MEPs call for greater demand for platforms against misinformation

The position is contained in the recommendations adopted by the Special Commission on the European Democracy Shield, which aims to strengthen the European Union's (EU) response to foreign interference, hybrid threats and misinformation campaigns.

“ MEPs want an operational democracy shield with binding instruments, stricter sanctions, accountability of platforms and a fully developed EU centre for democratic resilience,” the European Assembly said.

The report adopted today emphasises that the objective is to provide the EU with more effective means of action, including mechanisms with legal force, in a context where MEPs warn of the growing sophistication of external influence operations.

Parliamentarians advocate a significant reinforcement of sanctions against actors involved in misinformation and interference campaigns, as well as a greater demand on digital platforms to combat the spread of manipulated content.

The adopted text also highlights the need to strengthen EU crisis preparedness, including tools for alerting and coordinating and investing more in the resilience of democratic institutions.

According to the conclusions, Russia's hybrid attacks on critical infrastructure such as cyberattacks, physical sabotage, criminal fires, espionage and signal interference are increasingly occurring.

These actions are now also originating in Belarus, China, Iran and North Korea.

Cited in the statement, the European Parliament's rapporteur, Tomas Tobé, warns of increasing the complexity of threats: “The manipulation of foreign information, misinformation and hybrid interference are becoming increasingly sophisticated and coordinated.”.

The proposal now follows for a vote in plenary of the European Parliament, scheduled for September.

The Special Commission on the European Shield of Democracy is a temporary structure of the European Parliament created to analyse and propose measures to protect democracy in the EU, especially against misinformation, foreign interference and hybrid threats.

It was created in 2024 at the beginning of the new mandate of the European Parliament to work specifically on the development of the so-called European Shield of Democracy.

The European Democracy Shield is an initiative announced by the European Commission, which includes measures to make the EU more resilient, including greater cooperation between Member States, more demanding rules for digital platforms, combating electoral manipulation and creating coordination structures, as a European centre for democratic resilience.