EU targets AI and election threats. McGrath: “It’s difficult to tell what’s real and what’s not”!

European Commissioner Michael McGrath said the EU’s Democracy Shield is moving from strategy into concrete implementation as Europe faces growing pressure from disinformation, online manipulation and emerging AI risks. McGrath said the information environment has become increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens to navigate. “Even trying to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not real is not without challenge.” He said the EU is focusing on several key areas, including free and fair elections, independent and plural media, civil society and the resilience of democratic institutions. A major step has been the creation of the Centre for Democratic Resilience, which McGrath said has been operational since February. All EU Member States are participating voluntarily. The centre is designed to act as a hub, connecting work already taking place at national and EU level and strengthening cooperation against threats to democracy. McGrath also announced that further measures are coming. These include new work on the role of artificial intelligence in electoral processes and recommendations on safety in politics. He highlighted the particular risks faced by women, people from minority backgrounds and local politicians who often have direct contact with citizens and can therefore be more exposed to threats and harassment. McGrath also welcomed calls from the European Parliament for greater ambition. He acknowledged demands for the Centre for Democratic Resilience to be placed on a binding legal basis and given a dedicated budget. “The Democracy Shield is not a finishing point.” “To me, it really is only a starting point.” His message was clear: Europe is building a stronger framework to protect elections, information integrity and democratic participation, but the next phase will require even greater ambition. #eudebates #MichaelMcGrath #DemocracyShield #Disinformation