As democracies worldwide face these challenges, civil society organizations (CSOs) find themselves at the center of the struggle. They often serve as the first responders and at the same time the target of such information manipulation efforts.
This blog explores the year’s major disinformation trends, its impact on critical elections, and how initiatives like TechSoup`s Digital Activism Program are equipping CSOs with tools to push back.
Disinformation in 2024: The Big Picture
This year, disinformation has hit new levels of sophistication. AI-powered tools have blurred the line between real and fake even more, producing content so convincing it’s almost impossible to tell apart from reality. Deepfake videos, phony narratives, and hyper-targeted propaganda have become standard features in many countries, creating confusion and mistrust across the globe.
The way how disinformation campaigns work also changed. Disinformation is no longer just about spreading lies, it’s about widening and weaponizing societal divisions. In countries like Moldova and Georgia, hybrid strategies have paired disinformation with cyberattacks to weaken pro-Western actors and stir unrest. This isn’t just happening in smaller, geopolitically sensitive nations. The same tactics are being deployed in the heart of the West – be it during the US presidential elections or in the EU - amplifying polarization and eroding trust in public institutions.
But the resilience of civil society offers hope. CSOs, often described as “canaries in the coal mine,” have shown remarkable courage in countering these campaigns, despite being prime targets themselves. Disinformation doesn’t just undermine democracies—it attacks the organizations working hardest to preserve them.
How Disinformation Shaped Major Elections
Elections have always been the peak season for disinformation, and 2024 was no exception. With the record number of democratic processes happening around the globe, the worry that disinformation campaigns might negatively influence their free and fair nature was a hotly debated topic. In the U.S., disinformation campaigns capitalized on deep societal divides. Videos falsely depicting election fraud and AI-generated impersonations of officials sowed distrust, creating fertile ground for conspiracy theories and doubt about electoral integrity. Across the Atlantic, disinformation found new narratives to exploit during the European Parliament elections. From polarized political landscapes to narratives blaming NATO for the Ukraine war, these campaigns aimed to reshape alliances and deepen divisions. In Moldova and Georgia, the stakes were even higher as their future geopolitical affiliation with the West was at stake in a strategically important referendum and elections. In both countries, disinformation campaigns targeted cultural and political fractures, portraying Western alliances as threats and amplifying tensions around national identity and values.
Meanwhile, in Romania, local actors utilized global disinformation trends, weaving them into narratives about the alleged Western corruption and manipulation. Many observers and Romanian authorities claim that a surprise victory of a far-right presidential candidate with pro-Russian views in the first round of December presidential elections was caused by extensive manipulation of social media in his favor, which ultimately led to the election`s cancellation.
Each of these cases highlights how disinformation is tailored to exploit unique societal vulnerabilities. But they also demonstrate the resilience of communities that refuse to give in to manipulation. From brave Georgians refusing to accept evidently manipulated elections to Moldovan CSOs fighting the onslaught of Russia-funded online manipulation, 2024 illustrates that civic activism plays an important role in safeguarding basic democratic principles.
The Digital Services Act: A Game-Changer?
This year saw the European Union roll out the much-anticipated Digital Services Act (DSA), a landmark regulation designed to tackle harmful online content, including disinformation. It’s an ambitious step forward, with rules requiring platforms to be more transparent and accountable.
The early results are promising, but the road ahead is bumpy. Platforms like Telegram remain beyond the reach of these regulations, and enforcement will be a long-term challenge. Moreover, the open disdain for the DSA obligations and attacks against the EU regulation efforts by the X and Meta representatives signal a troubling development for the future.
That said, the DSA has created opportunities for CSOs to hold platforms accountable and bring a fresh focus to the fight against disinformation. Success will depend on how well we integrate grassroots insights into this regulatory framework. Civil society’s on-the-ground expertise is essential if the DSA is to live up to its potential.
What TechSoup Brings to the Table
TechSoup's Digital Activism Program (DAP) has been at the forefront of helping CSOs navigate the stormy waters of disinformation. Our Regional Mapping reports, covering the Baltic, Black Sea, Visegrad, and Western Balkan regions provide an invaluable roadmap for understanding how disinformation takes root and spreads.
These reports show how adaptable CSOs can be in countering disinformation. In Romania, for instance, CSOs tackled public health misinformation head-on during the COVID-19 pandemic and also played a crucial role in the volatile election period. In Lithuania, innovative media literacy programs partnered with tech companies to counter harmful content. And in Slovakia, CSOs have worked tirelessly to promote digital literacy, empowering citizens to separate facts from fiction.
But these efforts come at a cost. Disinformation campaigns are increasingly targeting the very organizations trying to counter them. Accusing CSOs of being foreign agents, fueling public anger, inciting harassment, funding cuts, and even threats and intimidation. It’s a stark reminder of the urgent need to support civil society in this fight.
What`s next?
The story of disinformation in 2024 is one of evolution—both of the threats and the responses. It’s no longer enough to fact-check or debunk false information. Disinformation has become a weapon for driving divisions, and tackling it requires more than just technical fixes.
Civil society organizations are proving they have the tools, resilience, and creativity to push back, but they can’t do it alone. Policymakers, tech platforms, and everyday citizens all have a role to play in supporting their efforts.
The resilience of democracies hinges on the strength of their civil societies. As we move forward, the lessons of 2024 make one thing clear. Countering disinformation isn’t just about fighting lies—it’s about building trust, fostering connections, and ensuring that truth has the loudest voice in the room.
Together, we can stand firm against disinformation and safeguard the democratic values we hold dear.
Author: Daniel Milo
Background illustration: thatinchan