Mapping Disinformation: Insights from Civil Society

Civil society organisations (CSOs) play a pivotal role in identifying, analysing, and addressing disinformation across Europe. Their independent research and monitoring efforts provide crucial insights into emerging tools, techniques, and narratives used to manipulate public opinion. By collaborating with fact-checkers, media platforms, and policymakers, CSOs not only expose disinformation but also advocate for effective countermeasures. Their work is indispensable for safeguarding democratic processes, promoting media literacy, and building societal resilience. What trends in disinforamtion did researchers from CSOs observe?

• Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Disinformation

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into disinformation strategies has fundamentally transformed the scale and sophistication of information manipulation. The accessibility of generative AI tools has made it easier for malicious actors to produce convincing yet false content, which spreads rapidly on digital platforms before detection mechanisms can intervene. AI-generated disinformation and its dissemination not only challenge fact-checking processes but also attempt to undermine voters and electoral systems in several European countries. In Slovakia, an AI-generated alleged telephone recording between a leader of the Progressive Slovakia political party and an investigative journalist sparked widespread disinformation about electoral fraud.

• Continuation of Large-Scale Influence Operations

The proliferation of cloned websites and the Doppelgänger operation, which was first observed and reported by EU DisinfoLab in 2022, has continued despite researchers flagging it to social media platforms. False websites and social media accounts mimicking legitimate news outlets and journalists pose serious security threats and vulnerabilities. Supported by amplification from bots and coordinated inauthentic behaviour, information operations have become increasingly effective at spreading false narratives, fostering social polarisation, and eroding trust in democratic processes and institutions.

• Social Media Platforms Lagging Behind in Transparency and Accountability

Social media platforms remain a key battleground for various influence and information operations. Operations such as Doppelgänger showcase how social media platforms have struggled to stop inauthentic behaviour on their networks. During several elections in 2023 and early 2024, researchers observed significant shortcomings in content moderation, identity verification processes, and advertiser disclaimers. These gaps continue to undermine transparency and accountability, allowing manipulative campaigns to spread unchecked.

Read the full report attached below to find out more.