Identifying disinformation is essential for our democracy
Critical skills required discussed at a conference at the University of Malta
24-4-26: We are living in an attention economy that is not only cutthroat, but easily weaponised, and as the forum for public discourse has shifted to profit-driven social media platforms, the cycle reinforces itself. Breaking it requires stronger media literacy, education, and smart regulation. This was the main thrust of the discussion during a conference on Identifying Disinformation organised by the European Parliament Liaison Office in Malta, in collaboration with the 3CL Foundation, the University of Malta, and MCAST.
MEPs, media experts, journalists, content creators, academics and students tackled the insidious and even harmful impact of disinformation on society, democracy and individuals today.
The conference provided participants with both theoretical insights and practical tools to better understand and respond to disinformation in the Maltese and European context. It also delved into how disinformation operates, why it poses a threat to democratic societies, and how the European Union is working to address it through legislative and policy initiatives.
Speakers throughout the morning sessions highlighted how disinformation is deliberately designed to influence public opinion by exploiting emotional responses, cognitive biases and digital amplification mechanisms. Participants examined common tactics used in misleading content, including selective framing, manipulation of visuals, and the spread of false narratives through social media platforms.
Experts also stressed the growing importance of media literacy and critical thinking, particularly in the context of elections and public debate, as well as the ethics and emotion-manipulation disinformation entails.
MEPs Alex Agius Saliba and Peter Agius concluded the conference with a discussion on the European Parliament’s legislative action including the DSA, and the upcoming revision of the Artificial Intelligence Act, that Parliament wants to include a ban on nudifier apps in.
“As European lawmakers we set clear rules for the Big Tech platforms to stop the spread of disinformation, but in times of Transatlantic tension the enforcement of the Digital Services Act is stalling. We need to be serious about our rules, because those that want to provide services in the EU need to respect and protect our democracy,” said MEP Alex Agius Saliba.
“We must fight misinformation first and foremost on the ground in Malta. At European level, we are working on concrete measures to improve transparency and accountability in the digital space. But awareness and education locally remain key – initiatives like this play an important role in empowering citizens. From the institutional point of view, we also need to ensure the capacity to enforce the rules we enact,” said MEP Peter Agius.
The event underscored that tackling disinformation requires a collective effort involving institutions, media, educators and citizens. By combining expert knowledge with practical tools, the event aimed to equip participants with the skills needed to navigate today’s complex information environment with confidence.
“In a world that is increasingly interconnected, where information spreads fast and there is so much of it that it is difficult to digest, it is easy to be misinformed, disinformed and even manipulated by what we see and read - which is why the European Parliament is acting through stronger legislation, greater transparency for online platforms, and support for media literacy and fact-checking to help citizens regain control over the information they consume," said Dr Mario Sammut, Head of the European Parliament Office in Malta, contextualising the discussion.
The conference was moderated by Prof Alex Grech and Prof Godfrey Baldacchino of the 3CL foundation, the EP Office in Malta’s partner in organising this conference.
Background:
78% of Maltese respondents in the European Parliament’s recent Eurobarometer say they are increasingly worried about disinformation, and 79% are worried about fake content created by Artificial Intelligence, like deepfake videos or false information. The same surveys shows that 76% are worried about hate speech, and an equal percentage are worried about the protection of their personal data.
Social media platforms have also become young people's top source for information on political and social issues. According to a Flash Eurobarometer survey on the use of social media, in 2025, 65 % of respondents aged between 15 and 24 said social media was their main source of information. In Malta, social media is the main source for 77% of 15-24 year olds, and even more for 80% of the 25-39-year-olds.
With the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) allowing the production of pseudo texts and deepfakes that are increasingly hard to distinguish from real content, online misinformation looks set to continue to increase.
The EU is acting in this regard on a number of fronts, including:
- Increasing the resilience of our democracies by promoting free and fair elections, protecting public debate, and countering foreign information manipulation and interference through the European Democracy Shield;
- Strengthening online platforms' responsibility in countering foreign information manipulation and interference, thanks to the Digital Services Act, the Code of Conduct on Disinformation, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, and the Regulation on the transparency and targeting of political advertising;
- Protecting journalists and media pluralism through the Media Freedom Act and legislation that protects journalists from strategic lawsuits against public participation (anti-SLAPP);
- Empowering people to navigate the modern news environment, raising awareness about foreign information manipulation and interference tactics, providing guidance to counter this threat through education and support to projects that contribute to the whole-of-society effort to counter foreign information manipulation and interference, and enhance media freedom and pluralism.
The European Parliament is working actively on a number of fronts, legislative and informative, as well as through events and trainings to equip media professionals, students, and citizens with the tools to protect themselves and others against disinformation, that included this conference on Identifying Disinformation held in Malta.
For more information, see: