Citizen Engagement Crucial in Combating Disinformation: EESC Conference Highlights Multi-Faceted Approach
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) recently convened a conference in Lisbon, emphasizing the critical role of community involvement in the fight against disinformation. The event, titled "Citizens can defeat disinformation," marked the fourth installment in the EESC’s ongoing initiative to combat the spread of false information with the active participation of civil society. The conference underscored the urgent need for a multi-pronged strategy that empowers citizens, fosters media literacy, and leverages the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to counter the detrimental effects of disinformation on democratic societies. The collaborative effort, organized in partnership with the Portuguese Economic and Social Council and supported by the European Commission Representation and the European Parliament Office in Lisbon, brought together experts, policymakers, and civil society representatives to address the growing threat of disinformation.
Disinformation, fueled by the rapid spread of misleading information through new technologies, has emerged as a significant societal problem. Its corrosive impact on the quality of democracy and public discourse has led to increasingly polarized societies. Conference participants highlighted the dangers posed not only by misinformation and a lack of information, but also by information overload, which can overwhelm citizens and make it difficult to discern truth from falsehood. Luís Pais Antunes, President of the Portuguese Economic and Social Council, stressed the need for civil society involvement in tackling this complex challenge. EESC President Oliver Röpke echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of empowering citizens not only as watchdogs against disinformation but also as active participants in building democratic resilience.
The conference highlighted several key strategies for combating disinformation. Sofia Moreira De Sousa, Head of the European Commission Representation in Portugal, underscored the threat disinformation poses to the fundamental principle of freedom of choice, arguing that informed decisions are impossible when choices are based on false information. Both the EU and its Member States have implemented measures to address this issue, including the European Digital Media Observatory, the Digital Services Act (DSA), and the European Democracy Shield. Siim Kumpas, Team Leader at the European External Action Service (EEAS), introduced the EU Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) Toolbox, a new instrument designed to foster a community-based approach to combating disinformation. The EuvsDisinfo project, which has debunked thousands of disinformation cases, showcases the ongoing efforts to identify and expose false narratives.
Participants stressed the importance of critical thinking and emotional detachment when encountering potentially misleading information. Recognizing that disinformation often preys on emotions, the conference advocated for a pause and careful consideration of the source and intent behind emotionally charged content. By resisting the urge to immediately engage with such material, individuals can help limit its visibility and viral spread. The conference participants also emphasized education and media literacy as crucial tools in combating disinformation. Equipping citizens with the skills to identify and debunk fake news is essential for building resilience against misinformation. The FACT project, run by the Instituto Marquês de Valle Flôr, exemplifies this approach by teaching young people how to verify information and engage in fact-checking. Cátia Lopes, representing the project, emphasized the importance of education and empathy in countering disinformation and advocated for the involvement of all sectors of society and government.
The need for government support in promoting media literacy and strengthening journalistic ethics was a recurring theme throughout the conference. Aimilios Perdikaris, from the Athens Macedonian News Agency, called for integrating media literacy education into school curricula, emphasizing the state’s crucial role in fostering credible information sources. Carlos Abreau Amorim, Portugal’s Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in fact-checking tools and implementing a media literacy action plan. He stressed the vital link between free, impartial, and critical media and the survival of democracy. Luísa Meireles, Chief Information Officer at Lusa News Agency, addressed the challenges faced by journalists in the current media landscape, highlighting the pressure to prioritize speed over accuracy and the resulting need for robust fact-checking mechanisms.
The conference also acknowledged the dual nature of AI in the disinformation landscape. Niko Efstathiou, a journalist fellow at the Reuters Institute, noted AI’s potential to create highly convincing deepfake news and target vulnerable populations with precision. However, he also emphasized AI’s potential as a powerful tool for scanning and detecting misinformation in real time. Despite concerns about potential overreach, regulation was recognized as a necessary tool in combating disinformation. Alfredo Sousa De Jesus, Head of the European Parliament Office in Lisbon, argued that the challenge lies not in a lack of regulation, but rather in the sheer volume of opportunities and spaces for disinformation to spread. Katarzyna Szaran, from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed optimism about the possibility of finding solutions to the disinformation problem. She highlighted the importance of a multi-faceted approach involving civil society, legislation, and political initiatives, and called for collaborative efforts at the EU level to enhance digital literacy and build resilience against disinformation.