Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The European Commission of the EU (EC) has presented to the EU institutions the European Action Plan for Democracy (Action Plan), which focuses on the EU’s fight against the spread of disinformation.

In the Action Plan, Brussels focuses on the following measures to prevent misinformation.

First, an explanation of the conceptual apparatus. The document provides definitions and differences between the concepts of misinformation, disinformation and foreign interference in the information space, which are usually called in one word disinformation. According to experts, such a categorization of concepts is necessary for the development of appropriate EU responses in the future.

Second, the accusation of the Russian Federation and the PRC of conducting disinformation campaigns. The document says the EU plans to promulgate a new law in the third quarter of 2021 that will impose sanctions on countries conducting disinformation campaigns in the EU. 

According to V. Yurova, Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, the law will be aimed primarily at “foreign players” such as Russia and China, who are spreading disinformation. However, the politician in an interview with EURACTIV noted that the EU has not yet decided on the planned sanctions against Moscow and Beijing.

Third, the introduction of stricter rules for online platforms that “can be used by attackers to distribute false and misleading content. Despite the previously drawn up set of rules, to which many foreign platforms such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, the European Commission voluntarily joined on 15 December 2020 promulgates the Digital Services Act. According to the law, IT companies will take stronger measures to contain the growth of disinformation on the Internet.

In addition, the European Council, in its statement on EU-US relations, stressed the need to strengthen cooperation with Washington in countering hybrid threats, including disinformation.

In general, the promulgated EU Action Plan is a declarative document. However, the adoption of the laws outlined in the document will strengthen, on the one hand, the responsibility of IT companies for spreading disinformation on their Internet platforms. 

On the other hand, it will allow the EU to impose political and economic sanctions against countries carrying out targeted disinformation campaigns.