Disinformation
The Brief – A battle against disinformation was won
Est. 7minWe may like or dislike the results of the European elections, but we can safely say that no major incidents involving propaganda and disinformation took place in the days of 6-9 June, which amounts to a victory for those who are busy countering this threat.
Russian disinformation in the Balkans: Predating the invasion?
Est. 5minRussia'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.
US and Europe share diagnosis on tech ills, yet risk confrontation
Est. 4minEuropean and American policymakers are responding at different speeds to digital challenges and the unilateralism must stop, Bill Echikson writes.
To stop war breaking out in Kosovo, media freedom in Serbia must be addressed
Est. 5minAn 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.
Russia is seeking new wars and Kosovo could be the next one
Est. 6minInstead 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.
Social media companies must increase regulation of their platforms to enable democracy in Serbia
Est. 6minElections 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.
The Digital Markets Act is one of our best tools to resist to information wars
Est. 5minThe 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.
Disinformation: EU lawmakers ask platforms to do more, their DSA talks go the other way
Est. 4minThe 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.
Ukrainophobia, Russian propaganda and war in Europe
Est. 5minQuestioning 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 Freedom: A rebalanced ecosystem and sector consolidation
Est. 5minGiven 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.
Could the EU be on the cusp of a Paris Agreement For The Internet?
Est. 4minIt’s a global issue. It’s an existential threat to our way of life. And it threatens the collapse of entire ecosystems.
Russia’s Worldwide Influence Relies on YouTube
Est. 6minWithout Silicon Valley's continuing goodwill, the Kremlin's information machine is in trouble.
Digital Services Act: a media exemption would open a loophole for disinformation
Est. 6minA 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. 8minAllowing 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.
After Trump: Rule of law and Big Tech Regulation
Est. 5minThe 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.
After Trump, we must fight to rebuild the ruins of democracy
Est. 6minEven 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.
COVID disinformation in Bulgaria: When mainstream media are no better than Facebook
Est. 6minWhile 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.
Time to act against fake news
Est. 6minPlatforms 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.
Ukraine is a valuable ally in defeating Russian disinformation
Est. 5minUkraine, the laboratory of Russia’s disinformation techniques, wants to work closely with the EU and NATO to defeat disinformation together, writes Andriy Yermak.
Ukraine’s success is the best deterrent against the Russian revanche
Est. 6minThere 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.
Time to aim high: tackling disinformation during the pandemic
Est. 7minThe 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.
EU should launch a specialist team to investigate Chinese disinformation
Est. 5minThe 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.
A new type of virus is upon us, and it is not corona
Est. 5minThe 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.
Beyond fake news: Strategic options for media ahead of EU elections
Est. 8minThe 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.