Schroeder stressed the significant danger posed by disinformation, citing the storming of the US Capitol in January 2021 as an example. The participants in this insurrection believed the election had been stolen and that they had been deceived, but, as Schroeder noted, in reality they “had simply been riled up by disinformation.”
The World Economic Forum highlighted online disinformation as a societal danger in its 2013 World Risk Report. Disinformation involves the deliberate and prolonged dissemination of false information to deceive the public. Schroeder warned that disinformation often resembles actual news, making it particularly dangerous. He noted that the rise of AI further exacerbates this threat.
Schroeder stressed that disinformation is distinct from poor research or misunderstandings. It is often propagated by political actors aiming to discredit opponents or by individuals seeking to sow doubt about facts and undermine trust in democratic institutions.
To combat disinformation, action is required on multiple levels, according to Schroeder. He emphasised the importance of fact checking, citing networks such as EDMO that verify information across Europe.
However, Schroeder also stressed the need to improve the legislative framework. He noted that defamation lawsuits in the US are “very efficient,” but acknowledged that efforts to counter false information often lag behind its initial spread. This lag highlights the necessity of a preventive approach.
Media literacy is crucial in this preventive strategy, Schroeder argued, and it is not just for young people. He pointed out that the majority of fake news is spread by individuals over the age of 45. To reach this demographic, Schroeder suggested offering training courses through companies, parenting associations, and local organisations. Additionally, engaging in direct dialogue with those spreading false information or conspiracy theories is another avenue.
Schroeder also discussed the significant influence of social media platforms on public opinion. He noted that Meta, which includes Facebook and Instagram, reaches about 250 million people in the EU, out of approximately 400 million eligible voters.
As an example, Schroeder cited Meta’s policy decision following Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Three days after the invasion, Meta allowed calls for the death of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine, Moldova, and other regional countries, but not in France, Germany, Belgium, or Luxembourg. Schroeder highlighted this as an instance of a private company, without democratic legitimacy, controlling communication channels and determining permissible speech. He argued that this immense power to shape public debate must be challenged, and politicians need to intervene.
Schroeder mentioned the EU’s Digital Services Act as a first step in addressing this issue, but he believes it does not go far enough.
