Romanian government accused of online censorship ahead of election rerun
Liberal campaigners and politicians say social media crackdown to prevent Russian interference has gone too far.
Russian disinformation
Fact check: Macron, Merz and Starmer targeted by Russian ‘cocaine’ claims
The allegations that the leaders of France, Germany and the UK took drugs while on a train on their way to Kyiv are part of a wider Russian disinformation campaign.
EU told to set up agency to fight Russian bots, election interference
Democracy in the EU is under threat from Russian-backed foreign information manipulation.
Russia behind dozens of disinformation campaigns targeting Ukraine and allies, France says
French authorities on Wednesday identified nearly 80 Russian disinformation campaigns from August 2023 to March 2025, primarily targeting Ukraine and its allies, including France. Agency Viginum said the “Storm-1516” operation used AI, paid operators,…
Which European countries are most exposed to Russian disinformation?
A new study says that there’s a sophisticated effort to spread disinformation in regions of strategic value to the Kremlin, particularly Eastern Europe.
Zelenskyy jabs JD Vance for โjustifyingโ Russiaโs war on Ukraine
โI believe, sadly, Russian narratives are prevailing in the U.S.,โ the Ukrainian president tells 60 Minutes.
Poland fails to appoint digital democracy watchdog ahead of election
The Polish presidential elections will be held on 18 May and if necessary, a second round will take place on 1 June.
Radio Free Europe, Trump and the fight for โsharp powerโ
Stepping in to save the media outlet after US cuts could help European democracies develop a wider strategy for combating Russian disinformation, argues Peter Pomerantsev
Austria says it uncovered Russian disinformation operation
Bulgarian national arrested in Vienna is under investigation for spying
Macron condemns Russian disinformation efforts in Moldova and pledges support for its stability
President Emmanuel Macron denounced Russian attempts to destabilize Moldova, announcing a new deal to fortify Moldova’s resilience against foreign interference and digital disinformation.
Ukraine’s army wrongly accused of staging war footage
Following last Friday’s Trump-Zelensky row at the White House, a pro-Russian disinformation campaign has intensified on social media. Users are now sharing a viral video claiming to show crisis actors faking injuries for the Ukrainian army in order to…
War in Ukraine: ‘For the Russians, it’s a dream come true: An American president repeats their propaganda’
Liubov Tsybulska, a Ukrainian specialist in Russian disinformation, described to Le Monde the ‘enormous shock’ felt by Ukrainians when they heard Donald Trump use the same rhetoric as the Russians.
Zelenskyy says Trump is โsurrounded by disinformationโ
U.S. leader’s claim that Zelenskyy’s approval rating is 4 percent is Russian disinfo, Ukrainian president says.
Baltic countries sever final power ties with Russia
Disconnecting from the Soviet-era grid faced an intimidation campaign โ but it’s Moscow that could be left in a precarious position.
Putinโs disinformation networks flood social media in bid to skew German election
A Kremlin-backed campaign is trying to influence voters ahead of Feb. 23 poll, according to government report obtained by POLITICO.
AI-driven Russian disinformation campaign targets German elections [Advocacy Lab Content]
Disinformation tactics similar to those used against the United States have been deployed, including using African media outlets for credibility and AI-generated testimonies in influence operations.
Russian disinformation could ‘poison’ upcoming election, German MPs warn
Russian disinformation could ‘poison’ upcoming election, German MPs warn
โIt will kill peopleโ: Chaos, confusion after Trump halts US foreign aid
The new directive puts some aid organizations at risk of bankruptcy.
Romaniaโs โriggedโ election shows Europe the dangers of Russian disinformation | Paula Erizanu
The playbook used to propel an ultranationalist to the top of the polls in last monthโs election must not be repeatedMany days have passed since Romaniaโs tumultuous election, in which a far-right independent candidate topped the polls, but in crucial …
Commission orders TikTok to retain data related to elections in EU until March
TikTok has been ordered to preserve documents and data related to elections in the EU for a period of about four months, ending in March 2025.
US election: Trump and Harris score first wins as counting begins
First results go according to expectations, with Donald Trump winning Florida and Indiana, and Kamala Harris taking Maryland and Vermont.ย
New Russian disinformation targets swing states: US officials
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said Monday that these efforts, which ‘risk inciting violence,’ are expected to intensify through Election Day and in the follo…
Russian disinformation accelerates toward US election
A new report tracks efforts to sow discord in the United States โ even beyond Tuesday.
โChaos and confusionโ: Microsoft braces for foreign election interference in days ahead
Hereโs what the disinformation hunters at Microsoft will be watching from the โsituation roomโ on Election Day and beyond.
USโs little-known weapon for countering foreign disinformation faces uncertain future
The Global Engagement Center has helped thwart Kremlin-backed disinformation campaigns in other countries, but some GOP skeptics may prevent its reauthorization.
Georgia election showdown as opposition seeks to overturn results
Opposition MPs refuse to take up their seats, raising the prospect of a one-party system. Protests loom.
Russia is a systemic threat and Europe must wake up to face it
It is not interested in self-imposed restraints because it wants to shift the status quo and have room for expansion.
Georgia election marred by intimidation and interference, observers warn
Opposition leaders have decried the voting as rigged.
Unquiet on the Eastern front: Why Brussels is losing to Moscow
In countries seeking to join the EU, the European Dream is running into the Russian fist.
Pro-EU campaign won in Moldova despite โunfair fight,โ president says
Maia Sandu calls on supporters to rally against Russian disinformation and behind the government’s plans to join the bloc in next year’s parliamentary election.
The Russian disinformation machine, a constantly changing ecosystem
The Kremlin’s informational influence network is multifaceted and capable of bypassing obstacles to boost its reach. A study published by two French researchers reveals the state and private structures behind it.
Germanyโs far right loves one migrant group: Russian Germans
Germany’s AfD is targeting Russian-speakers who migrated to Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Fake Kamala hit-and-run story is the work of Russian propaganda group, Microsoft says
A false claim circulating on social media that Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris left a 13-year-old girl paralysed after an alleged hit-and-run is the work of a covert Russian disinformation operation, according to Microsoft.
Ukraine war briefing: Blinken briefed on Kyivโs plan to push Russia to end war
Zelenskiy expected to present plan to UN general assembly next week; Microsoft says Russia behind Harris disinformation. What we know on day 938See all our Ukraine war coverageUS secretary of state Antony Blinken was briefed during his trip to Kyiv on …
Meta bans Russian state media outlets for โforeign interferenceโ
Meta late Monday (16 September) said it is banning Russian state media outlets from its apps around the world due to “foreign interference activity.”
Why the Kremlin loves social media
This weekโs indictment of a social media content firm shows how itโs getting easier and easier for Russia to influence U.S. elections.
Foreign influence attempts are the new normal for American elections
As attempted foreign interference in elections continues to evolve, so does the response to it. Officials are grappling with questions of how to hold bad actors accountable while preserving trust in the system.
US announces new crackdown on Russian disinformation in 2024 election
The U.S. Justice Department has seized more than 30 web domains that it said were part of a broader, ongoing, surreptitious effort by the Russian government to influence the 2024 U.S. election and American public opinion, federal authorities announced Wednesday.
Trump claims Zuckerberg plotted against him during the 2020 election in soon-to-be released book
The Meta CEO earlier this week asserted that Biden administration tried to โpressureโ the company to downplay content about Covid.
Zuckerberg says he regrets caving to White House pressure on content
Metaโs CEO tells the House Judiciary Committee that he wishes he had been more outspoken against the Biden administration during the pandemic.
FBI searched homes of two Americans with ties to Russian state media
The FBI earlier this month searched the homes of two Americans with ties to Russian state media, including a former United Nations weapons inspector and an adviser to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Groundhog vote: After 6 general elections in 3 years, Bulgaria heads to polls for seventh time
The political stalemate is delaying the Balkan country’s entry into the eurozone.
Moscow impedes โanti-Russianโ YouTube
Video download speeds could drop by 70 percent, a government official predicted.
Moldovaโs fugitive oligarchs keep spending money on social media platforms despite sanctions
Even with US sanctions in place, fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor and his affiliates continue to spread Russian disinformation in Moldova using the social media platform Facebook.
Poland calls on EU to stress ties with US to counter Russian โdisinformationโ
Poland wants the European Union to launch a campaign in the United States to raise awareness with the American public about the importance of the joint relationship.
Hereโs how Moscowโs fake news machine tried to interfere with the French elections
In this episode of Truth or Fake, Vedika Bahl outlines how the Russian disinformation machine attempted to interfere with the recent French legislative elections, as well as how it tried to impersonate real French media – including a previous episode …
Russia targets social media during French legislative campaign
Russian disinformation campaigns are targeting social media to destabilise the French political scene โ currently in a legislative campaign โ by steering it more towards the “extremes” and fragmenting the so-called “Republican front”, a study found.
Putin bans POLITICO in crackdown on European media outlets
Russia retaliates after the EU suspended 4 organizations for spreading Kremlin propaganda.
Poland, US launch group against Russian disinformation on Ukraine
The United States and Poland on Monday (10 June) launched a multinational group based in Warsaw to counter Russian disinformation on the war in neighbouring Ukraine, the US State Department said.
Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskiyโs army of drones gets its own commander
Ukrainians claim hits on air defences in occupied Crimea; US, Poland and allies launch taskforce to counter Russian disinformation. What we know on day 839 Ukraine announced the appointment of Vadym Sukharevskyi as commander of drone forces, a newly cr…
EUโs top diplomat race gets very crowded
Josep Borrell is on his way out. Who will be the EU’s next counterpart for the likes of Antony Blinken, Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi?
France, Germany, Poland facing โpermanentโ Russian disinformation attacks: EU
France, Germany and Poland have become “permanent” targets for Russian disinformation attacks in the run-up to European Parliament elections this week, a senior EU official said Tuesday (4 June).
Why the EU and Japan are uniting against Chinese competition
Also in this newsletter: Brussels warns major tech platforms to do more against Russian disinformation
Poland sees โRussian cyberattackโ behind fake military draft report
The Polish government said Friday (31 May) that a false story stating that Poles would be mobilised to fight in Ukraine that appeared on the state news agency was likely a Russian cyberattack.
Moldova enters a critical phase for fighting disinformation
Moldovan citizens will go to the polls for presidential elections and a referendum on the countryโs future EU integration in October, but for Chisinau’s pro-EU government, the bigger challenge until then is the fight against Russian disinformation.
Ukraine war briefing: Russian forces launch deadly attack on Kharkiv lakeside resort
Six people killed and dozens wounded after two waves of strikes on resort on edge of city, with more attacks in wider region killing five. What we know on day 817See all our Ukraine war coverageRussia struck a lakeside resort on the edge of Kharkiv on …
Multiple disinformation narratives spreading around the Fico assassination attempt
Domestically, the attempt on Fico’s life is painted as a consequence of intense political struggle, whereas English-language media are connecting to Russia and Ukraine, as well as the WHO.
How Russian disinformation could skew EU election โ and whether Europe can fight it
Ursula von der Leyen made a promise this week: if she secures another term as president of the European Commission, she will prioritize beefing up the EUโs defenses against malicious disinformation from Moscow. Itโs a top-of-agenda issue for many in Brussels and across the bloc, with less than a month until the European election and [โฆ]
Slovakia gives protection to man accused of running pro-Russian influence campaign
Slovakia has given temporary protection to a Ukrainian and Israeli citizen who is accused of running a pro-Russian influence campaign via a news website and is under Czech sanctions, Czech media reported.
Meta faces EU probe over Russian disinformation
The EU says Facebook and Instagram have not done enough to combat “malicious actors'” political ads.
Meta faces EU probe over Russian disinformation
The EU says Facebook and Instagram have not done enough to combat “malicious actors'” political ads.
Meta faces EU investigation for potential digital rulebook violations and disinformation risks
The European Commission is investigating whether Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, might have violated the DSA in its handling of misinformation.
Facebook and Instagram hit with EU probes over Russian disinformation
Hundreds of millions of Europeans will cast their ballots on June 6-9 amid a surge of online disinformation.
Europe ministers say more resources needed to combat Russian disinformation online
Ministers from France, Germany, and Poland revealed on Monday (29 April) that the Russian disinformation network “Portal Kombat” has continued growing, with new websites targeting 19 member states and the Western Balkans, and called for more resources …
EU to investigate Meta over election misinformation before June polls
Brussels to act later this week against Facebook and Instagram owner over policies on deceptive advertising and political content, reports sayThe EU is set to launch formal proceedings against Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, amid concerns it…
EU to probe Meta over handling of Russian disinformation
Regulators set to express concern over insufficient moderation of political ads that risk undermining electoral process
France being โpoundedโ by Russian disinformation, says minister
Jean-Noรซl Barrot says propaganda via social media and fake websites may distort EU election resultsFrance is being โpoundedโ by Russian disinformation that could distort the result of the upcoming EU parliamentary elections, Franceโs minister for Europ…
France โpoundedโ by Russian disinformation, French EU minister warns
French EU Minister Jean-Noรซl Barrot warned of the massive scale of disinformation campaigns coming from President Vladimir Putinโs Russia in an interview with Ouest-France on Saturday, speaking of a โproven riskโ that this could distort the results of …
France is โoverwhelmed with propaganda,โ minister says
Paris called out several pro-Russian disinformation campaigns in the run-up to June’s EU election.
We must brace for more Russian meddling
With the upcoming European election, the Continentโs national governments, Europol and all relevant agencies should be ready to counter the likely uptick in Russian intelligence targeting Europe.
Russian propaganda usurps RFI report and French Ministry of Arms website
Russian disinformation has created a fraudulent RFI report, insinuating that “Ukrainian soldiers sent for tuberculosis treatment in France” are responsible for France’s recent rebound in the disease. Meanwhile, French authorities just took down a fake…
Ukraine needs to open up about hard battlefield truths, US diplomat saysย
“Sometimes the Ukrainian government may resist the kind of freedom of information that’s normal for us,” said the State Department’s James Rubin.
False King Charles death story spread by Russian media outlets
One site tweeted of monarchโs purported demise only to later concede: โMost likely, the information is fakeโThe news broke in the Russian media on Monday afternoon. King Charles III was dead. He was not, but no one really had time to check the details….
‘A fight for your way of lifeโ: Lithuania’s culture minister on Ukraine and Russian disinformation
Lithuaniaโs Minister of Culture Simonas Kairys spoke to FRANCE 24 about Lithuania’s fight against Russian disinformation and why the Baltic nation feels so bound to Ukraine.
4 things to know about Washingtonโs newย TikTokย crusadeย
A new bill would force Beijing-based ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban on U.S. app stores.
Can anything stop the rise of the French far-right leader Jordan Bardella?
Pro-Macron officials are struggling to find an effective way to break the momentum of the charismatic 28-year-old as European elections tick closer.
On the troll trail: Uncovering Russia’s vast disinformation networks
The Russian disinformation campaign has increased its scope and presence in recent months and has turned much more complex after the August 2023 death of Wagner boss Yevgeni Prigozhin. FRANCE 24’s Internet team, in partnership with France 24โs sister …
Russian disinformation campaign ‘Matryoshka’ targets Yulia Navalnaya
Hours after the death of Alexei Navalny, viral posts started circulating on social media showing his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, in the arms of other men. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.ย
Ilya Gambashidze: Simple soldier of disinformation or king of Russiaโs trolls?
He may not be a household name, but Ilya Gambashidze appears to be involved in almost all of the latest Russian disinformation operations across the world. His disruptive cyber actions earned him a spot last year on the European sanctions list. But a …
Georgia works to catch up with Ukraine, Moldova on EU path, president says
Georgia plans to catch up with Ukraine and Moldova, which are farther along their EU accession path, and the key will be holding orderly elections in October, forming a pro-European government, and implementing EU recommendations, President Salome Zour…
French agency uncovers pro-Russian propaganda network
A report from French authorities outlined a Russian disinformation network including at least 193 sites.
Germany uncovers Russian disinformation campaign on X
Germany has uncovered a major “pro-Russian disinformation campaign” using thousands of fake accounts on X to
try and stir anger at Berlin’s support for Ukraine, a media report said on Friday (26 January).
Most Ukrainians want to join EU despite ongoing Russian disinformation
Russia’s attempts to push narratives that Ukraine’s EU membership prospects are doubtful or will simply make the country the EU’s “agricultural appendage” have largely fallen on deaf ears as Ukrainians remain firmly in favour of EU accession.
Pro-Russian disinformation in Bulgaria achieves its goals, experts say
Euractiv Bulgaria interviewed Ralitsa Kovacheva (Factcheck.bg), Marina Tsekova (Bulgarian national radio) and Rosen Bosev (AFP factcheck), who stressed that disinformation in the country is so widespread that it easily influences national politics.
Iโm a Euro-optimist. But crisis after crisis tested my hope โ until I met these teenagers | Nathalie Tocci
From Ukraine to the climate and war in Gaza, Europe is struggling. But its young people remind me change is possibleI returned to my old school in Rome last January; an experience that lifted the spirits. I was there to talk to students about some of t…
French far right calls out โcabalโ after new report on Russian interference
National Rally has been playing defense since a media story revived accusations of ties to Moscow.
US celebrities tricked into recording videos urging Zelensky to go to rehab
In a new Russian disinformation campaign uncovered by Microsoft, celebrities such as Elijah Wood, Priscilla Presley and Mike Tyson have been tricked into recording a video via the Cameo app that was later doctored and used for anti-Zelensky propaganda…
Doppelganger: How a Russian disinformation campaign is exploiting the Israel-Hamas war
Doppelganger โ thatโs the name of a vast disinformation campaign orchestrated by Russia to undermine Ukraine by spreading false narratives. But it has now moved onto a new target: the Israel-Hamas war.
โGrand Coalitionโ to isolate Portugalโs far right?
In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about pro-Russian disinformation weakening the recruiting of new military personnel, saying โFrom the River to the Seaโ possibly being considered as a criminal offence in Czechia, and so much more.
Bulgarian army weakened by pro-Russian disinformation
The constant fear of war that currently pervades Bulgarian society, fuelled largely by disinformation spread by pro-Russian influence networks, is beginning to seriously affect the armyโs ability to fight, Bulgarian Defence Minister Todor Tagarev said …
France condemns Russian disinformation campaign linked to Stars of David graffiti
Dozens of Jewish symbols were tagged across the French capital.
Stars of David tags in Paris linked to pro-Russia interference: reports
Paris graffiti aimed to sow unrest in French society โ a classic Russian move.
Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 602 of the invasion
Ukraine starts using Atacms missiles from US, with Russian-held airfield targeted; $14bn damage toll from destruction of Kakhovka damUkraineโs president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has confirmed that Kyiv used US-provided long-range army tactical missile sys…
How the Canadian Parliament’s Nazi scandal fuelled a Russian disinformation campaign
The Russian embassy in UK posted on X that Ukraine was issuing stamps with the face of Yaroslav Hunka, who received a standing ovation in the Canadian Parliament before it was revealed he served in a Nazi unit during the Second World War. Euronews fact…
Hackers damage Bulgarian fact-checking site fighting Russian disinformation
Bulgariaโs most prominent fact-checking platform, Factcheck.bg, known for countering Russian disinformation, was subject to a cyber attack over the weekend, but there is currently no information on who is behind it, the management of the site told Eura…
โDisinformation led by political leadersโ: Slovak DSA enforcement challenged
The EU’s regulation of disinformation and illegal content is being put to the test in Slovakia ahead of general elections at a time when some consider political leaders are using disinformation to boost their popularity with the electorate.