Save democracy (if you want to), Brussels says

BRUSSELS — EU countries won’t be obliged to take part in a new effort to reduce foreign election interference, according to a draft proposal obtained by POLITICO.

The strategy for a European Democracy Shield — promised by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in July 2024 — is meant to step up the fight against foreign interference online, including in elections.

The centerpiece is a European Centre for Democratic Resilience, described as a “framework” to share information on information manipulation and disinformation, according to the draft.

But EU countries won’t be obliged to take part since their participation is “voluntary.”

The proposal, set to be released Wednesday, has been subject to political infighting within the Commission. Despite strong concerns about foreign meddling in the EU, the topic is sensitive due to the U.S. administration’s stance on anything related to misinformation, which it has frequently construed as disguised censorship.

Many of the proposals included in the draft strategy remain voluntary.

That includes a plan for the Commission to work with EU countries on guidance on how to use AI in elections, in the wake of AI deepfakes rocking several election campaigns.

In both the Netherlands and Ireland, AI-generated deepfakes of political candidates circulated on social media platforms in the final sprint of recent election campaigns, while data protection watchdogs warned voters should not rely on AI chatbots for voting advice.

The new guidance should inform “voluntary commitments on the responsible use of new technologies” for European and national political parties, the draft said.

The Commission also plans to tackle the safety of politicians amid growing recognition of the personal dangers faced by those in the field. “To better ensure the safety of political candidates and elected representatives, the Commission will adopt a Recommendation on safety in politics,” the draft read.

It is also planning to assemble a network of influencers to “raise awareness about relevant EU rules” — suggesting that using influencers could help people better understand EU rules such as on political advertising, online content and artificial intelligence.