Reflections on the EDMO Disinformation Report Findings Across 27 Member States

Front Cover of EDMO Report (source: EDMO)

In the course of our work at TITAN (designing and deploying an AI-powered Socratic coach to build citizens’ critical thinking skills) we have kept a close eye on the broader ecosystem of how Europe's democracies are responding to disinformation.

The recent European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) report How is disinformation addressed in the Member States of the European Union? – 27 country cases provides a timely and important map of the terrain. From our vantage point, there are three themes that really stand out and align closely with our mission.

1. The centrality of resilience and critical thinking

One of the strongest messages in the EDMO report is that the fight against disinformation is not just about legal sanctions or platform regulations, it is about strengthening the “immune system” of societies. The report emphasises that countries with stronger media literacy, higher levels of critical reasoning among citizens, more pluralistic media markets and robust independent journalism are better placed to respond to disinformation.

From the TITAN viewpoint this reinforces our belief that equipping citizens with the mindset and tools to question, reflect, and evaluate is foundational. Our Socratic-dialogue coach is designed precisely for this: prompting users not to accept or simply reject content, but to probe assumptions, seek evidence, consider alternatives. In societies where this kind of thinking is embedded, the risk of disinformation spreading unchallenged is reduced.

2. Diverse policy mixes, tailored national contexts

EDMO’s analysis across 27 Member States makes clear that there is no one-size-fits-all recipe. Some countries lean heavily on statutory measures, administrative powers, criminal provisions ahead of elections, others emphasise awareness-raising, media literacy programmes, partnerships with platforms, fact-checking networks. The report repeatedly states that “the optimal policy mix can differ from country to country”.

For TITAN this is a key insight. It means that solutions like ours needs to be adaptable to local context, language, media culture, educational systems, threat perceptions, levels of digital skills. While the Socratic coaching model remains constant, how it is implemented (in higher education, in NGO training, in citizen workshops) must vary. The EDMO report underscores why: structural conditions (platform usage, trust in media, political culture) shape what is feasible and effective.

3. Regulation and platforms matter - but not enough on their own

The EDMO report provides a sober reminder that while regulation (including the obligations for platforms under instruments like the Digital Services Act) is important, it cannot carry the burden alone. There are persistent gaps: many national strategies remain in draft; enforcement is uneven; cross-border coordination is weak; the tension with freedom of expression may limit how far regulation can go without chilling effects. Also, given the global nature of many disinformation flows, purely national responses are inherently limited.

From TITAN’s perspective, this means our approach must complement regulation, aiming not to control content, but to empower users. We place our focus on citizen agency, helping individuals and communities to be active agents rather than passive recipients. We believe that when regulation, platform governance, media literacy and citizen-centred tools all work together, then the ecosystem becomes more resilient.

Quick Summary: What the EDMO report signals for TITAN

• Build critical thinking and media literacy into the core of any solution, not as an add-on.

• Recognise local context matters: tailoring deployment models, language, use-cases, and partnerships to fit different Member States.

• Supplement regulation and platform policy with citizen empowerment tools, because even the best rules cannot reach every corner of an online network or every individual.

Read the EDMO Report here.

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