Social media and AI algorithms: ensuring the right to accurate information and the visibility of high-quality content across Europe, especially about Eastern and Central Europe

Key Points

The EESC:

• highlights that the hybrid war against democracy currently led in Eastern Europe by foreign powers includes disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining trust in democratic institutions, exploiting societal divisions, and targeting vulnerable populations. The role of social media and AI algorithms is crucial, as they can either support or weaken democracy;
• underlines that social media platforms and AI algorithms decisively shape public debate and the information Europeans see, often amplifying sensational or divisive content over high-quality journalism: prioritising engagement over accuracy, they tend to downrank independent voices – especially from Eastern Europe – while polarising content thrives;
• emphasises that the information space in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is particularly vulnerable: disinformation is tailored to local languages and content, and takes advantage of the dominance of Russian-language content on the Internet due to algorithmic choices;
• points out that Russian-language narratives dominate digital spaces, while independent voices are side-lined; furthermore, popular platforms like Telegram and VKontakte lie beyond EU regulation, creating blind spots. Weak enforcement and limited fines mean platform compliance remains low;
• considers that Belarus illustrates these challenges starkly: repression, digital marginalisation, and algorithmic neglect converge to silence dissent and reinforce propaganda, shaping perceptions of the EU. Similar dynamics exist across CEE, where platforms often lack local policies and AI tools are trained on unreliable sources;
• believes that, while instruments like the Digital Services Act, the AI Act, and the European Media Freedom Act aim to enhance transparency and accountability, enforcement is uneven and gaps remain. Linguistic and narrative biases – such as the continued use of the term ‘post-Soviet countries’ – further distort diverse identities and histories;
• supports the development of frameworks ensuring visibility for high-quality, locally rooted content from Eastern Europe, advocates stronger media literacy, algorithmic accountability, and cross-border cooperation to counter disinformation and uphold democratic values.