ABSTRACT
Disinformation is intentionally false or misleading information, distinct from propaganda and misinformation, not based on ideologies or facts. Motivated by political power, it can cause serious problems relating to health (e.g., the spreading of conspiracy theories in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic), elections (e.g., the 2016 Brexit referendum, largely based on post-truth politics), etc. In the social media era, it is easily spread and more threatening. Many democratic states around the globe have imposed legal frameworks to prevent disinformation, with measures primarily addressed to technology companies. Platforms like Meta and Twitter have recently taken action to remove false or misleading content. So far, discussion on disinformation has mainly focused on authoritarian regimes like Russia and China engaging in information warfare. However, democratically elected leaders are now accused of spreading disinformation, complicating the issue. State-sponsored disinformation poses a heightened threat to Western liberal democracies, undermining human rights and democratic processes. Combating this challenge involves updating laws, corporate measures, and fostering independent media for surveillance. As extensive disinformation campaigns are relatively new in the West, there's a lack of prepared institutions. To combat state-sponsored disinformation, a nuanced approach is required, emphasising the development of analytical tools to monitor strategic activities urgently.
