Recommendations of the fact-checkers regarding the EU’s system for tackling disinformation

• Authors: Jas-Koziarkiewicz Marta , Dobrowolska Julia
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The main research problem addressed in this article is disinformation and countering it in the European Union. The text discusses the EU’s system for tackling disinformation. In the analysis, the authors focused primarily on assessment, opinions and recommendations of Polish fact-checkers regarding the actions that the European Union is taking for tackling disinformation. The data collected in in-depth interviews allowed to identify several significant problems that reduce the effectiveness of the EU’s actions. These problems include: the system’s reliance on self-regulation and "soft" solutions, the lack of a leading entity responsible for tackling disinformation that would comprehensively coordinate the work of other bodies, and the deficit of the Union’s cooperation with non-governmental organisations involved in fact-checking process.

Keywords

EN

European Union; EU; disinformation; EU’s system for tackling online disinformation; fact-checkers; challenges in the field of tackling online disinformation; recommendations for tackling online disinformation

• Publisher: Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Studiów Międzynarodowych, Uniwersytet Warszawski
• Journal: Przegląd Europejski
• Year: 2024
• Issue: 1(71)
• Pages: 27 - 45

Dates

published

2024

Contributors

author

Jas-Koziarkiewicz Marta

• University of Warsaw

author

Dobrowolska Julia

• University of Warsaw

References

• ALBRYCHT Izabela et al. (2021), Europa wobec dezinformacji – budowa odporności systemowej w wybranych krajach, Kraków.
• BABBIE Earl (2013), The Practice of Social Research, 13th Edition, Cengage Learning, Wadsworth.
• BABRAJ Rafał (2018), Plan działania przeciwko dezinformacji (Action Plan against Disinformation), https://cyberpolicy.nask.pl/plan-dzialania-przeciwko-dezinformacji/ (17.12.2018).
• BRYJKA Filip (2022), Rozwój unijnych zdolności do zwalczania zagrożeń hybrydowych, PISM, https:// pism.pl/publikacje/rozwoj-unijnych-zdolnosci-do-zwalczania-zagrozen-hybrydowych (01.08.2022).
• CHŁOŃ Tomasz (2023), Countering Disinformation, in: R. Kupiecki, A. Legucka (eds.), Disinformation and the Resilience of Democratic Societies, Warszawa.
• EDMO (WWW), EDMO at a Glance, https://edmo.eu/edmo-at-a-glance (14.02.2023).
• EEAS (2019), Factsheet: Rapid Alert System, https://www.eeas.europa.eu/node/59644_en (15.03.2019).
• EEAS (2021), About the European External Action Service, https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/about-european-external-action-service_en (18.08.2021).
• EUROPEAN COUNCIL (2015), Council conclusions of the European Council meeting of 19 and 20 March 2015, (OR. en), EUCO 11/15, CO EUR 1, CONCL 1, Brussels, 20.05.2015.
• EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2015), Action Plan on Strategic Communication, Ref. Ares(2015)2608242 - 22/06/2015, https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/action_plan_on_strategic_communication.docx_eeas_web.pdf (22.06.2015).
• EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2018a), Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Tackling online disinformation: a European approach, COM(2018) 236 final, Brussels, 26.04.2018.
• EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2018b), 2018 Code of Practice on Disinformation, https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/2018-code-practice-disinformation (16.06.2022).
• EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2018c), A multi-dimensional approach to disinformation – Report of the independent High level Group on fake news and online disinformation, EU Publications Office. DOI: 10.2759/739290
• EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2020), Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: On the European Democracy Action Plan, COM(2020) 790 final, Brussels, 03.12.2020.
• EUROPEAN COMMISSION (WWW), Protecting democracy, https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/new-push-european-democracy/european-democracy-action-plan_en (31.12.2023).
• EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2022), 2022 Strengthened Code of Practice on Disinformation, https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/2022-strengthened-code-practice-disinformation (16.06.2022).
• EUvsDISINFO (2023), ‘To Challenge Russia’s Ongoing Disinformation Campaigns’: Eight Years of EUvsDisinfo, https://euvsdisinfo.eu/to-challenge-russias-ongoing-disinformation-campaigns-eight-years-of-euvsdisinfo/ (05.07.2023).
• EUvsDISINFO (WWW), Disinfo Database, https://euvsdisinfo.eu/disinformation-cases/ (13.12.2023).
• JOINT COMMUNICATION (2016) to the European Parliament and the Council: Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats – a European Union response, JOIN(2016) 18 final, Brussels, 06.04.2016.
• JOINT COMMUNICATION (2018) to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Action Plan against Disinformation, JOIN(2018) 36 final, Brussels, 05.12.2018.
• JOINT COMMUNICATION (2020) to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Tackling COVID- 19 disinformation – Getting the facts right, JOIN(2020) 8 final, Brussels, 10.06.2020.
• KVALE Steiner (2012), Prowadzenie wywiadów, Warszawa.
• LEGUCKA Agnieszka (2019), Countering Russian Disinformation in the European Union, “Biulletin PISM”, no. 111 (1357), 6 August 2019.
• MARSH David, STOKER Gerry (2016), Teorie i metody w naukach politycznych, Kraków.
• PAMMENT James (2020), The EU’s Role in Fighting Disinformation: Taking Back the Initiative, https://carnegieendowment.org/2020/07/15/eu-s-role-in-fighting-disinformation-taking-back-initiative-pub-82286 (15.07.2020).
• REGULATION (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2022 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and amending Directives (EU) 2019/1937 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Digital Markets Act) (Text with EEA relevance), OJ L 265, 12.10.2022.
• REGULATION (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on the single market for digital services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (Text with EEA relevance), OJ L 277, 27.10.2022.
• WENERSKI Łukasz (2017), „Akcja – reakcja”. Jak działa rosyjska propaganda w Unii Europejskiej i jak reagują na nią unijne instytucje, Warszawa.