Examination of European Union Measures Against the Spread of Disinformation

Analysis of the EUvsDisinfo Database

Abstract

The technological revolution of the 21^st century and the rapid development of various online platforms have confronted our society with new security challenges, among which the spread of fake news and disinformation can be identified. These problems have intensified particularly during the Russian–Ukrainian war, as the conflict has been accompanied by disinformation campaigns in the online sphere, aiming at social, political, and military influence. This study focuses on the European Union’s regulatory framework and practical measures against fake news and disinformation, as well as on assessing their effectiveness. In the course of empirical research, I present the geographical, linguistic, and thematic patterns of disinformation campaigns, along with the underlying connections behind false narratives, through the automated analysis of data from the EUvsDisinfo platform. The results reveal that the dissemination of false information is organized around well-structured, deliberately planned narratives that may have significant geopolitical and societal consequences, with not only technological factors but also human decision-making and media consumption habits playing a decisive role in the phenomenon’s success. In this regard, it is essential that, when designing future measures, the EU and its Member States place greater emphasis on raising public awareness, improving media literacy, and integrating human-centered approaches.