Social Media

CfEPS in the media

Precautions for Democracies: An Active European Information Sphere

Democracy is under pressure, with populists gaining ground, partly due to an unregulated digital space that fuels emotionality and polarization. In Brandenburg’s recent election, the aggressive language from social media spilled into real-world interactions, with centrist politicians facing verbal assaults. Social media has become the primary source of political information, controlled by global platforms with immense influence.
 
Christian Ehler and Matthias Pfeffer argue that Europe must act by creating its own digital infrastructure to preserve media diversity and democracy. They highlight AI’s potential for real-time translation of European news, fostering a unified public space that counters media bubbles and strengthens democracy across the continent.

Supported by grants from the European Cultural Foundation.

The Council for European Public Space is registered in the Transparency Register of the European Commission.