“Our urgent call to action for the European Union (EU) is a comprehensive plan to tackle disinformation across Europe. Recognising its wide impact, we propose consolidating nationally collected data into a European database for everyone to access; this could be accomplished thanks to pan-European research teams. To connect with a diverse population of all ages, we believe the focus should be on community-driven initiatives, reaching beyond major cities to rural areas, for example, through town hall events or summer camps. Additionally, we believe the EU should apply greater pressure on tech companies, especially to ensure a transparent management of their algorithms and safeguard the rights of citizens within the EU. Especially in an election year, public trust and accountability of elected representatives are paramount, particularly in the face of potential foreign interventions. There is a pressing need for increased transparency and standardised financial regulations for campaign teams and elected representatives across all EU Member States”.
More than 71 % of Europeans regularly encounter ‘fake news’ (Eurobarometer, 2020). In an increasingly expansive, intricate, and contested digital landscape, re-evaluating internet safeguards and their connection with the European public is crucial for safeguarding European democracies. However, this necessitates active engagement from all sectors of society in formulating a comprehensive counter-disinformation plan and solutions.
In the context of the 2024 European elections and within the framework of the Strategic Agenda, there is an interest in addressing the informational vulnerabilities stemming from disinformation, affecting both voters and the democratic process across a wide range of critical thematic and policy areas. While disinformation is a growing challenge, happening at a time when technological innovation is outpacing regulation, the vision of the generation most online and fluent in the virtual space must contribute to the digital public policy of tomorrow.
In light of this, ten ‘Youth Ambassadors’ were selected from five ‘Youth Labs’ organised by TEPSA Member institutes across five Member States (Austria, Finland, Italy, Germany and Poland) of the European Union (EU) to further develop practical recommendations for EU action against disinformation in their communities. Their proposals initially relied on collective thinking with a larger group of young people.
What follows is the result of the work carried out by these Youth Ambassadors, ten insightful recommendations about critical policy areas in the EU: climate change, democratic processes, foreign interference, LGBTIQ+ and migration. The following aims to provide food for thought for those interested in reading about how young Europeans conceptualise the disinformation space and wish to counter-balance it through practical recommendations.
These recommendations were presented to key EU practitioners, academics, and the general public at the policy conference “From Elections to Everyday: Strategies against Disinformation in the EU”. Learn more about this in our complementary video!
