Disinformation has become a serious risk to the integrity of democratic processes. The European elections are at the center of a complex threat landscape characterized by the phenomenon of fake news and targeted disinformation campaigns.

These challenges are not new, as the events surrounding the 2016 US elections and Brexit show. However, concerns are increasing in the run-up to the 2024 European elections and the increasing spread of artificial intelligence.

Marina Jovanović, a graduate of the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences, dealt with this topic in her master's thesis and examined how misinformation influences the political landscape and what measures are taken to protect democratic processes in the EU.

Disinformation strategies and their consequences

Since 2015, targeted disinformation strategies, often in conjunction with cyberattacks, have targeted democratic institutions. The 2019 European elections served as a flashpoint for such actions aimed at undermining trust in democratic institutions and promoting social polarization.

Jovanović examined the EU's responses to these threats and noted that initiatives such as the East StratCom Task Force and the Action Plan against Disinformation have been launched. These measures aim to strengthen resilience against disinformation campaigns and increase the accountability of platform operators.

EU Action Plan and the role of technology companies

An important step in the fight against misinformation is the “Action Plan against Disinformation” introduced in 2018 and the voluntary code of conduct that sets EU standards for dealing with fake news. The role of technology companies is seen as crucial as their platforms are often used to spread disinformation.

Jovanović emphasizes the need for increased cooperation and transparency from these companies in order to effectively combat the wave of disinformation.

Strengthen awareness and resilience

Despite a high level of awareness at the political level, Jovanović shows that a comprehensive understanding and engagement of EU citizens in the fight against misinformation is still missing.

The EU must intensify its efforts to raise awareness among the population and promote a holistic defense strategy against disinformation. The expert warns against relying exclusively on existing measures and emphasizes the importance of a whole-of-society approach.

The future of EU elections

Looking ahead to the 2024 EU elections, Jovanović emphasizes that disinformation is a symptom of deeper problems and that there is a risk that public opinion will be manipulated again.

Technological developments, particularly in the area of ​​artificial intelligence, could make disinformation campaigns even more sophisticated. However, the EU appears optimistic and ready to fight, with a heightened awareness and willingness to face new challenges.

Conclusion

Combating disinformation requires a comprehensive understanding of the threats and a coordinated response at multiple levels.
Marina Jovanović's work highlights the complexity of the problem and the need to involve all social actors in the search for solutions. While the EU has already taken important steps to protect its democratic processes, the challenge remains to increase awareness and resilience to disinformation. This is an ongoing battle that requires committed collaboration between governments, technology companies and the public to secure the foundations of democracy.

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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )