Citizens Take Center Stage in European Fight Against Disinformation

The battle against disinformation requires active citizen participation and a multi-faceted approach, according to experts gathered at a recent European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) conference in Lisbon. The event highlighted how societies can build resilience against false information through media literacy, critical thinking, and strategic use of technology.

“To counter disinformation, we must empower citizens and civil society, not only as watchdogs, but also as active participants in democratic resilience,” said EESC president Oliver Röpke during the May 22 conference titled “Citizens can defeat disinformation.”

The Lisbon gathering marked the fourth installment in the EESC’s ongoing project to combat disinformation through civil society engagement. Organized in partnership with the Portuguese Economic and Social Council and supported by European Commission and Parliament representatives in Lisbon, the conference brought together policymakers, journalists, and civic leaders.

Participants emphasized that disinformation often targets emotions, making it crucial for citizens to pause and reflect before engaging with or sharing content. When information strongly resonates emotionally, questioning its source and intent becomes essential. Limiting engagement with suspicious content reduces its visibility and viral potential.

Luís Pais Antunes, president of the Portuguese Economic and Social Council, noted that today’s information landscape presents multiple challenges, including misinformation, information gaps, and information overload. This complex environment makes discerning credible sources increasingly difficult for average citizens.

The conference highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in combating disinformation. Effective strategies require systematically engaging civil society, developing comprehensive media literacy programs, and implementing robust legislation to promote fact-based information.

Education emerged as a critical component in building societal resilience. “Media literacy needs to be taught in schools. This is where the state plays a key role. Democracy means credibility,” said Aimilios Perdikaris, chair of the Board and General Manager at Athens Macedonian News Agency.

Carlos Abreau Amorim, Portugal’s Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, reinforced this perspective, stating, “Democracy cannot survive without free information and without free, impartial and critical media.” Amorim revealed that the Portuguese government plans to strengthen journalistic ethics, noting that “a lack of credibility in journalism is the greatest ally of disinformation.”

The double-edged role of artificial intelligence in the information ecosystem was also examined. Niko Efstathiou, journalist fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism in Oxford, described AI as “a massive challenge in the fight against disinformation,” capable of creating convincing deepfake news that can target vulnerable populations.

However, Efstathiou also highlighted AI’s potential as an ally, particularly in rapidly scanning content to detect misinformation in real time. This balanced view of technology reflects the conference’s overall approach: recognizing threats while identifying opportunities for strengthening democratic discourse.

The Lisbon conference comes amid growing concerns about information manipulation across Europe, particularly with several national elections scheduled throughout 2025 and ongoing geopolitical tensions. The European Union has already implemented measures like the Digital Services Act to address online disinformation, but the EESC’s initiative recognizes that regulatory approaches alone are insufficient.

By focusing on citizen empowerment and community engagement, the EESC’s approach acknowledges that resilient democracies require active participation from informed citizens. As disinformation techniques become more sophisticated, equipping the public with the tools to recognize, question, and counter false narratives becomes increasingly vital for maintaining democratic integrity across the continent.