Brussels: The European Union has announced a new plan to work with major technology companies and social media influencers to fight the growing spread of fake news and hybrid threats that target democratic systems.

The European Commission’s new “Democracy Shield” strategy aims to strengthen Europe’s ability to detect and respond to disinformation campaigns. It focuses on involving tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, TikTok, and X to help identify and stop misleading online content more quickly.

The plan introduces a “crisis protocol” under the Digital Services Act. This will allow the EU and online platforms to work together in real time when a large scale disinformation or cyber campaign is detected. The move comes as European officials warn of increasing manipulation by foreign and domestic actors using digital tools to influence public opinion and elections.

The strategy also recognizes the growing influence of social media personalities. The EU plans to create a voluntary network of influencers who will promote verified information and help raise awareness about online misinformation.

To coordinate these efforts, the European Centre for Democratic Resilience will be launched. This body will share expertise among EU countries and monitor hybrid threats across platforms.

Officials said the goal is to protect citizens from misleading information without restricting free expression. However, experts note that enforcing these new measures will be a challenge, especially when dealing with artificial intelligence generated content such as deepfakes.

The initiative marks a major step in the EU’s broader effort to safeguard democracy in the digital age and ensure that technology serves the truth rather than distorting it.