Jourová: US ‘calm’ about election manipulation threat

While efforts to combat disinformation and voter manipulation are in full swing in Europe ahead of the June 2024 EU elections, in the US, European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová told Euractiv.cz that the authorities are “calm” about hybrid threats before November’s federal polls, with no apparent evidence they have any preparations in place.

Jourová travelled to the US at the end of March to talk to local authorities about EU efforts to counter disinformation and misinformation before the June elections. The US also has a crucial presidential election coming up, but hybrid threats that could lead to voter and election manipulation are not a major concern.

“I came to the US to make it clear what we are doing in the EU to ensure that this year’s elections are not manipulated, and I pointed out that this issue must not be underestimated,” Jourová told Euractiv.cz.

She added that she had spoken to several people in charge of US elections and noted a “certain level of calm.”

“They assured me that they will monitor the situation so that every American can vote freely and not be manipulated,” Jourová, whose EU Commission portfolio includes values, transparency and also protection of democracy, told Euractiv.cz, while not providing any information on what safeguards or concrete measures they will put in place.

However, it was not just forthcoming elections that the vice president discussed.

“I also asked about the experience of past elections,” she added.

After the last US presidential election on 6 January 2021, supporters of then-president Donald Trump stormed the White House.

According to the US House of Representatives Committee set up to investigate the case, Trump deliberately challenged the legitimacy of the elections, used a disinformation campaign to build public support, and provoked his supporters to resort to violence.

The next presidential election will see the same candidates—incumbent President Joe Biden and Trump—running against each other, so tensions will likely be high again. But as Euractiv understands, there are no particular measures to prevent the use of disinformation, misinformation, and foreign influence before the vote.

Visit to Prague

Jourová visited Prague on 3-4 April as part of her ongoing “democracy tour” of the European capitals. Czechia was her fifth stop after Italy, Poland, Finland and Austria.

“I want to discuss with the representatives of the ministries how they are preparing to react in case of some strong disinformation attacks, for example, ten days before the elections,” the Commissioner told Czech journalists.

Jourová identified three main threats to EU election campaigns: cyber-attacks, including those on electoral infrastructure; disinformation campaigns produced in third countries; and the misuse of artificial intelligence in the form of deep-fake videos or images.

“This must not be underestimated because Russia has disinformation on its list of military warfare activities,” she said, adding that Russia will try to jeopardise the EU’s aid to Ukraine.

According to Jourová, it should be up to national ministries to deal with disinformation attacks. She also stressed that the EU has set up an early warning system, according to which a country should inform other countries when it detects the first signs of a strong disinformation campaign, and the response should then be coordinated.

(Aneta Zachová, Euractiv.cz)

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