EU Plans Hub to Tackle Russian and Foreign Disinformation Threats

European Union to Launch Anti-Disinformation Hub Amid Escalating Threats

The European Commission is set to establish a Centre for Democratic Resilience to combat disinformation campaigns orchestrated by Russia and other authoritarian regimes, according to a leaked document obtained ahead of its official release on November 12.

The proposed center represents the cornerstone of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s “democracy shield” initiative, which she highlighted during her campaign for a second term before the 2024 European elections. Von der Leyen first announced the concept in September during an address to Members of the European Parliament.

According to the draft document, the center would serve as a collaborative hub where expertise from across EU member states and candidate countries could be consolidated to counter foreign information manipulation. “In addition to its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia is also escalating hybrid attacks, waging a battle of influence against Europe,” the document states. “By spreading deceitful narratives, sometimes including the manipulation and falsification of historical facts, they try to erode trust in democratic systems.”

The EU’s foreign service has documented numerous instances of Russian disinformation campaigns, with the “Doppelganger” operation being particularly notable. Active since 2022, this campaign created convincing imitations of established media outlets including Germany’s Die Welt, France’s Le Point, Italy’s La Stampa, and Poland’s Polskie Radio. These fraudulent sites published fabricated articles aimed at discrediting European politicians and undermining public support for Ukrainian refugees and the Ukrainian cause in general.

China has emerged as another significant threat in the disinformation landscape. The EU’s diplomatic service alleges that Beijing employs private PR firms and social media influencers “to create, amplify and launder content aligned with China’s political interests worldwide.” In 2024, researchers at Citizen Lab identified 123 websites operating from China that posed as legitimate news sources while disseminating pro-Beijing misinformation across 30 countries in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Recent events have highlighted the tangible impact of foreign interference on democratic processes within Europe. Romania became the first EU member state to nullify an election after intelligence reports revealed an alleged Russian campaign involving cyber-attacks on electoral systems and social media manipulation favoring an ultranationalist candidate. Similarly, Moldova, an EU candidate country, has reported Russian interference in its elections, including alleged vote-buying schemes and propaganda campaigns.

The proposed center would function as an information-sharing platform for EU institutions and member states, providing early warnings about potential threats and raising public awareness regarding foreign governments’ attempts to manipulate information. Participation would be voluntary for EU member states and candidate countries, with the Commission suggesting that “like-minded partners” could also be involved—potentially opening the door for UK participation despite its departure from the bloc.

Additional components of the broader “democracy shield” plan include the establishment of an independent network of fact-checkers to guard against misinformation, particularly during elections, health emergencies, and natural disasters. Brussels also envisions creating a voluntary network of internet influencers to increase awareness about EU democratic and internet standards.

The initiative comes at a critical time when democratic institutions across Europe face increasingly sophisticated foreign interference attempts. By centralizing expertise and response capabilities, the EU aims to strengthen its collective resilience against information warfare techniques that have become a primary tool for adversaries seeking to undermine European unity and democratic values.

As disinformation techniques continue to evolve with advancing technology, the success of this initiative may ultimately depend on member states’ willingness to participate and coordinate their responses to what Brussels clearly views as a shared transnational threat to European democracy.