Commission must overhaul EU Democracy Shield

Today, the European Parliament adopted the report of the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS), calling for major improvements to the European Commission’s disappointing initiative.

The European Democracy Shield was meant to prepare the EU for old and new digital threats, including foreign interference, disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks and attacks on freedom of expression. Instead, the Commission presented a voluntary and unambitious framework.

MEP Kim van Sparrentak, Greens/EFA negotiator and member of the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield, comments:

“This report sends a clear message to Ursula von der Leyen: the Commission’s Democracy Shield is not good enough. Europe needs fast and concrete action to defend democracy against foreign interference, hybrid threats and to reduce our dependence on US Big Tech, cloud services and AI infrastructure.

“Today the Parliament is clear: social media in its current form is a threat to our democracy. The reaction-baiting algorithms of social media turn us into toys of Putin and the far right. And Musk and Zuckerberg profit from disinformation spreading on their platforms. Divisive messages top our timelines and seep into our media, politics and homes. Now finally, there is an overwhelming majority for action. Algorithms that amplify extremist content, disinformation and hate must be treated as a risk to democracy and limited accordingly.”

“Now, the Commission must turn the Democracy Shield into a real instrument, instead of a neighbourhoodwatch chat group. That means creating an independent and well-funded Centre for Democratic Resilience, with a clear mandate, teeth, enough staff and proper parliamentary oversight.”