approach to disinformation and fake news in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, writes Juliane von Reppert-Bismarck.

22-05-2020

EU should launch a specialist team to investigate Chinese disinformation

Est. 5min

The Chinese government has flooded the European information space with disinformation, in an effort to control the narrative around the pandemic and divert the blame. This poisonous environment created by Chinese info-war operations calls for resolute answers, write Jakub Janda and Nathalie Vogel.

Technology 25-03-2020

A new type of virus is upon us, and it is not corona

Est. 5min

The whole world is preoccupied with the coronavirus pandemic.  Every day, we experience apprehension and our thoughts focus on how we can protect ourselves, our families and countries. Yet, while nations struggle to mobilise their resources to fight this unparalleled epidemic, another virus is spreading almost undetected, Daniel Milo argues. 

Media 06-12-2018

Beyond fake news: Strategic options for media ahead of EU elections

Est. 8min

The European Commission has just released a short-term action plan on disinformation. Remarkably, the sustainability of the media sector is hardly addressed, write a group of MEPs and media industry experts.

Data protection 26-10-2018

Fighting digital authoritarianism: three proposals on how to tackle online interference

Est. 6min

Our democracies in Europe are under attack from all sides – and online manipulations through fake news are at the heart of this threat.