Pro-Kremlin disinformation campaigns are not only targeted at Ukraine or the Baltic states. Germany had its Lisa case and further disinformation attacks are intensifying because of Berlin’s firm stance on economic sanctions related to Russian military engagement in Ukraine. The Netherlands has experienced first-hand how such organized disinformation efforts can distort the public debate and influence the outcome of a consultative referendum on the Association Agreement with Ukraine. Pro-Kremlin trolls are also heavily engaging in the Brexit campaign, in support of the Leave side. While the EU tries to find a solution to an unprecedented migration crisis, the atmosphere in several EU Member States is poisoned by dozens of manufactured disinformation stories a week.
In short, these hostile actions by the Russian Federation and its proxies have become a homeland security issue inside the EU.
Whereas societies in Central and Western Europe are slowly realising that they are under unprecedented disinformation pressure, authorities both on national and EU level are lacking a coherent strategy how to counter this, in many countries, systematic disruptive attack.
The ALDE Seminar will feature leading European experts who have been publishing extensively about the pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign and/or running programmes uncovering disinformation communication.
Interpretation will be provided in English and French.