Ursula von der Leyen introduces the “European Democracy Shield” to combat disinformation with AI
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has launched her campaign for re-election ahead of the June 9 elections. During a visit to Denmark on May 14, von der Leyen introduced an initiative called the “European Democracy Shield”, a plan that proposes using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to combat disinformation and foreign manipulation within the European Union.
Von der Leyen has promised to develop new capabilities and structures at the EU level if re-elected, with the goal of combating foreign interference. Among the proposals is the creation of a unit dedicated to detecting and eliminating online disinformation, leveraging AI technology for this task. The current president considers this measure crucial for strengthening democracy in Europe.
The European government has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to fighting ‘hate speech’ and ‘disinformation.’ For the authorities, criticism of certain community policies such as the Green Deal, immigration policy, or measures during the COVID-19 pandemic represents a serious threat to democracy. However, the approach of the European Parliament elections has intensified the EU’s actions in this area, which some consider a campaign of censorship.
Controversies and criticisms of AI implementation
The “European Democracy Shield” initiative has not been without controversy. Recently, the mayor of Brussels attempted to ban the conservative NatCon conference, which included participation by Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Additionally, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, described disinformation as a “mental poison”, and the European Commission’s Vice President, Vera Jourová, suggested using AI to enforce ‘good practices’ on the media.
The European Commission has already established its own network of ‘experts’ to censor content using laws such as the Digital Services Act, the Media Freedom Act, and the Artificial Intelligence Act. These regulations allow the Commission to regulate content on social networks and impose large fines on those who do not comply with its directives. In a notable example, the European Commission demanded that Elon Musk, owner of X, review his moderation systems, a request that Musk ignored, defending the need for free speech on the networks.
The implementation of AI in content moderation raises serious concerns about freedom of expression and censorship. Automated algorithms are already widely used on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X to remove content that violates their policies. In 2019, 65% of the content removed by Facebook was selected using AI. With the new plan from the European Commission, the use of AI would expand, increasing control over what Europeans can read, hear, and see online.
The role of citizens in the future of the European Democracy Shield
The “European Democracy Shield” proposal suggests that moderators or AI systems will interfere in deciding the appropriateness of content. This development has sparked debate about the limits of censorship and the protection of democracy. European citizens have the power to influence the future of these policies by voting in the upcoming elections on June 9.
As the electoral campaign progresses, the debate over disinformation and the use of AI to combat it will remain a central issue, reflecting the tension between democratic security and freedom of expression in the digital age.
