The European Union's Strategy Against Disinformation (2018-2024)

Abstract

This study examines the European Union's (EU) disinformation countermeasures between 2018 and 2024. Using thematic analysis of official EU documents, the research evaluates how policies addressing disinformation evolved within the frameworks of communication ecosystems, social platforms, artificial intelligence, and legal regulations. The findings reveal that the legal measures initiated in 2018 were expanded and adapted during the "infodemic" triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The international dimension of disinformation, highlighted by the Russia-Ukraine war, strengthened the EU's strategic communication mechanisms and international collaborations. In recent years, artificial intelligence-driven disinformation and digital platform regulations have become central to EU policies. By adopting multidimensional approaches, including digital regulations, media literacy initiatives, and international cooperation, the EU aims to mitigate the impact of disinformation on democratic processes and enhance the resilience of the information ecosystem.

Keywords

• Disinformation
• European Union
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Platforms
• Legal Regulations

Avrupa Birliği’nin Dezenformasyonla Mücadele Stratejisi (2018-2024)

Öz

Bu çalışma, Avrupa Birliği’nin (AB) dezenformasyonla mücadele politikalarını 2018-2024 yılları arasında incelemektedir. Araştırma, AB’nin resmi dokümanlarını tematik analiz yöntemiyle değerlendirerek, dezenformasyonla mücadele politikalarının iletişim ekosistemi, sosyal platformlar, yapay zeka ve yasal düzenlemeler çerçevesinde nasıl şekillendiğini incelemektedir. Bulgular, 2018 yılında başlatılan yasal düzenlemelerin COVID-19 pandemisi ile ortaya çıkan "infodemi" sürecinde genişletildiğini göstermektedir. Rusya-Ukrayna Savaşı’nın uluslararası dezenformasyon tehdidini artırması, AB’nin stratejik iletişim mekanizmalarını ve uluslararası iş birliklerini güçlendirdiğini ortaya koymuştur. Yapay zeka destekli dezenformasyon ve dijital platform düzenlemeleri, AB’nin dezenformasyonla mücadele politikalarının temel unsurları haline gelmiştir. AB, dezenformasyonun demokratik süreçler üzerindeki etkisini azaltmak ve bilgi ekosistemini daha dirençli hale getirmek amacıyla dijital düzenlemeler, medya okuryazarlığı projeleri ve uluslararası iş birliklerini içeren çok boyutlu yaklaşımlar benimsemiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Dezenformasyon
• Avrupa Birliği
• Yapay Zekâ
• Sosyal Platformlar
• Yasal Düzenlemeler

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