EU parliament votes to intensify sanctions against Russian media over rising disinformation threats

The European Parliament (EP) has approved a resolution by a majority vote calling on EU member states to expand sanctions against Russian media outlets for disinformation and support for military action in Ukraine.

This follows from the results of the vote at the EP plenary session in Strasbourg, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The document was supported by 480 deputies, 58 voted against, and 48 abstained.

The EP also expressed concern over the statement by Meta Corporation founder Mark Zuckerberg about relaxing the rules for fact-checking and moderation on social networks and the fact that “this will further simplify Russia’s disinformation campaign around the world.”

European deputies called on the European Commission to strictly comply with the law on digital services in response to similar statements by Meta and X.

Thus, according to European External Action Service, Russia, through state and pro-Kremlin actors, has been actively involved in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) operations aimed at destabilizing democracies and influencing public opinion.

These campaigns are orchestrated using a variety of tools, including the Russian diplomatic network, security services, state-controlled media, social media channels, and local proxies, all working in an integrated manner to amplify their effects.

A notable example is the “Doppelganger” campaign, which the European Union (EU) linked to Russia’s broader hybrid warfare strategies. This operation, exposed by EU Disinfo Lab in 2022, involves the impersonation of trusted media outlets or public figures to spread disinformation and Kremlin-friendly propaganda. In response, the EU imposed restrictive measures in December 2024 on two individuals connected to the campaign, under a new framework aimed at countering Russia’s destabilizing activities.

Efforts to combat these FIMI operations involve close collaboration between EU Member States, international partners, and civil society organizations. Key strategies include sharing best practices, applying legal measures through the Rapid Alert System, and educating the public about Russian tactics.

These actions are part of a broader effort to defend democratic values, safeguard information integrity, and support Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.

By Aghakazim Guliyev