Democracy relies on a shared foundation of reliable factual information. However,
European information spaces are currently facing a systemic decline in safety.
Disinformation is not only undermining democratic legitimacy and institutional trust but
is also imposing significant economic and health costs.
This White Paper offers a high-level overview of the state of information integrity in
Europe with a specific focus on issues with which the fact-checking community is deeply
involved. To sum it up: The situation is bad, but there is a lot we can do.
A central theme of this White Paper is the "Great Retreat": a trend where the world’s most
powerful technology companies have backtracked on their previous commitments to
combat disinformation. Survey results of the fact-checking community demonstrate that
disinformation is easy to access on many platforms, while their countermeasures are
often inadequate.
Community notes are one such countermeasure. Although they are increasingly adopted
by other platforms following X’s example, research shows that they are largely ineffective
in their current form; notes are often late, rarely become visible, and fail to address
polarized topics where they are needed most.
Digital platforms have been struggling to mitigate the spread of harmful disinformation
for over a decade. The rapid rise of Generative AI is exacerbating the problem. We argue
that human-centered verification remains a vital tool for mitigating this crisis.
Epistemic uncertainty is a state that authoritarian and anti-democratic forces seek to
weaponize. Currently, Europe is being targeted by such efforts from the U.S.
administration, which has disseminated misleading information regarding digital
regulation while maliciously discrediting information integrity professionals and
organisations. Fact-checking is a fundamental expression of freedom of speech.
Fact-checkers consistently oppose content removals, preferring instead to empower users
with labels, warnings, and expert context.
In sum, political pressure is increasing, technology is opening up new threat vectors and
platforms are retreating from the fight against disinformation. To counter these trends,
the EFCSN recommends:
● Rigorous DSA Enforcement: Investigating whether platform divestments constitute a
failure to mitigate systemic risks as required by the Digital Services Act.
● Hybrid Verification Models: Combining the "wisdom of the crowd" (community notes)
with professional expertise (fact-checking) to ensure accuracy and speed.
● Sustainable Funding: Utilizing the European Democracy Shield and the next
Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) to address the resource asymmetry between
misinformation actors and integrity researchers.
https://efcsn.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/White-Paper-The-Great-Retreat-EFCSN_March2026.pdf