Source: European Parliament
The High Representative/Vice-President is aware of the intentions of the Russian government, its modus operandi and have detected and exposed several foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) operations coming from Russian state or pro-Kremlin actors.
The European External Action Service coordinates closely with Member States and EU institutions on such FIMI activity in the context of the Rapid Alert System, including regarding Social Design Agency and other entities with links to such operations.
The exposure and response to Russia’s FIMI operations and restrictive measures are part of the FIMI toolbox[1], endorsed by the European Council in December 2023[2], and developed to reinforce EU situational awareness, resilience and response, as well as international partnerships to tackle this threat to security and democracy.
The EU’s response to FIMI evolves in close cooperation with the EU Member States and international partners to take account of new operations and malign activity patterns.
Furthermore, Regulation 2022/2065 (Digital Services Act ‘DSA’)[3] along with the EU Code of Practice on Disinformation[4] provide a number of tools to address the spread of disinformation, while fully upholding fundamental rights including the freedom of expression.
Political advertising can be a vector of disinformation and foreign interference. Once it fully enters into application in October 2025, Regulation 900/2024 on transparency and targeting of political advertising will ensure that political advertisements are labelled and subject to strict targeting requirements.
Sponsoring political advertisements by third country actors will be prohibited in the three months before elections or referenda.
- [1] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/tackling-disinformation-foreign-information-manipulation-interference_en
- [2] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/68967/europeancouncilconclusions-14-15-12-2023-en.pdf
- [3] Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market for Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (OJ L 277, 27.10.2022).
- [4] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/code-practice-disinformation