EU and France rethink their approach to combat Russian disinformation surge

A user opens the TikTok app in Durrës, Albania, on February 5, 2026. Alongside ChatGPT, Wikipedia, and X, TikTok is one of the main vectors for disinformation campaigns targeting democracies. ADNAN BECI / AFP

ChatGPT poisoned with Russian propaganda sites in the Baltic states; election interference through the TikTok algorithms in Romania; rumors on X accusing the United Kingdom and France of supplying nuclear-tipped missiles to Ukraine: with 2027 – a year that will see both the French presidential election and the Italian parliamentary elections – fast approaching, Europe is searching for ways to counter Russia's recent and repeated attempts to pollute the information space.

On February 24, the European Commission inaugurated the European Center for Democratic Resilience, aimed at coordinating the response of EU member states in the face of rising disinformation. "This will strengthen our resilience, ensure that European public debate remains open and fair, and empower citizens to participate in democratic life," said the Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen. The initiative is part of the "European Democratic Shield," an initiative launched in June 2024 to promote healthy democracies across the EU.