EU steps up fake news fight ahead of elections

Brussels The EU took steps Wednesday to protect upcoming elections against disinformation campaigns from suspects like Russia, launching a bloc-wide alert system and pressuring internet giants like Facebook for more help. Officials said their campaign will try to blunt the hatred and divisions fuelling the rise of right-wing and populist parties in a number of European countries. “We need to be united and join our forces to protect our democracies against disinformation,” said Andrus Ansip, the EU’s vice president for the digital single market. (AFP)