Tackling Disinformation: EU Regulation of the Digital Space

Romanian Journal of European Affairs, Vol 20, No 1, June 2020

16 Pages Posted: 13 Aug 2020

See all articles by Flavia Durach

Flavia Durach

National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (NSPSPA)

Alina Bârgăoanu

National School for Political and Administrative Studies

Cătălina Nastasiu

SNSPA

Date Written: 2020

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of current responses to fake news and digital disinformation inside and outside the EU, and assesses the advantages and disadvantages of each solution. Four approaches emerge:

(1) self-regulation (i.e. actions undertaken on a voluntary basis by the digital platforms);

(2) co-regulation (i.e. cooperation framework between EU-level and national-level authorities, the internet platform companies, media organizations, researchers, and other stakeholders);

(3) direct regulation (i.e. legal measures & sanctions); and

(4) audience-centered solutions (i.e. fact-checking and media literacy).

We argue in favor of the co-regulation approach, while drawing attention to some current challenges in the response against disinformation. Furthermore, we need to go beyond the understanding of disinformation as an information/ truth fraud, and draw additional measures to reflect the particular understanding of disinformation as a form of users’ engagement fraud.

Keywords: online disinformation, fake news, regulation of disinformation

Suggested Citation

Durach, Flavia and Bârgăoanu, Alina and Nastasiu, Cătălina, Tackling Disinformation: EU Regulation of the Digital Space (2020). Romanian Journal of European Affairs, Vol 20, No 1, June 2020, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3650780

Flavia Durach (Contact Author)

National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (NSPSPA) ( email )

6 Povernei Street
Bucharest, 010643
Romania

Alina Bârgăoanu

National School for Political and Administrative Studies ( email )

Romania

Cătălina Nastasiu

SNSPA ( email )

Bucharest

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