Background Paper for the 2024-2029 EU College of Commissioners: The Importance of Feminist Approaches in Tackling (AI-driven) Gendered Disinformation to Counter Election Interference
On the 1st of December 2024, a new European Commission took office. During its first month, the Commission provided observers with an important overview of the policy objectives it will prioritise during this new EU Mandate (2024-2029) – identifying over 160 policy initiatives across a range of sectors. While individual members have acknowledged the importance of combatting (AI-driven) gendered disinformation and its impact on electoral processes, an initial analysis of the Commission’s prospective initiatives highlights a lack of distinct attention to the issue thus far. This briefing highlights the urgency of addressing the issue of gendered disinformation in order to safeguard progress towards gender equality and democratic integrity in the EU – and provides recommendations for the formulation of inclusive policy initiatives to that end.