No. 51

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External intervention and information chaos

09 June 2025

Focus

RiTo No. 51, 2025

  • Liisa Past

    Liisa Past

    Cybersecurity and hybrid threats expert

In an age where technological innovation and social media evolve faster than regulation can follow, the European Union has undertaken an ambitious effort to rein in online disinformation, manipulation, and chaos.

The Digital Services Act (DSA), which came into force in 2024, obligates very large platforms to identify systemic risks, increase transparency, and curb illegal content — all while balancing fundamental rights such as freedom of expression. This legislative milestone responds to growing societal concerns: from polarisation and algorithmic manipulation to the spread of synthetic content like deepfakes. Estonia’s regulatory focus has been on the integrity of the Estonian-language infosphere and safeguarding minors. Meanwhile, the U.S. pursues a more laissez-faire model, shielding platforms via Section 230 and loosening content moderation under Trump. The global regulatory landscape reveals a stark transatlantic divide in governing digital influence in democracy’s name.

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