Summary
To address challenges posed by automated content creation and evolving social interactions, the project focuses on proposing crucial technological solutions and regulations. Aligned with EU Commission recommendations to label AI-generated content combating disinformation, the initiative aims to cover Europe’s “Eastern Neighbourhood” and leverage AI for fact-checking while staying abreast of AI rule developments. Russian propaganda intensifies around Ukraine, with EURACTIV committed to providing trustworthy news. Challenges include countering disinformation in Georgia, struggles with news bias in Moldova, and the replication of Russian propaganda in Azerbaijan. Armenia reports an increase in disinformation, often through unchecked Russian news sources, while Belarus faces deteriorating freedom of speech. Latvia contends with disinformation portraying Russia as a defender against US and NATO interests. The overarching objective is to capitalize on the TRUE INFO initiative, expanding both geographical and thematic scopes, and staying updated on technological and policy developments to effectively combat disinformation.
The objectives
The F.R.E.I.H.E.I.T Project’s overarching objective will be to capitalise on the previous TRUE INFO project, develop new and highly relevant content by broadening both the geographical and topical/thematic scope whilst keeping abreast of technological and policy developments around disinformation and building synergies with specialised professionals beyond Europe’s borders.
The project’s specific objectives are the following:
- Whilst further sustaining/producing fact-checked coverage on the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, include key countries of Europe’s Eastern Neighbourhood, in the belief Russian, but also other foreign interference to be threatening and undermining their path to democracy.
- Raising awareness on topics of public interest that may be potential targets of disinformation, such as energy, agriculture, security, and migration, which are highly relevant for both Europe and the Eastern Neighbourhood.
- Empower a diverse and complementary range of freelance journalists from these regions and contribute to creating a network of fact-checkers by fostering the exchange of practices between media, academia, and civil society.
The consortium
- Euractiv Media Network B.v.
The activities
Euractiv is involved in the following tasks:
- The Capitals (6 special editions of the newsletter written by freelancers from Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Latvia)
- Social media coverage
- Final forum
The duration
The project started in December 2023 and will end in November 2024.
Find out more about the project here.
Check out the Special edition of The Capitals – Eastern Neighbourhood edition
Disclaimer: “The content of this publication represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains”.