Policy Review: Countering Disinformation in the Digital Age - Policies and Initiatives to Safeguard Democracy in Europe

This paper explores the European Union's multifaceted response to the pervasive issue of disinformation, a challenge that has intensified since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Disinformation poses significant threats to democratic processes and public welfare. The European Union's approach combines regulatory measures, strategic partnerships, and media literacy initiatives to address this phenomenon while safeguarding core democratic principles, such as freedom of expression. Key measures include the Code of Practice on Disinformation and the Digital Services Act, which aim to hold digital platforms accountable and ensure transparency. Furthermore, initiatives such as the East StratCom Task Force and the Rapid Alert System highlight the European Union's efforts to counter disinformation as a tool of hybrid warfare. This paper also emphasizes the critical role of citizens, whom the European Union seeks to empower through media literacy programs, enabling them to recognize and resist manipulative content. By examining the interactions between government actions, private sector involvement, and citizen engagement, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the European Union's strategy against disinformation and assesses the challenges and future directions necessary to sustain democratic resilience in an evolving digital landscape.Key Points for Practitioners comprehensive analysis of the EU's strategy against disinformation; effective instruments aim to hold digital platforms accountable and ensure transparency; challenges and future directions necessary to sustain democratic resilience in an evolving digital landscape.