Unpacking the “European approach” to tackling challenges of disinformation and political manipulation

Abstract

The European Commission (EC) has recognised the exposure of citizens to online disinformation and micro-targeting of voters based on the unlawful processing of personal data as one of the major challenges for European democracies. In a response, the EC has put in place several measures creating a “European approach”. This paper analyses the approach to identify which are the key principles upon which it is based; and the extent to which it takes into account the complexities of the challenges identified. The initial conclusions are that, while being a significant step in the creation of a common EU answer to disinformation and political manipulation, the “European approach” requires further elaboration, primarily to include additional layers of transparency and public oversight.