EU To Create Center To Counter Russian Disinformation
- 8.11.2025, 17:44
The paper also points to the threat posed by other authoritarian regimes.
European Union authorities plan to create a Center for Democratic Resilience to combat disinformation from Russia and other authoritarian regimes, The Guardian reported, citing an internal European Commission document. The new center will be part of the Democracy Shield initiative, proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and will coordinate the sharing of information data and raising public awareness of foreign governments' attempts to manipulate information.
"By spreading false information, sometimes including manipulation and falsification of historical facts, Russia is trying to undermine trust in democratic systems," The Guardian quoted the draft document as saying.
The European Commission intends to bring together experts from across the EU, as well as states seeking to join the bloc, within the center. Participation in the organization will be voluntary. The EC also admits the possibility of "like-minded partners" joining, which, according to the publication, makes British participation likely.
The Democracy Shield plan also envisions the creation of an independent network of fact-checkers to protect against misinformation, especially during election periods, health emergencies or natural disasters. Brussels intends to form a network of opinion leaders who will disseminate information about democratic standards and EU rules in the online space.
According to the EU's foreign policy service, dozens of campaigns related to Russian disinformation have been recorded in recent years alone. Among them is Operation Dvoinik, which involved creating websites copying well-known European media outlets - such as Die Welt, Le Point, La Stampa and Polskie Radio - and publishing fake articles with anti-Western content. These fake articles were then circulated on social media, their aim being to discredit European politicians and weaken public support for Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees.
The document also points to the threat posed by China. According to the European Commission, Beijing is using private PR firms and "influencers" to create and disseminate material aligned with its political interests. In 2024, Citizen Lab researchers identified 123 websites operating from China under the guise of news outlets and publishing pro-Beijing disinformation in 30 countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America.