Elite Panic and the Push to Regulate "Misinformation"
In 2024, global elections involving around 2 billion voters were met with widespread fears of AI-driven disinformation and foreign interference, prompting European leaders to advocate for stronger regulation of online content. Despite dire predictions, the anticipated democratic crisis did not materialize, raising questions about the proportionality of proposed speech restrictions. The article critiques the recurring pattern of 'elite panic' leading to censorship-like measures under the guise of protecting democracy.
- ▪In 2024, about 2 billion voters participated in elections across major democracies, including the U.S., EU, India, and Brazil.
- ▪European officials like Ursula von der Leyen and Věra Jourová warned of an existential threat from AI-generated deepfakes and disinformation campaigns.
- ▪The European Union expanded its Digital Services Act and banned Russian state media such as RT and Sputnik, citing threats to democratic integrity.
- ▪The European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) described disinformation as a 'pervasive phenomenon' affecting voter perceptions.
- ▪Despite alarms, the feared collapse of electoral integrity in 2024 did not occur, challenging the justification for restrictive speech measures.
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Free Speech Elite Panic and the Push to Regulate "Misinformation" European leaders' warnings of a democratic apocalypse failed to materialize in 2024. Jacob Mchangama and Jeff Kosseff | 5.5.2026 9:36 AM <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8380269" src="https://reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/41Ya-4mpqTL._SY445_SX342_FMwebp_1.webp" alt="" width="295" height="445" srcset="https://reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/41Ya-4mpqTL._SY445_SX342_FMwebp_1.webp 295w, https://reason.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/41Ya-4mpqTL._SY445_SX342_FMwebp_1-199x300.webp 199w" sizes="(max-width: 295px) 100vw, 295px" /> Our book traces the waves of elite panic that drive governments to regulate "misinformation," "disinformation," and other speech that the…
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