The article discusses the significant threat posed by disinformation to elections and social cohesion, emphasizing the need for proactive strategies to combat it. A 2023 EU report documented over 750 coordinated disinformation campaigns in Europe, particularly impacting trust in media during crucial elections in countries like Ukraine, Spain, and Poland. Tactics included using fake celebrity voices and manipulating platforms like Telegram.
Bulgarian journalist Ruslan Trad asserts that effective countermeasures begin before crises arise. He highlights the Czech Republic’s response to anticipated disinformation during severe floods in 2023. The government preemptively collaborated with disinformation experts, launching a national campaign to inform the public of their preparedness, successfully countering potential misinformation.
Trad also references Romania, where public mobilization during a presidential election surged voter turnout and changed outcomes, demonstrating that proactive engagement can mitigate the impact of disinformation. He stresses education as the long-term solution, citing Scandinavian countries that promote media literacy and citizen training on information handling. While some Central European nations are implementing similar initiatives, such programs are scarce in the Balkans due to political sensitivities.
Trad’s conclusion is that the fight against disinformation requires collaboration among governments, experts, and citizens well in advance of any crisis. It’s a collective responsibility, rather than one solely for fact-checkers and journalists.
