The impact of disinformation on democratic processes and human rights in the world

While the EU has begun to tackle disinformation in its external actions, it has scope to place greater stress on the human rights dimension of this challenge.

In the conclusions, the study admits that the EU must approach the concept of disinformation in a fully comprehensive manner in order to counter it effectively. This means accepting and adopting the ways in which this challenge has become more complex and multi-faceted over recent years.

Different responses have been initiated to tackle disinformation. Legislative and executive bodies have tried to regulate the spread of disinformation. Responses have gone from elaborating codes of practice and best practice guides to enabling verification networks that debunk disinformation. Corporations have also launched some initiatives to contain disinformation in their cyber-spaces, although it has proved very difficult to pursue all disinformation on the internet. Civil society has also been mobilised in the fight against disinformation and the protection of human rights online.

Among the measures recommended, the support to local initiatives and to the development of human rights training.