Social media platforms play an essential role for public administrations to build communications and narratives in the digital world.
In 2024, the EU has prepared its general elections amidst geopolitical tensions where social media platforms were the playground for communication strategies to both foster disinformation and fight against it.

While EU institutions play a major role in promoting the work of the EU and its impact on citizens’ lives, at the same time social media platforms act as gatekeepers implementing (or not) mitigation measures against the spread of  illegal content online such as hate speech and disinformation.

In this context, the EU has recently adopted the DSA as part of its new legal framework and strategy for data applicable to online platforms where new mechanisms are in place to fight against illegal content. Furthermore, the fundamental rights to data protection and privacy play a pivotal role in combatting disinformation. When personal data is mishandled or exploited, individuals become more vulnerable to manipulation and targeted misinformation campaigns. Personal data exploited to train AI datasets can significantly distort the accuracy of AI algorithms, leading to biased outcomes and further exacerbating the spread of false information.

Against this background, the role of communication in the digital world is pivotal for institutions and political entities to re-build trust among citizens and to fight against disinformation. Communication stands as a pillar of democracy, especially when employed in serving the public good.

In light of the recent EU elections, what was the role of democratic institutions to fight against disinformation to protect our democracy?