Misinformation poses a genuine challenge to democratic societies, which depend on a well-informed and discerning public. At the same time, freedom of expression remains a foundational pillar of democratic self-understanding and one that must be safeguarded. Against this backdrop, the discussion explored both the nature of the problem and the range of possible policy responses.

“Though misinformation is a real concern in democratic societies, empirical research consistently shows that it constitutes only a marginal share of the overall information environment,” Prof. Theocharis noted during the panel. His recent work further demonstrates that the spread of misinformation is highly concentrated among a relatively small group of extremely active users. “This has important implications for policy: broad, sweeping measures may not be the most effective approach,” he added.

The discussion also addressed the widely debated question of how democratic societies can balance the protection of free expression with the mitigation of digital harms. For Prof. Theocharis, whose research focuses precisely on this tension, the answer lies in precision and targeted interventions rather than overreach, particularly in a context where social media companies are increasingly pushing back against regulatory efforts.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis emphasized the importance of a coordinated European approach to platform governance, highlighting the role of the Digital Services Act as a key instrument in addressing systemic risks in the digital public sphere.

Prof. Theocharis concluded by outlining a clear policy direction: “Effective responses to misinformation should prioritize targeted interventions, greater platform transparency, responsible algorithmic design, and the robust implementation of the European Union’s regulatory framework.”

The full discussion (in Greek) is available here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/Qa7xF5ysEEI?is=b4H9wJIrmjVbCDwG

Also read: Theocharis, Y., Kosmidis, S., Zilinsky, J., Quint, F. & Pradel, F. (2025). Content Warning: Public Attitudes on Content Moderation and Freedom of Expression.