BRUSSELS, 21-Mar-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Europe is confronting a deep-seated crisis in its collective understanding—a challenge that threatens the very foundation of democratic values. At WEF 2025, global leaders labeled the rapid spread of disinformation as the most urgent short-term threat, surpassing even the dangers posed by war and natural disasters. In regions at the forefront of 21st-century geopolitical struggles, misinformation is no longer merely a moral or social concern but a force capable of undermining political elections and destabilizing democratic institutions.
Robert Szustkowski, the driving force behind a pan-European initiative to halt disinformation, contends that the European Union must significantly boost its investments in high-quality journalism and advanced fact-checking tools. This, he argues, is essential to replace the void left by unreliable media platforms and to protect the public from manipulative narratives. Data from the EUvsDisinfo Lab reveals that countries like Poland have been hit hardest by these campaigns—with nearly 1,500 documented cases over the past decade, positioning Poland among the most vulnerable to Russian propaganda and other sources of false information, as noted by the nation’s Deputy Premier responsible for digital affairs.
Disinformation has evolved into a powerful political tool that can skew electoral outcomes and sway public opinion both locally and globally. European leaders are thus urged to implement a range of measures—from legal reforms and political initiatives to grassroots fact-checking platforms—that address the problem without compromising free speech or media independence. The Digital Services Act (DSA) offers a promising framework by mandating the monitoring and removal of illegal content while providing citizens a structured means to request the deletion of misleading information.
In Poland, proactive steps have already been taken ahead of the presidential elections. The government has established protective measures aimed at scrutinizing content across media channels and social platforms like X, TikTok, and Telegram. Krzysztof Gawkowski, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs, emphasized the critical need for vigilance, while Wojciech Głażewski, director at Check Point Software Technologies Poland, warned that the strategic manipulation of disinformation poses a severe risk to electoral integrity and democratic stability.
Community initiatives are also emerging as key players in this battle. Szustkowski’s proposal calls for extending the “Right to Be Forgotten” to media outlets and establishing a registry of personal rights violations, alongside appointing a Readers’ Rights Ombudsman to assist individuals harmed by false narratives. Such systemic changes are seen as vital to managing the disinformation crisis across Europe.
Ultimately, combating disinformation is not just a matter of legislative action; it also requires a robust civic education framework. A 2020 Eurobarometer study showed that 71% of Europeans regularly encounter disinformation and view its rapid spread as a grave threat to democracy. Empowering citizens with the knowledge to critically assess and counter false information is essential to preserving the integrity of democratic processes in today’s information-driven world.
SOURCE: EuropaWire
