This report is a first attempt at mapping the different kinds of actors behind disinformation in the 27 EU member states. The categories assessed are a) domestic actors, b) foreign information manipulators, c) cognate actors that enable spillovers from other countries, d) the state, e) politicians, f) mainstream media and g) fringe media. While, in one way or another, local actors are active in all EU member states, foreign operations are not documented everywhere – even if there are indications that the majority of the countries were impacted by them. The remaining categories show a great divergence across countries – thus implying that the composition of the groups and actors behind false narratives and information manipulation is unique in every country.
Authors:
Konrad Bleyer-Simon, Minna Aslama Horowitz, Madalina Botan, Mato Brautovic, Elda Brogi, Ianis Bucholtz, Eileen Culloty, Beáta Gavurová, Socrates Ioakem, Jan Erik Kermer, Keith Kiely, Pantelitsa Leonidou, Raul Magallon Rosa, Megan Mallia, José Moreno, Iva Nenadić, Miguel Paisana, Marie Palmer, Urbano Reviglio, Nikolas Salamanos, Maria Giovanna Sessa, Thanos Sitistas, Jana Soukupová, Sten Torpan, Teresa Weikmann
Beáta Gavurová and Jana Soukupová participated in the study on behalf of CEDMO.
Edited and coordinated by Konrad Bleyer-Simon
*The European Digital Media Observatory has received funding from the European Union under contract number LC-01935415.
