Page contents Page contents Overview In today's complex digital and media landscape, it is crucial that citizens are aware of the risks of information manipulation and foreign interference and are well-equipped to identify malign activities, including the spread of false or misleading content and the use of manipulative techniques.The European Union is committed to ensuring that our societies remain resilient to these threats that aim to undermine democratic institutions and processes. The European Commission is raising awareness on the increasing complexity and risks of the information manipulation phenomenon and promoting digital and media literacy. A range of tools and initiatives have been designed to promote critical thinking and empower individuals and communities to recognise, resist, and respond to information manipulation and foreign interference effectively Raising awareness of the risks of information manipulation and foreign interference Awareness-raising is key to the EU's approach for highlighting the risks of false or misleading information and the methods used to spread it online.The Commission has made available several resources to help citizens recognise information manipulation attempts and understand the risks of spreading misleading content. 6 tips to spot and stop information manipulation Information manipulation actors use a variety of tactics to deceive and manipulate people. This can range from clones of legitimate websites to manipulated audio or videos designed to appeal to our emotions and cloud our judgement.The Commission has developed a visual story with tips to help citizens spot these tactics and stay safe online.Discover the visual story Protect yourself from information manipulationThe Commission has also developed a series of video tips to help citizens recognise and resist information manipulation. How to recognise information manipulationTips on how to spot a deceptive news story and identify authentic sources instead. How to recognise deepfakesTips on how to identify manipulated audio and videos and verify official sources. How to resist emotional manipulationTips on how to avoid being manipulated by false information online and spreading it unintentionally. Awareness-raising ahead of the 2024 EU elections Ahead of the 2024 European elections, the Commission, together with the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA), launched a joint video campaign.The campaign aimed to provide citizens with practical advice on how to think critically to spot and avoid sharing deceptive content online.The video campaign ran across social media, TV and radio stations in all 27 Member States and was available in all 24 official EU languages. Increasing digital and media literacy Digital and media literacy is important for building societal resilience against information manipulation. The capacity to access, have a critical understanding of the media and interact with it, is crucial.Digital and media literacy enables citizens to navigate the modern digital news environment and make well-informed choices. It is especially important to learn how to recognise information manipulation from an early age; as such, education has a crucial role in ensuring a media-literate public.The revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) seeks to ensure that Member States promote and take measures that develop media literacy skills and to report on these measures. Digital and media literacy resourcesThe Commission provides resources to support Member States, educators and organisations to contribute to tackling information manipulation and foreign interference. Media literacy guidelinesGuidelines for Member States to enable citizens of all ages to navigate the modern news environment and make informed decisionsGuidelines for teachers and educatorsHands-on guidance on tackling disinformation and promoting digital literacy through educationToolkit for secondary school teachersWith this toolkit, secondary school teachers can help their students spot disinformation and information manipulation when browsing online Related links EUvsDisinfoEuropean Parliament - DisinformationDG CNECT – Media literacyDG EAC – Digital education
Information manipulation actors use a variety of tactics to deceive and manipulate people. This can range from clones of legitimate websites to manipulated audio or videos designed to appeal to our emotions and cloud our judgement.The Commission has developed a visual story with tips to help citizens spot these tactics and stay safe online.Discover the visual story
How to recognise information manipulationTips on how to spot a deceptive news story and identify authentic sources instead.
How to recognise deepfakesTips on how to identify manipulated audio and videos and verify official sources.
How to resist emotional manipulationTips on how to avoid being manipulated by false information online and spreading it unintentionally.
Ahead of the 2024 European elections, the Commission, together with the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA), launched a joint video campaign.The campaign aimed to provide citizens with practical advice on how to think critically to spot and avoid sharing deceptive content online.The video campaign ran across social media, TV and radio stations in all 27 Member States and was available in all 24 official EU languages.
Digital and media literacy is important for building societal resilience against information manipulation. The capacity to access, have a critical understanding of the media and interact with it, is crucial.Digital and media literacy enables citizens to navigate the modern digital news environment and make well-informed choices. It is especially important to learn how to recognise information manipulation from an early age; as such, education has a crucial role in ensuring a media-literate public.The revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) seeks to ensure that Member States promote and take measures that develop media literacy skills and to report on these measures.
Media literacy guidelinesGuidelines for Member States to enable citizens of all ages to navigate the modern news environment and make informed decisions
Guidelines for teachers and educatorsHands-on guidance on tackling disinformation and promoting digital literacy through education
Toolkit for secondary school teachersWith this toolkit, secondary school teachers can help their students spot disinformation and information manipulation when browsing online
