The Control of Information.
How the rich and powerful shape the media and control your mind. By Dr. Judith Brown
Europe and its information control tactics – Part 3
“When you control information, you control the game”. Baldacci, D. in Total Control.
The EU funded disinformation programme.
The European Union (EU) is at the forefront of the ‘countering disinformation’ movement. In 2018 it launched an action plan, enshrined in its Code of Conduct to Combat Disinformation (CCCD). Disinformation is defined as “verifiably false or misleading information” which is presented for financial gain or to deceive, and may cause harm. This includes threats to democracy, health, the environment, or security [1] here. In practice, since that date, within the EU accusations of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation have often applied to information that challenges EU directives or policy, even when relayed by credible actors. The 2018 CCCD was a voluntary code, agreed between service providers and the EU. Since then, the EU has funded a swathe of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) that contribute to moderation of content and control of information.
The voluntary code was strengthened by the European Digital Services Act (DSA) that came into force in 2022. This Act legalised censorship, and this was explained in my last report which can be found in The Control of Information archives.
The European Digital Media Observatory; an EU enforcer.
EU fact checking projects are funded by the EU, the European Commission (EC) or the Council of Europe (CoE). The largest of these projects is the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO), a vast network that extends across all EU countries, and to European countries that are not part of the EU, such as Norway and Switzerland [2] here. Mike Benz, director of the Foundation for Freedom Online describes the EDMO as the enforcer for the DSA [3] here. The EU describes it as a project that supports the independent community working to combat disinformation [4] here. Members of the lead team include the European University institute (EUI), Aarhus University of Denmark, the Greek tech company, Athens Technology Centre (ATC); the Italian fact check platform Pagella Politica, Amsterdam University, the Media and Learning Association, Europe's MediaLab, GLOBSEC, and the Integrity Institute [5] here. This team coordinates 14 geographically situated hubs, extending to 28 states, each hub with different character and skill sets [6] here.
Briefly, the activities of the EDMO consist of (1) mapping fact-checking organisations in Europe and supporting joint and cross-border activities; (2) mapping, supporting and coordinating research; (3) building a public portal providing media practitioners, teachers and citizens with information and materials aimed at building resilience to online disinformation, and supporting media literacy campaigns; (4) designing a framework to ensure secure and privacy-protected access to platforms’ data; (5) giving support to public authorities in the monitoring of policies put in place by online platforms to limit the spread and impact of disinformation [7] here.
The membership of these hubs consists of 44 Universities, eight schools of technology, six think tanks, eleven AI/tech companies, 26 fact check platforms, 24 media organisations, five NGOs of which four are primarily media literacy organisations, and one PR company. These are not evenly spread between the hubs; for example, Iberian, the Spanish/Portuguese hub, has twelve member universities, whereas De Facto in France has mostly fact check platforms as members. Some organisations appear in more than one hub; the tech companies xWiki and ATC appear on several hubs, and Agence-France-Presse (AFP), the French newswire, is represented on seven different hubs. The membership of hubs changes from time to time.
Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom
Closely associated with the EDMO is the EUI’s Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (CMPF) based in Luxembourg, founded in 2011. CMPF is a research and training centre that aims to develop innovative and relevant lines of research on what is called media freedom and pluralism in Europe and beyond, and to provide knowledge support to the international, European and national policy and rulemaking processes [8] here.
It reports that it is co-financed by the European Union and the EUI, and states that it does not accept money from governments or companies in order to protect its independence. However, CMPF depends on EU funding, both directly and funnelled via the EUI. This funding is essential for its existence and the CMPF does not explain why EU funding does not influence its functions [9] here.
On its website CMPF lists its projects, which include its major project, the Media Pluralism Monitor. Another project is the Festival of Journalism and Media Literacy, and another is a local media project. A further program is Media Pluralism and Diversity Online (MPDO). The fifth named project is the EDMO. The CMPF states that it has been involved with the work of the EDMO since its launch; it further states that it has been leading the EDMO taskforce from within; it is a major player in content moderation [10] here.
Its activities are described as theoretical and applied research; debates; education and training; and dissemination of results. Since 2013 CMPF has been working on developing the Media Pluralism Monitor, to assess risks for media pluralism in EU member states and candidate countries. However, the point of media plurality is surely to get a range of viewpoints so that people can read diverse opinions and find publications that suit their own beliefs and lifestyle. The EU emphasis on control of the media and its legalised censorship operation makes media plurality an unattainable cause. The CMPF published reports and working papers are focused on this project. Its training activities include co-working with the EDMO to teach advanced fact checking techniques and the use of fact checking tools [11] here.
Research and development of fact check tools.
The EU funds various research projects that support the censorship industry, as listed below.
Vera.ai
This project was launched in 2022 and projected to end in 2025. The forerunner to Vera.ai was WeVerify; the WeVerify toolbox is used in fact checking by the EDMO. Several WeVerify project partners moved to Vera.ai when it was launched. It is funded by EU Horizon Europe, Innovate UK, and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation, with an expected cost above 7 million Euros. Vera.ai is led by the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) a Greek technical institute. It has a range of members: The Natural Language Processing Centre at Sheffield University; the Universita Frederico II of Naples researches image processing; the Universita Degli Studi en Urbino Carlo Bo specialises in social media analysis and online behaviour modelling; whist the University of Amsterdam maps social media. Deutsche Welle, a German broadcaster, tests cases and evaluates the programme; there are several tech companies involved, including KINIT of Slovakia and Onotext from Bulgaria; two of the largest and best funded European fact checking platforms (AFP and EU Disinfo Lab); and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) [12] here.
Vera.ai’s aim is to develop and build AI solutions to fight against ‘disinformation’, delivering ‘solutions’ that can be used by a wide variety of actors, including journalists, investigators, and researchers. The fact checking tools are intended to deal with content in audio, video, images, and text forms, and in many languages, and will be provided to users on an open access basis [13] here. The EU has provided 5.6 million Euros for the vera.ai project.
Vera.ai is explained in detail so that readers can understand the reach of the EU funded research arm, the following projects are briefly outlined, together with funds that have been received [14] here.
AI4TRUST: This project is developing a hybrid tool with machine-human cooperation, making it possible to monitor numerous online social media platforms at the same time. The EU has provided 5.9 million Euros for this project.
EU-HYBNET: This project is focussing on hybrid threats as well as developing a European network for the fact checking sector. The EU has provided 3.4 million Euros for this project.
FERMI: This project will apply a comprehensive and cross disciplinary methodology to analyse disinformation and fake news. The EU has provided 3.9 million Euros for this project.
TITAN: This project is to provide a toolkit to investigate if statements are true. The EU has provided 5.7 million Euros for this project.
VIGILANT: This project will help police track down hate crimes. The EU has provided 3.4 million Euros for this project.
The total spending on these research projects that investigate greater efficiency in censorship activities is 27 million Euros. These are not the only research projects funded by the EU. For example, a project called REVEAL was unearthed during the Twitter files investigation. REVEAL was launched in 2013 to develop censorship technologies. American journalist Matt Taibbi who analysed the Twitter Files describes REVEAL as “more terrifying in its dystopian dreams than its American counterparts” when describing REVEAL’s mass surveillance tools [15] here. Since this outing in the Twitter files, this project has closed down.
Additionally, at the beginning of 2025 the EU put out calls for applications for research funding for its censorship activities. This includes (1) A journalism partnership in media pluralism (2) cross-border media literacy projects (3) Media Freedom Hub and (4) a call for proposals to fund the European Festival of Journalism and Media Freedom [16] here.
Education.
EJTA and EUfactcheck.eu
One prominent theme in Europe is to promote fact checking training. The largest of these educational NGOs is EUfactcheck.eu, managed by the European Journalists Training Association (EJTA). The EJTA website states that it is funded by membership fees but to finance the different activities, the Board may draw on various (European) institutions such as the European Commission, Council of Europe and on programmes such as Erasmus+ [17] here. Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education and training. It supports the EU’s Digital Education Action Plan. Its estimated budget is 26 billion Euros.
The EJTA website states that 80 journalism schools in thirty countries had joined the EUfactcheck.eu scheme in 2025; situated across the EU and non-EU countries including Russia, the Caucuses, and the UK. The Council of Europe and the Evens Foundation are named as funders of this extensive programme. As part of their training, journalism students undertake fact checking activities and these appear on the website [18] here.
Media Numeric and EU Screen.
Another fact-checking educational programme is Media Numeric, which aims to involve journalists and other professionals in the creative industry. This is another EU Erasmus funded programme that involves data driven journalism, creative storytelling, and fact checking. Media Numeric training courses are available in universities and online. Courses are offered free of charge [19] here.
The Media Numeric partners include AFP, universities and technical institutes, AI companies, and EU Screen. EU Screen describes itself as a network of EU broadcasters, media archivists, media scholars and tech experts, funded by the EC since 2006. Media Numeric courses are divided into three parts. The first module explains how to collect, analyse and use data. The second module focusses on using data to create a story. The third module involves tracking and analysing misinformation and use of fact check tools to debunk misinformation [20] here. For journalists, learning new skills in data collection will attract them to the course, but the new system of fact checking is, of course, included in the course syllabus.
Media Literacy.
The EU Media Literacy Programme has had a strategy in place since 2019, updated in 2023 [21] here. It recommends that it is imperative for persons of all ages to complete media literacy courses, in order to empower them to take part in informed debate, which is positive, but then disappointingly adds that media literacy helps to counter the effects of ‘fake news’ and ‘disinformation’ [22] here. Its guidelines state that the critical nature of media literacy and the need to strengthen it have been recognised in the European Democracy Action Plan (EDAP) and in the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan (MAAP). Enhancing digital skills and competences for the digital transformation including digital and media literacy is one of the strategic priorities of the Digital Education Action Plan. There is an imperative for the EU to give media literacy training increasing emphasis in Europe, in view of the current American perspective on censorship.
Through the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, the EC obliges member states to take measures to develop media literacy skills, and to report on their actions, and obliges video sharing platforms to provide effective media literacy measures and to raise user’s awareness of tools [23] here.
EMIL
The European Platform for Regulatory Agencies (EPRA) lists European Media and Information Literacy (EMIL) taskforce as the head of the EU media literacy programme [24] here. This may be confused with the European Media Immersion Lab, that has the same acronym, but a different function. The EMIL taskforce appears shadowy, as no website could be found, although on the EPRA website the minutes of recent meetings are available, indicating that EMIL is current. European countries, including the UK that was outside the EU at the time of the last reported meeting, fed back to EMIL on their progress on media literacy implementation in their own countries [25] here.
EMIF.
Europe also provides grants for media literacy and fact checking through the European Media and Information Fund (EMIF), based in Lisbon. EMIF provides grants to researchers, fact-checkers, not-for-profits and other public interest-oriented organisations working on disinformation research and strengthening media literacy and fact-checking. The Fund’s goals are to be achieved through four priority areas of intervention: “Strengthening independent fact-checking organisations”, “Promoting activities designed to reduce the impact of disinformation”, “Funding academic research into media, disinformation and information literacy,” and “Encouraging activities to strengthen media literacy and critical thinking”. Note that the emphasis here is on media literacy training, or using psyops to persuade trainees to discard information that comes from rival sources to EU propaganda. Grants of up to 400,000 Euros are available to European applicants, with successful applications listed on its website. EMIF is also funded by the Calousite Gulbenkain Foundation, Google, the EUI [26] here which itself is funded by the EC.
The EU additionally has a public relations programme of funding NGOs across Europe that promote the EU itself as a worthy organisation. This has been investigated by journalist Thomas Fazi. [27] here.
Media and Learning Association (MLA or MEDEA)
MLA is in the lead group of the EDMO, led by the EUI, and therefore has a prominent role in developing and supporting media literacy training across Europe, including non-EU countries. It was founded in 2012 in Belgium and is co-funded by the EU and the Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) (itself EU funded). The MLA website states that members include national and regional agencies charged with the promotion of innovation in teaching and learning as well as universities, ministries of education and schools’ networks. The MLA states that it is dedicated to advancing education through the strategic utilisation of media and digital technologies across all levels of education [28] here.
Its activities include organising an annual conference, online conferences, a knowledge sharing project, a news and information service that sends a newsletter to 10,000 recipients each month, surveys and research, and policy insights, that gathers information from its members. It participates in the EMIL project and the Media Literacy Experts Group of the European Commission. As a demonstration that this EU funded group influences media literacy training outside the EU, it has 13 members from UK, including 6 universities, and a University in China and a media company in Canada are also members [29] here.
One of the MLA projects is EDMO 11, that is developing a media literacy programme in Europe, alongside EDMO, that concentrates on fact checking. This includes mapping media literacy training organisations across Europe, promoting knowledge exchange between practitioners, and raising standards across the sector. One of these projects within ED|MO 11 is the Media Literacy Overview. This uses the EC definition of media literacy as “…media literacy is an umbrella expression that includes all technical, cognitive, social, civic and creative capabilities that allow a citizen to access, have a critical understanding of the media and interact with it.” It states that this is a ‘crucial tool against disinformation’[30] here.
Other projects associated with fact check training and media literacy funded by the EU, including the North-South project that states its aims as promoting an active global citizenship amongst governments, parliaments, authorities and civil society. Amongst its functions, it offers training in media literacy [31] here. SEEcheck operates in South-Eastern Europe and involves six fact checking platforms that state that they promote media accountability and media literacy [32] here.
Standard setting.
The EU also aims to standardise both the systems of content moderation, media literacy, and information that circulates in the media. A group similar to the US based International Fact Checking Network (IFCN) is funded by the EU, called the European Fact Check Standards Network (EFCSN). EFCSN has a code of practice that set standards that claim to ensure independence, transparency, methodology and with journalistic quality to guide efforts to combat disinformation; this involves fact checking and media literacy. It is difficult, however, to achieve independence and transparency in a business that dependent for its existence to the immensely rich and powerful. The standards committee consists of six fact checking platforms, the Chair from the Spanish Maldita platform, and other members are from Croatia, North Macedonia, UK, Portugal, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Denmark and Italy [33] here.
The mission statement of the EFCSN describes itself as the voice of European fact checkers who uphold the highest standards of fact checking and media literacy, in order to combat misinformation for the benefit of the public, promoting the principles of freedom and expression [34] here. However, it is difficult to see how moderating information and censoring educated and experienced people who challenge official narratives can promote free expression. Whether such dissenting voices are accurate or not is irrelevant. Legal content should be available to all adults who should be able to access different viewpoints, without prejudgement, and then make their own choices. The definition of free speech is not ‘safe’ speech or reducing ‘truth’ to a single perspective on complex topics. It is the right to express opinion publicly and receive uncensored information. If one considers the issue of ‘benevolent’ content moderation as appears to be the case made by the EFCSN, this raises questions of WHO controls free speech, HOW it is controlled, and WHEN it is controlled. The EFCSN and the IFCN do not have a democratic mandate to decide what information should be moderated, nor who should be censored.
Content creation.
Similarly, the viewpoints that support official narratives are also tightly controlled; when statements are repeated from various sources, they are more likely to be believed. In an EU funded project called European Data News Hub, six European news agencies; dpa (Germany); AFP (France); ANSA (Italy); Agerpres (Romania); ANP (Netherlands) and Nyhertsbyran (Sweden) together produce fact checked copy to send to European and Global media outlets. This includes images, videos, radio clips, interactive graphics, and text in 9 languages [35] here. If these news agencies were competing for scoops, exclusivity of individually sourced news stories, it would improve their profits and financial standing. Instead, they aim for circulating similar stories, funded by EU. This repetition of storylines in mainstream media is consistently viewed across newspaper, radio and television networks on hot button topics, such as war or Covid-19.
In 2023, the Narrative Observatory combatting Disinformation in Europe Systematically (NODES) was launched, in order to monitoring of emerging online and offline discourses, to anticipate future trends in what is described as disinformation. This new project to examine what is said offline is a new and concerning level of surveillance and control. This is a pilot project financed by the European Commission and set up by seven research and media partners from across four EU countries – Belgium, France, Poland and Italy. The project will create the first European Narrative Observatory (ENO) based on the analysis of narratives to tackle disinformation within the public sphere working in four languages (English, French, Spanish and Polish) and focusing on Climate Change, Migration and Covid-19 [36] here.
The NODES consortium is led by the European think tank Re-Imagine Europa and includes what is called ‘top level’ institutions and organisations including AFP, the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), PlusValue, Sotrender, Science Feedback and Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia. Re-imagine Europa is itself funded by four European Foundations and the Organisation for Cooperation and Development (OECD) [37] here. PlusValue and Sotrender are probably private companies, one dealing with PR and business development and the other’s specialty is AI and Social media analysis.
Conclusion.
The prevalence of funding of projects in the EU linked to censorship is open source, and easy to locate. This is because there is no right to freedom from government censoring activities in Europe. The projects listed here represent the spending of many millions of Euros on controlling information, which includes censorship, propaganda, psychological operations and content creation. The extent of the way that discourse is controlled by Europe is shocking, both in its geographic coverage, and the types of control that are being exerted on its citizens. The EU does not have a democratic mandate; although the European parliament is elected and performs as a talking shop, it does not make law. The laws are made by the EC and the EU, funded with taxpayers’ money.
The EU influence on these activities is more relevant today than ever before, because it acts as a counter to the current drive in USA to defund and dismantle some censorship operations. The next article will look at large fact check platforms that operate in Europe, including the NATO fact check platform that is funded by the EU.