Disinformation networks 'flooded' X before EU elections, report says

A report by Dutch researchers revealed that coordinated networks of accounts spread disinformation on social media platforms in France, Germany, and Italy before the European parliamentary elections. The accounts, many of which were created after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, experienced a significant increase in followers leading up to the elections. Trollrensics, a consultancy commissioned by the Dutch Socialist and Democratic parties, analyzed 2.3 million posts from 468,000 accounts across four EU countries, identifying 50,000 as spreading disinformation. In France, 20% of posts mentioning far-right figure Éric Zemmour came from disinformation accounts, while in Germany, 10% of posts about Alternative für Deutschland were linked to such accounts. The consultancy found no organized disinformation networks in the Netherlands and noted that accounts in Italy focused more on migration and vaccination controversies. The report highlighted the alarming impact of these networks in influencing public discourse and elections, emphasizing the need for vigilance against such coordinated disinformation campaigns.