The problem of disinformation is globally recognised as disruptive to the normal functioning of democratic societies, economies and political systems. In recent years, ‘fake news’ and coordinated disinformation campaigns have an instrument of geopolitical influence.

They have afflicted elections in both established and new democracies, and undermined social and political solidarity in response to global challenges. It is with these and other instances in mind that the European Union (EU) identified ‘the exposure of citizens to large scale disinformation’ as ‘a major challenge for Europe’ in 2018, undertaking an increasingly ambitious programme of action to counter this evolving threat since. The outbreak of the coronavirus has led to disinformation that hampers efforts to contain the pandemic.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said false claims “are spreading faster than the virus” and has already termed it an “infodemic of planetary proportions”. The Russian aggression against Ukraine is also a source of many disinformation.&nbsp;

Special Committee for foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU, including disinformation (INGE) was created in the European Parliament to tackle these challenges

Fight against disinformation

The special committee INGE on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU, including disinformation is, among others, tasked with thoroughly analysing the investigations that showed that crucial electoral rules were breached or circumvented. 

It will have to identify possible areas that would require legislative and non-legislative actions vis-à-vis social media platforms, to suggest coordinated action at EU level for tackling hybrid threats, and to counter information campaigns and strategic communication of malign third countries that harm the EU.

INGE - Special committee on foreign interference in all democratic processe

AIDA Special Committee.- Report on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age

AIDA Special Committee - Report on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age

AIDA Special Committee- Report on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age

EP Plenary session - Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU

INGE Special Committee - Exchange of views with Maria A. Ressa, The Nobel Peace Prize 2021 laureate, Journalist and Author, Co-founder and CEO of Rappler

INGE Special Committee -  Recommendations on how to make the EU more resistant to foreign interference

INGE Spcial Committee - Interparliamentary Committee meeting

EP Plenary session - Oral question - Disinformation and the role of social platforms

INGE Special Committee - Foreign interference and spying on European politicians and institutions

INGE, ITRE, IMCO, LIBE, AIDA Committees - Exchange of views with Margrethe VESTAGER, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of Europe fit for the Digital Age, and Commissioner for Competition

INGE Committee - Hearing on the Role of Social Media Platforms for spreading and developing disinformation and for detecting and countering it

INGE Committee - Exchange of views with Mikhail KHODORKOVSKY, Dossier Center

INGE Special Committee - Exchange of views with Marietje SCHAAKE, International Policy Director at Stanford University’s Cyber Policy Center and International Policy Fellow at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence

INGE Committee press conference - Foreign interference in EU democratic processes: lessons from the committee's work so far

INGE  Specia Committee - Exchange of views with Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World

Press conference by Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), Rapporteur and Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), INGE Chair on foreign Interference, including disinformation. This transcription is a result of an automatic result. Please check against delivery.

Foreign Interference, including disinformation: press conference by Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), Rapporteur and Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), INGE Chair

MEPs debate a series of recommendations aimed to beef up the EU’s capabilities on foreign interference, including a sanctions regime to fight foreign meddling and disinformation, general information campaigns spreading awareness about its dangers, and tightened rules for social media platforms serving as vehicles for foreign interference. Opening statements by Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), rapporteur, Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Brigitte KLINKERT, French Minister delegate for Integration and by Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World and by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency.

Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU: opening statements by Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), rapporteur, Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HR/VP of the European Union and by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vicepresident of the European Commission

The Committee on Foreign Interference has prepared a series of recommendations aimed to beef up the EU’s capabilities on foreign interference, including a sanctions regime to fight foreign meddling and disinformation, general information campaigns spreading awareness about its dangers, and tightened rules for social media platforms serving as vehicles for foreign interference. The recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the use of desinformation by the Kremlin, as well as the recent EU's decisions to ban Sputknik and Russia Today are also at the center of the debate.

Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU: extracts from the debate and results of the vote

MEPs from the Special Committee on Foreign Interference and Disinformation (INGE) hear from Maria A. Ressa, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, journalist, author, and co-founder and CEO of Rappler, a Philippine online news website, on how to address disinformation and protect freedom of expression on online platforms.

INGE Committee: Exchange of views with Maria A. RESSA, Nobel Peace Prize 2021 laureate, Journalist and Author, Co-founder and CEO of Rapple

Parliament’s Special Committee on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU including disinformation finalises 18 months of work by adopting recommendations on how to make the EU more resistant to foreign interference. Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D,FR), INGE Chair, debriefs on the conclusion of the committee's work.

Outcome of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE), statement by Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D,FR), INGE Chair

Press conference by Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), Head of INGE Delegation with Andrius KUBILIUS (EPP, LT), Markéta GREGOROVÁ (Greens/EFA, CZ), Andreas SCHIEDER (S&D, AT), Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (Renew, LT), Georgios KYRTSOS (EPP, EL), Marco DREOSTO (ID, IT) following the visit of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference and Disinformation (INGE) in Tapei. The seven members of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference and Disinformation (INGE) met Tsai Ing-wen, President of Taiwan, other representatives of the Taiwanese authorities and civil society organisations to discuss Taiwan’s innovative system to combat disinformation campaigns and other types of hybrid attacks. This has been the first official visit of the European Parliament to Taiwan.

Press conference by Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), Head of INGE Delegation and members delegation following their visit to Taiwan

Margrethe VESTAGER, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Europe fit for the Digital Age, and Commissioner for Competition, participates in an exchange of views in the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE) in association with the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE) and the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age (AIDA). Opening statement by Margrethe VESTAGER and by Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES), INGE Vice-Chair.

Exchange of views with Margrethe VESTAGER, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in INGE/ITRE/IMCO/LIBE/AIDA committees: opening statements

Members of the Special EP Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE) hold an exchange of views with Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Dossier Center. In association with the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and with the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (D-RU).

Exchange of views with Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Dossier Center in INGE Committee: in association with AFET Committee and with the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee

Members of the Special EP Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE) hold an exchange of views with Mikhail KHODORKOVSKY, Dossier Center. Opening statements by Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D,FR), INGE Chair, Andrius KUBILIUS (EPP, LT), rapporteur, Ryszard CZARNECKI (ECR, PL), Chair of the delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and Mikhail KHODORKOVSKY, founder of Dossier Center. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Exchange of views with Mikhail KHODORKOVSKY, Dossier Center in INGE Committee: opening statements by Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), INGE Chair, Andrius KUBILIUS (EPP, LT), rapporteur, Ryszard CZARNECKI (ECR, PL) and Mikhail KHODORKOVSKY

Members of the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age (AIDA) and Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE) hold a hearing on the future of democracy in the digital age and on how to strike the right regulatory balances in our increasingly tech-driven societies. The two panels address the challenges the EU is facing in its current trajectory towards the 2030 Digital Decade, such as the impact of AI on democratic and electoral processes, as well as how AI is affecting the notions of active citizenship, political participation, and policy-making. Statement by Dragoş TUDORACHE (Renew, RO), AIDA Chair

The future of democracy in the digital age: statement by Dragoş TUDORACHE (Renew, RO), AIDA Chair

Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), Chair of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE) and Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), rapporteur, give a joint press conference on the foreign interference in EU democratic processes: lessons from the committee's work so far.

Press conference by Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), INGE Chair, and Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), rapporteur, on the foreign interference in EU democratic processes: lessons from the committee's work so far

The impact of disinformation and strategic political propaganda disseminated through online social media sites seriously threatens European democratic societies. This infoclip illustrates persons consulting videos and news of third country press agencies and media, servers, internet rooters and networks, people using social network applications on smartphones and computers.

Infoclip : Foreign Interference in Democratic Processes – Disinformation

Members of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE) question Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, on the strategy of European External Action Service (EEAS) to battle foreign interference. They enquire him on the choices he has made in the past and what strategies will be developed in the future. Opening statements by Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), INGE Chair and Josep BORRELL FONTELLES.

Exchange of views on Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation: Opening statements

Members of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE) question Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, on the strategy of European External Action Service (EEAS) to battle foreign interference. They enquire him on the choices he has made in the past and what strategies will be developed in the future. Exchange of views (part 1)

Exchange of views on Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation: Exchange of views (1/2)

Members of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE) question Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, on the strategy of European External Action Service (EEAS) to battle foreign interference. They enquire him on the choices he has made in the past and what strategies will be developed in the future. Exchange of views (part 2)

Exchange of views on Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation: Exchange of views (2/2)

Members of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE) participate in the exchange of views with Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market the 22 February 2021 in Brussels, on new proposals to regulate social media platforms. Facebook’s news blockage in Australia and recent cyberattacks in Europe were among the topics MEPs raised in a discussion. Statements by Sandro GOZI (Renew, FR), Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES), INGE Vice-Chair and Dace MELBĀRDE (ECR, LT).

Exchange of views with Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for Internal Market on strategic communication at INGE Committee: extracts and statements by Sandro GOZI (Renew, FR), Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES) and Dace MELBĀRDE (ECR, LT)

Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D,FR), elected Chair of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the EU (INGE) speaks to the press following the constitutive meeting, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Press point by Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), elected Chair of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the EU (INGE)

The Special Committees on Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU (INGE), on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age (AIDA), on Beating Cancer (BECA) as well as the Subcommittee on Tax Matters (FISC) and the Committee of Inquiry on animal transport (ANIT) hold their constitutive meetings and elect their chairs and vice-chairs in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Constitutive meeting of 5 new Special Committees - Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU (INGE): illustrative shots and statement by Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), elected Chair

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