European citizens, amid the problems they already face, are witnessing yet another dystopia come to life before their eyes, one described by George Orwell in his famous and prophetic novel 1984.
The European Union is preparing to create an organization akin to a “Ministry of Truth,” as described in George Orwell’s 1984, or, as it is officially called, a Center for Democratic Resilience, to combat “disinformation” allegedly originating from Russia and other authoritarian regimes, according to a document leaked to the British newspaper The Guardian.
Critics of this move warn that Brussels’ initiatives amount to the institutionalization of a censorship regime that limits individual freedoms and democratic expression.
Defensive strategy or censorship regime?
The European Commission’s proposal, which is to be published on November 12, provides for the creation of the Center for Democratic Resilience, which will be part of a broader “Shield of Democracy” strategy.
This plan was presented by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, with the goal of strengthening democratic institutions ahead of the 2024 European Elections. Participation in the center will be voluntary, and the Commission calls for “like-minded partners” outside the EU, such as the United Kingdom and countries wishing to join the Union.
Threats from Russia and China
The draft document accuses Russia of escalating “hybrid attacks” through the spread of false narratives and names China as another threat. According to the text, Beijing uses public relations firms and influencers to promote its interests in Europe, influencing public opinion and the region’s politics.
The Guardian notes that the document highlights the deception and manipulation of historical events aimed at eroding trust in democratic systems.
Defensive reaction or political intervention?
The European Commission plans to bring together experts from across the EU and from candidate countries seeking to join the bloc in order to tackle information manipulation and external interference.
This idea forms the central part of the “Shield of Democracy” strategy, which President Ursula von der Leyen presented when she sought a second term ahead of the 2024 European Elections.
The document, expected to be published on November 12, provides further details, identifying what the Commission considers the greatest risk.
“In addition to its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia is also escalating its hybrid attacks, waging an influence battle against Europe,” the draft seen by The Guardian states.
“By spreading misleading narratives, sometimes involving the manipulation and falsification of historical events, they seek to erode trust in democratic systems.”
Russia and China in the spotlight
The EU’s External Action Service reports that it has identified dozens of incidents of Russian disinformation and information manipulation, such as the Doppelganger Campaign ahead of the European Elections, in which imitations of well-known media outlets spread anti-Western narratives.
The disinformation was spread through websites mimicking media outlets such as Die Welt, Le Point, La Stampa, and Polskie Radio, and it is believed that the campaign has been active since 2022.
In these imitation websites, fake articles, also promoted through social media, sought to discredit politicians and undermine governmental support for Ukrainian refugees or Ukraine itself.
China has also been identified as a disinformation threat and is reportedly using private public relations firms and influencers “to create, amplify, and sanitize content aligned with China’s political interests globally,” according to the EU’s External Action Service.
In 2024, researchers from Citizen Lab identified 123 websites operating out of China, posing as news outlets and spreading pro-Beijing propaganda in 30 countries across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
Reaction or control?
The Commission presents this move as a defensive response to foreign interference, citing as an example the controversial cancellation of Romania’s 2024 presidential elections.
However, Telegram founder Pavel Durov stated that the EU, and specifically the French intelligence services, pressured platforms to censor conservative content during the elections in Romania and Moldova, condemning the bloc for its “crusade” against freedom of speech.
The new Center for Democratic Resilience will be added to the EU’s expanding network of tools for monitoring and managing information and is expected to collaborate with “independent” fact-checkers, while also coordinating with influencers on social networks to promote content aligned with EU policies.
This proposal is fully integrated into the broader framework of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates the removal of “harmful content” and has provoked intense criticism from freedom of speech advocates.
America and the EU’s contradictions
Washington, which once cooperated with the EU on monitoring “disinformation,” has distanced itself from the EU’s regulatory pressure.
The U.S. Department of State recently described the EU’s initiatives as “Orwellian,” warning that “censorship is not freedom” and emphasizing that such measures protect EU leaders from their own citizens.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance referred to the hypocrisy of this strategy, stating: “If your democracy can be destroyed with a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country, then it wasn’t very strong to begin with.”
He added, “If democracies can be destroyed with a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from foreign countries, then they were never strong in the first place.”
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