Russia has been continually targeting France, Germany, and Poland with disinformation attacks ahead of the European elections, according to Vice President of the European Commission, Vera Jourova.
Jourova, speaking at a press conference, stated that the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) had identified these three countries as regular targets of disinformation by Russia.
She elaborated on the specific issues targeted in each country with intensified disinformation campaigns: the Olympic Games and New Caledonia in France, and immigration and security issues in Germany.
While Poland had long remained untouched, Jourova noted a recent change. The country is now targeted with a false narrative suggesting Ukrainian refugees have become a burden on society.
Adding to the cyber threats, Poland’s national news agency, PAP, came under attack last Friday, resulting in a fake news report stating that 200,000 Poles had been mobilised to fight in Ukraine. "Isn’t it predictable, this kind of message is likely to increase tension?" she remarked.
Jourova emphasised how Russian propaganda deploys a deep understanding of the individual sensitivities of every country. She recently visited the United States to meet with the heads of major digital platforms, insisting on their utmost vigilance against potential Russian interference and disinformation campaigns, which may seem a distant threat from California.
Finally, Jourova underscored that these platforms – now subjected to the new rules of the Digital Services Act – need to allocate adequate resources to moderate content.
