Disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference are a serious threat to societies. They can undermine democratic institutions and processes (such as elections) by preventing people from making informed decisions or discouraging them from voting. And they can polarise societies by pitting communities against each other.
New technologies have made it possible for hostile actors to spread disinformation and to manipulate information at a scale and with a speed never seen before.
Therefore, tackling disinformation and information manipulation is one of the most pressing issues for the European Union and its Member States.
Disinformation actors use a variety of techniques to deceive and manipulate people online. This can range from clones of legitimate websites to cleverly manipulated audio or videos (known as 'deepfakes', often created using artificial intelligence), designed to appeal to our emotions and cloud our judgment.
The European Commission, together with its partners, has made available some tips and resources to help you safely navigate the online landscape and spot disinformation more easily.
How is the European Commission responding?
The Commission is strengthening its strategic communication in response to disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference targeting EU policies. This requires a whole-of-society approach, as many sectors of societies have an important role to play in preventing and countering disinformation. Beyond this response, it is important to ensure that citizens have access to quality news and information they can trust.
The Commission's response to disinformation is centred around:
- Developing policies to strengthen European democracies, making it more difficult for disinformation actors to misuse online platforms, and protecting journalists and media pluralism
- Countering foreign interference and cyberattacks through awareness-raising projects, advanced technological solutions, and improved coordination
- Building societal resilience against disinformation through media literacy and awareness raising
- Cooperating with institutions, national authorities, civil society and other organisations
Main fields of action
Promoting free and fair elections, protecting public debate and countering disinformation through the Democracy Action Plan and Defence of Democracy Package
Ensuring that platforms take responsibility in countering disinformation, thanks to the Digital Services Act, the Code of Practice on Disinformation, the AI Act, and the Regulation on the transparency and targeting of political advertising
Upholding media pluralism and independence in the EU through the Media Freedom Act and legislation that protects journalists from strategic lawsuits against public participation (anti-SLAPPs)
Exposing foreign interference tactics, countering Russia’s systemic information manipulation and ensuring preparedness in case of cyberattacks
Enabling citizens to navigate the modern news environment, raising awareness about disinformation tactics, providing guidance for tackling disinformation through education and helping teachers and young people recognise and stop it
Supporting Europe's independent fact-checking communities, ensuring public access to fact-checked and trust-worthy data and information, and providing funding for civil society groups working to counter disinformation
Timeline of EU actions against disinformation
- August 2024
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act enters into force
- May 2024
The European Media Freedom Act and new rules against abusive lawsuits against public participation (anti-SLAPPs) enter into force
- April 2024
The Regulation on the transparency and targeting of political advertising enters into force
- March 2024
The Commission publishes guidelines under the Digital Services Act for Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines to mitigate risks online that may impact the integrity of elections, with specific guidance for the European Parliament elections in June 2024
- March 2024
A new Cybersecurity compendium on how to protect integrity of elections is published
- December 2023
The Commission adopts the Defence of Democracy Package ahead of the 2024 European elections
- October 2023
The Commission publishes a call for proposals to support EU fact-checkers in identifying and debunking disinformation
- October 2022
The Commission publishes guidelines for teachers and educators in primary and secondary schools on how to address disinformation and promote digital literacy in their classrooms
- September 2022
The Commission presents a proposal for the European Media Freedom Act
- June 2022
A strengthened Code of Practice on Disinformation is signed by major online platforms, emerging and specialised platforms, players in the advertising industry, fact-checkers, research and civil society organisations
- November 2021
The Commission presents a proposal for new laws on transparency and targeting of political advertising
- December 2020
The Commission presents a proposal for the Digital Services Act
- December 2020
The Commission establishes its European Democracy Action Plan
- June 2020
The European Digital Media Observatory is launched
- March 2019
The European External Action Service (EEAS) launches its Rapid Alert System
- December 2018
The Commission and the High Representative establish an Action plan against disinformation
- September 2018
The first Code of Practice against Disinformation is established
- September 2018
The Commission publishes a Communication on securing free and fair European elections
- April 2018
The Commission publishes a Communication on tackling online disinformation
- April 2016
A Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats is adopted to counter hostile actions designed to destabilise a region or a state
- January 2015
Launch of the EEAS East StratCom Task Force to address Russian disinformation campaigns