Europe is grappling with a growing disinformation crisis that threatens the foundations of democracy. According to leaders of the World Economic Forum 2025, disinformation is “the greatest short-term global threat, surpassing war and natural disasters.” The growing wave of disinformation has become particularly worrying in countries at the forefront of geopolitical conflicts. Given these developments, the European Union must invest significantly in high-quality journalism and fact-checking mechanisms to counter the influence of unregulated media platforms, says Robert Szustkowski, a driving force behind a pan-European initiative to combat disinformation.
Disinformation: A Direct Threat to European Democracy
In countries like Poland, disinformation is more than a moral or social dilemma – it is a direct threat to the integrity of elections and democratic stability. EUvsDisinfo Lab research shows that Poland is one of the countries most frequently targeted by disinformation campaigns, particularly under the influence of Russian propaganda in the run-up to the 2025 presidential elections. Over the past decade, Poland has been subjected to almost 1,500 cases of disinformation attacks, making it one of the most affected countries in the world, as highlighted by Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister responsible for digital affairs.
The political power of disinformation
The use of disinformation as a political weapon has the power to manipulate public perceptions and influence elections, both locally and internationally. To address this, European leaders must implement a multi-faceted approach that includes legal, political and social actions to combat disinformation. However, any action taken should carefully balance the need to preserve freedom of speech and media independence, while providing safeguards against harmful propaganda.
EU strategy to combat fake news
One of the key tools in the EU’s arsenal is the Digital Services Act (DSA), a regulation that aims to monitor and remove illegal content, thereby curbing the spread of fake news online. Under the DSA, citizens will have the right to request the removal of illegal content through a streamlined administrative process.