Disinformation – The European Union announces a fight against fake news

EU says "no" to disinformation

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, social media has seen an increase in fake news and a wave of negative comments aimed at distorting the image of the war. In Polish cyberspace, 88% of accounts spreading fake news focus on topics related to Russia’s aggression. In the face of growing disinformation, the European Union has announced the creation of a special center.

On February 7, 2023, the European Union published a report highlighting that Russian propaganda has been using manipulated covers of European satirical magazines, including France’s Charlie Hebdo and Germany’s Titanic, for disinformation purposes. The report pointed out that in 100 analyzed cases of disinformation from October to December 2022, 88 official representatives of Russia were involved.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has been warning about the dangers of disinformation and media manipulation since the start of the war. Now (February 2023), he has announced the establishment of a European Union Center for Disinformation. Its task will be to analyze and exchange data on disinformation and to promote actions that will help better understand the mechanisms of propaganda.

It should be added that this is not the EU’s first action in the fight against disinformation. Previously, the Union developed a Code of Practice on Disinformation aimed at entities whose business activities rely on the distribution of information. Furthermore, EU anti-disinformation centers operate in the member states, which are part of the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO). In March 2019, the EU established the Rapid Alert System on Disinformation to provide early warnings about disinformation campaigns.

How to defend against false information?

In Poland, the Scientific and Academic Computer Network (NASK) is responsible for actions related to ensuring internet security. According to experts from NASK, the key factors in counteracting disinformation are speed, coherence, and interoperability. In addition to constantly improving cyber systems, education and awareness of online threats are also crucial.

NASK has launched profiles such as #WłączWeryfikację on Facebook and Twitter, which debunk false information circulating online and highlight signs of disinformation activities. The Institute of Media Monitoring carries out similar work on social media, posting real-time notifications about potential waves of disinformation based on the analysis of emerging threads and comments on the web.

Disinformation is not only about war

False information can concern various industries and aspects of life. For example, in 2022, a wave of fake news regarding the agriculture and food industry was recorded on Polish social media. There were claims about the carcinogenic properties of meat and the salmonella contamination of Polish chickens. The Institute for Internet and Social Media Research reported detecting 260 media publications, 80 accounts automatically spreading fake news on the topic, and four mass disinformation campaigns. These manipulated messages reached 14 million people.

Another example includes disinformation campaigns related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccination program.