Disinformation and Propaganda: Impact on the Functioning of the Rule of Law and Democratic Processes in the EU and Its Member States - 2021 Update

Posted: 16 May 2022

See all articles by Judit Bayer

Judit Bayer

Budapest Business School

Bernd Holznagel

University of Münster

Katarzyna Lubianiec

Ecorys Consulting

Adela Pintea

Ecorys Consulting

Josephine Schmitt

Ruhr-University Bochum

Judit Szakács

Central European University (CEU) - Center for Media and Communication Studies

Erik Uszkiewicz

Hungarian Europe Society

Date Written: April 24, 2021

Abstract

Between January 2019 and January 2021, the impact of disinformation actions and responses to them were considerably different than in previous years. Our research showed that disinformation actions increasingly merged with genuine content, and their sources became even more difficult to identify. Particularly strong impacts were seen in cases where disinformation and manipulative propaganda were spread by individuals with high levels of political authority, who enjoy the trust and attention of citizens. Diverse legislative and policy measurements were introduced by various Member States and third states, and civil society responses also flourished, particularly in relation to increasing resilience against disinformation. Ongoing research into the psychological mechanism of manipulation and resilience gives more detailed results. This study aims to provide recommendations on legislative and policy measures to protect democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights from the impact of disinformation, as well as to create a structured informational ecosystem which promotes and protects these values.

Keywords: disinformation, propaganda, social media, regulation

Suggested Citation

Bayer, Judit and Holznagel, Bernd and Lubianiec, Katarzyna and Pintea, Adela and Schmitt, Josephine and Szakács, Judit and Uszkiewicz, Erik, Disinformation and Propaganda: Impact on the Functioning of the Rule of Law and Democratic Processes in the EU and Its Member States - 2021 Update (April 24, 2021). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4092020

Judit Bayer (Contact Author)

Budapest Business School

Buzogány utca 10-12
Budapest, H-1149
Hungary

Bernd Holznagel

University of Münster ( email )

Universitätsstraße 14-16
Münster, 48143
Germany

Katarzyna Lubianiec

Ecorys Consulting ( email )

Rotterdam
Netherlands

Adela Pintea

Ecorys Consulting ( email )

Rotterdam
Netherlands

Josephine Schmitt

Ruhr-University Bochum ( email )

Bochum
Germany

Judit Szakács

Central European University (CEU) - Center for Media and Communication Studies ( email )

Nador u. 9
Budapest, 1051
Hungary

Erik Uszkiewicz

Hungarian Europe Society

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