In Europe, the problem of disinformation is no longer a marginal phenomenon. It is now a deeply rooted social threat. Why? Because it affects citizens’ trust, media reliability and democratic processes. As many as 45% of European Union residents believe that the spread of false information in the media is a serious problem. In turn, 60% of internet users worldwide admit that they have difficulty recognizing the truth in the digital space.
Robert Szustkowski’s Initiative: A New Look at the “Right to Be Forgotten”
In response to the growing phenomenon of disinformation, Robert Szustkowski, a philanthropist and social activist, has proposed that the right to be forgotten – previously mainly applied to search engines – should be extended to digital media that process personal data. Its aim is to enable the deletion of data that is no longer relevant to the public interest but still remains available in digital archives and can cause harm.
This proposal has gained strong institutional support. The Supreme Administrative Court in Poland confirmed that the right to be forgotten also applies to press publications when further processing of data is not justified.
Stronger law as a shield against manipulation
Szustkowski appeals for the introduction of systemic solutions that will not only respond to the effects of disinformation, but also prevent them. His proposals include:
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recognition of the media as personal data administrators,
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creation of a Reader’s Rights Ombudsman to support victims,
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creating a register of violations of personal rights,
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and a standardized complaint form enabling citizens to report instances of digital defamation.
Europe’s response to growing threats
Szustkowski’s ideas fit into existing EU activities, including:
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Digital Services Act (DSA) – a regulation requiring platforms to respond quickly to illegal content;
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EDMO (European Digital Media Observatory) – a network supporting independent verification and educational activities.
EU regulations also provide citizens with easier access to procedures for reporting infringements, which strengthens their protection in the digital world.
AI Technologies – A Catalyst for Digital Threats
The development of artificial intelligence has significantly accelerated the rate of production of fake content. AI-based tools are capable of creating realistic deepfakes, operating fake accounts, and mass-producing manipulated information. All this makes disinformation more sophisticated and harder to detect.
According to experts, newsrooms and platforms must implement internal fact-checking mechanisms to counter manipulation. Szustkowski’s proposal provides for such editorial safeguards, based on common EU standards.