Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023
177. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what action Ireland is taking with European partners to counter false Russian narratives and disinformation about the war on Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50055/23]
View answerInformation manipulation and interference, including disinformation, by the Russian Federation has been of concern for the EU and its Member States for some time, and has become more acute since the illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine in February last year. In this regard, the Russian Federation has been seen to use a wide spectrum of tactics and techniques with the objective of sowing divisions in societies, denigrating democratic processes and institutions and rallying support for its policies.
The European Union has taken extensive measures to counter Russian disinformation since the outset of the conflict last year, primarily through the Strategic Compass, which provided for the development of new EU Hybrid and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) Toolboxes. The Toolboxes, which are now agreed, provide a range of preventive, cooperative, stability-building, restrictive and support measures for the EU, its Member States and partner countries.
The Toolboxes build on and complement a range of other EU measures to counter disinformation, including information manipulation of Russian origin, such as the ongoing work of the Digital Services Agreement, the European External Action Service (EEAS) East Stratcom Taskforce, the Code of Practice on Disinformation and the work of fourteen European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) hubs across the EU, including the EDMO Ireland hub that is coordinated from Dublin City University.
Ireland is strongly supportive of these measures at EU level and has also provided support to independent media platforms throughout the European Neighbourhood to continue vital work and counter Russian narratives. The Government is also taking a number of steps domestically to counter disinformation, including the current development of a new National Counter Disinformation Strategy, as well as the establishment of Coimisiún na Mean and An Coimisiún Toghcháin, both of which will have specific powers related to countering disinformation.
