EU must invest in high-quality journalism and fact-checking tools to stop disinformation

 

(IN BRIEF) Europe may be facing an epistemological crisis that threatens genuine democratic values due to the rampant spread of disinformation, which global leaders at WEF 2025 have identified as the greatest short-term global threat—surpassing even war and natural disasters. This growing menace is especially acute in countries at the forefront of geopolitical struggles, such as Poland, where disinformation campaigns—particularly those influenced by Russian propaganda—have been rampant, jeopardizing political elections and the overall stability of democracy. The issue calls for a significant investment in high-quality journalism and robust fact-checking tools by the European Union, aiming to replace the unreliable media platforms that currently dominate the information landscape. Regulatory measures, like the Digital Services Act, are proposed to monitor and remove illegal content, thereby mitigating the harmful effects of disinformation without infringing on free speech or media independence. In Poland, preemptive measures have been introduced ahead of the 2025 presidential elections, with heightened scrutiny over content on traditional and social media platforms. Additionally, initiatives from civic leaders, such as Robert Szustkowski’s proposal to extend the “Right to Be Forgotten” to media outlets, seek systemic reforms to better manage the crisis. These measures, combined with increased civic education, are deemed essential to equip citizens with the skills to identify and counteract false information, thereby safeguarding democratic processes.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRUSSELS, 19-Mar-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Europe may be in the middle of epistemological crisis* that may lead to destruction of true democratic values. Intensified disinformation spreading across world has been recognized by global leaders gathering at WEF 2025 as “the biggest short-term global threat, above war and weather disasters.” It has become a wider public concern especially in countries placed on the frontlines of geopolitical struggles of XXI century. Given the growing threat of disinformation, the European Union must invest in high-quality journalism and fact-checking tools to fill the gap currently occupied by irresponsible media platforms – claims Robert Szustkowski, author of pan-European public initiative to stop disinformation.

In Europe, including Poland, disinformation became not only a moral or social issue, but it poses real threat to political elections and stability of democracy. Data published by the EUvsDisinfo Lab indicates that Poland is one of the countries most exposed to disinformation campaigns, particularly to Russian propaganda influence in the run-up to the 2025 presidential elections. Poland has experienced almost 1,500 cases of disinformation campaigns (EUvsDisInfo Lab) over the past 10 years. It is on top of global list of most attacked countries online, according to Polish Deputy Premier responsible for digital affairs.**

Disinformation has become a political tool that can alter election outcomes and can shape public opinion locally and worldwide. Thus, European leaders should take steps and support initiatives to counter online disinformation on all levels – from legal to political initiatives to community notions. And it should not take a form of crushing free speech and media independence. Quite opposite – putting in place protection guardians against violent activism and supporting community fact-checking platforms. One of the good tools may be Digital Services Act (DSA) – the EU regulation that mandates monitoring and removal of illegal content while helping curb the spread of disinformation on the Internet. Under DSA guidelines, citizens will be able to request the removal of unlawful content through an administrative process.

In Poland, government introduced “protective umbrella” over citizens and institutions ahead of the presidential elections. Content and disinformation in the media and on social media platforms—X, TikTok, and Telegram—will be (in the words of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski) scrutinized. “Disinformation has become a political tool that can alter election outcomes and shape public opinion worldwide. Poland is one of the countries that must be particularly vigilant about this phenomenon”, says Wojciech Głażewski, director at Poland’s arm of Check Point Software Technologies, a company specializing in cybersecurity threats and corporate protection against such attacks.

There are other forms of community initiatives that may help stop disinformation and reputation damage phenomenon from proliferation, such as the legal notion by Polish entrepreneur Robert Szustkowski, which aims not only to enhance citizen protection against disinformation but also to introduce systemic changes to better manage the disinformation crisis in Europe. Recognizing gaps in privacy and reputation protection in the context of disinformation, Szustkowski initiated dialogue with the European Commission, regarding the extension of the “Right to Be Forgotten” to media outlets as data controllers. According to his proposal, to effectively combat disinformation across the European Union, a registry of personal rights violations should be established along with the appointment of a Readers’ Rights Ombudsman, who would support individuals harmed by false information to file Standardized Reporting Form.

Given the growing threat of disinformation, the European Union must invest in high-quality journalism and fact-checking tools to fill the gap currently occupied by irresponsible media outlets – Szustkowski claims. There are valuable initiatives such as European Media Digital Observatory (EDMO’s) national hubs, which are planned to carry out coordinated fact-checking. However, legislation alone is not enough.

To effectively fight disinformation, civic education is crucial, helping people recognize and avoid false information. Long ago – in 2020 – Eurobarometer study clearly showed that 71% of Europeans encounter disinformation, and majority believes its rapid spread poses a serious threat to democracy.
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*Epistemological Crisis – a crisis in which the normal competition between epistemic regimes, nations or other human groups either lose their sense that they share perceptions of common reality or pretend to lose it for purposes of tactical or strategic power struggle.

**https://www.ft.com/content/e0e1a016-e4e0-4628-a0ac-c4a6e9d15db6

Media contact:
Robert Szustkowski – Press Office
media@szustkowski.ch
+48 792356056

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is meant by the “epistemological crisis” mentioned in the article?
The term “epistemological crisis” refers to a breakdown in the shared understanding of reality among people or nations, where different groups either lose or feign a loss of common perceptions. This situation is exploited for tactical or strategic power struggles, ultimately threatening true democratic values.

2. How does disinformation pose a threat to democratic values?
Disinformation undermines democratic values by distorting public opinion and potentially altering election outcomes. When false or misleading information spreads rapidly, it can erode trust in institutions and the media, jeopardize political stability, and hinder informed decision-making among citizens.

3. What are global leaders doing to address the disinformation crisis?
At events like WEF 2025, global leaders have recognized disinformation as the biggest short-term global threat—surpassing even war and natural disasters. They emphasize the need for coordinated efforts, including investing in high-quality journalism, developing robust fact-checking tools, and implementing regulatory measures such as the Digital Services Act to monitor and remove illegal content.

4. What specific challenges does Poland face regarding disinformation?
Poland is particularly vulnerable to disinformation, especially Russian propaganda, with nearly 1,500 reported cases over the past decade. This widespread misinformation threatens the integrity of its political elections and overall democratic stability, prompting the government to introduce measures to scrutinize media content and safeguard electoral processes.

5. How can investments in high-quality journalism and fact-checking tools help combat disinformation?
By investing in reputable journalism and effective fact-checking platforms, the gap currently filled by irresponsible media can be reduced. This approach ensures that the public receives accurate, reliable information, which is essential for informed decision-making and for countering the spread of false information.

6. What additional initiatives are proposed to fight the spread of disinformation?
Besides regulatory efforts like the Digital Services Act, experts advocate for enhanced civic education to help citizens better identify and resist false information. Moreover, proposals such as extending the “Right to Be Forgotten” to media outlets and creating mechanisms like a registry of personal rights violations or appointing a Readers’ Rights Ombudsman are suggested to offer systemic protection and accountability against disinformation.

SOURCE: Szustkowski.ch