How Young European Citizens Propose to Combat Disinformation in Democratic Societies

2024 is one of largest election year in history, with no less than 64 countries calling their voters to the polls and electing their representatives. Online disinformation has become a pervasive and critical threat to the integrity of democratic processes worldwide. But can this global challenge really be tackled with a single set of policies, or are differentiated approaches required to effectively protect democratic societies?

Building upon the results of a broad open consultation carried out by Make.org and the SciencesPo Tech & Global Affairs Innovation Hub, with support from NATO and Microsoft, during which 7,865 young citizens from France, Germany, Moldova, and Romania shared their ideas for protecting democracies from disinformation, Beatriz Botero Arcila (Assistant Professor at Sciences Po Law School) and Florent Parmentier (Secretary General at CEVIPOF) deliver in this policy brief an analysis of how different national contexts influence disinformation, its negative impacts and its potential remedies.

While disinformation is a global issue, its manifestations differ significantly depending on the local political, social, and informational ecosystems. The varying media landscapes, historical contexts, and levels of public trust in institutions across countries like France, Germany, Romania, and Moldova contribute to these distinct patterns.

Based on the consultation and their interdisciplinary analysis of the current state of disinformation and the policies adopted (or considered) to counter it across France, Germany, Moldova, and Romania, the authors offer 6 policy recommendations where they identify common solutions (e.g. media literacy education, strategies to strengthen public trust…) alongside adaptative approaches where resources can nonetheless be mutualized to collectively support democratic debate and pluralistic public spaces.

Read the policy brief: Under 35 and Under Siege : How Young European Citizens Propose to Combat Disinformation in Democratic Societies (PDF, 457 Ko)