Disinformation on the Coronavirus – Short Assessment of the Information Environment

Summary:

The objective of this report is to provide a snapshot overview of the current trends and insights into disinformation activities related to COVID-19. It does not provide a comprehensive or complete overview and focuses primarily on the external dimension, in line with the EEAS mandate.

Its first version was published on 19 March 2020, and a number of updates followed thereafter:

• Update 1 (20-27 March), published on 1 April;
• Update 2 (2-22 April), published on 24 April.

The European Parliament's foreign affairs committee held a debate concerning this report on 30 April 2020.

Official

EUvsDisinfo: News and Analysis, 01/04/2020: EEAS Special Special Report Update: Short Assessment of Narratives and Disinformation around the COVID-19 Pandemic https://euvsdisinfo.eu/eeas-special-report-update-short-assessment-of-narratives-and-disinformation-around-the-covid-19-pandemic/

European Parliament: Press Release, 30/04/2020: MEPs debate EEAS report on disinformation activities related to COVID-19 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20200429IPR78190/

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News

The Independent, 18/03/2020: EU accuses Russia of looking to destabilise west with coronavirus disinformation campaign https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-coronavirus-disinformation-eu-kremlin-pandemic-a9409051.html

Deutsche Welle, 18/03/2020: Russia denies EU allegations over coronavirus disinformation campaign https://p.dw.com/p/3ZeMS

EurActiv, 18/03/2020: Russia deploying coronavirus disinformation to sow panic in West, EU document says https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/russia-deploying-coronavirus-disinformation-to-sow-panic-in-west-eu-document-says/

Bloomberg, 19/03/2020: Russia Aims to Stir Distrust in Europe on Virus Disinformation https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-19/russia-aims-to-stir-distrust-in-europe-on-virus-disinformation

Politico, 01/04/2020: Russia and China push ‘fake news’ aimed at weakening Europe: report https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-china-disinformation-coronavirus-covid19-facebook-google/

RFE/RL, 22/04/2020: EU Monitors See Coordinated COVID-19 Disinformation Effort By Iran, Russia, China https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-monitors-sees-coordinated-covid-19-disinformation-effort-by-iran-russia-china/30570938.html

BBC News, 23/04/2020: Coronavirus: Europe 'wary of confronting China over deaths' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-52404612

The Guardian, 24/04/2020: Malicious forces creating 'perfect storm' of coronavirus disinformation https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/24/coronavirus-sparks-perfect-storm-of-state-led-disinformation

The Guardian, 27/04/2020: EU ‘watered down’ report on Chinese disinformation about Covid-19 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/27/eu-watered-down-report-on-chinese-disinformation-about-covid-19

Reuters, 27/04/2020: China denies spreading coronavirus disinformation following EU report https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN2290P6

EurActiv, 27/04/2020: EEAS denies toning down China disinformation report under pressure https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/eeas-denies-toning-down-china-disinformation-report-under-pressure/

Politico, 27/04/2020: Beijing doubles down in EU propaganda battle https://www.politico.eu/article/beijing-doubles-down-in-eu-propaganda-battle/

Euronews, 27/04/2020: Coronavirus and China: EU denies it bowed to Beijing pressure over COVID-19 disinformation report https://www.euronews.com/2020/04/27/coronavirus-and-china-eu-denies-it-bowed-to-beijing-pressure-over-covid-19-disinformation

The Guardian, 30/04/2020: EU foreign policy chief denies report on China disinformation altered https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/30/eu-foreign-policy-chief-denies-changes-to-report-on-china-coronavirus-disinformation

The New York Times, 30/04/2020: Top E.U. Diplomat Says Disinformation Report Was Not Watered Down for China https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/30/world/europe/coronavirus-china-eu-disinformation.html

EurActiv, 30/04/2020: Borrell: China ‘expressed their concerns’ over disinformation leak https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/borrell-china-expressed-their-concerns-over-disinformation-leak/

EUObserver, 01/05/2020: China pressured EU on coronavirus report, Borrell admits https://euobserver.com/foreign/148236

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Commentary and Analysis

Deutsche Welle, 20/03/2020: Is Russia running a coronavirus disinformation campaign? https://p.dw.com/p/3ZoMs

Euro|topics, April 2020: Corona reporting: is Europe kowtowing to China? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/239589/

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 28/04/2020: The Cost of Europe Bowing to China’s Disinformation and Pressure https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/81663

Foreign Policy, 28/04/2020: Europe Can Afford to Fight With China https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/28/europe-china-economic-bullying/

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