As Cyprus and Malta enter an important electoral period, the Mediterranean Digital Media Observatory (MedDMO) is activating its monitoring and analysis processes aimed at identifying potential cases of online disinformation, information manipulation, and coordinated influence operations that may affect public discourse and democratic processes.
Information manipulation, including the spread of misleading or manipulated content such as deepfakes, deceptive narratives, or coordinated amplification campaigns, can undermine citizens’ ability to access reliable information and make informed political decisions. During elections, these risks become particularly significant due to the increased volume and speed of online information flows.
In line with the responsibilities established under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and the commitments outlined in the Code of Conduct on Disinformation, MedDMO will monitor the online information environment surrounding the elections in Cyprus and Malta. This effort focuses on identifying potentially harmful or coordinated activities circulating on major online platforms and search engines, including possible cases of coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB), regardless of their origin or political orientation.
Since October 2025, several major platforms, including Facebook (Meta), Google, and TikTok have suspended political, electoral, and social issue advertising in the EU, citing the compliance obligations introduced by Regulation (EU) 2024/900 on the transparency and targeting of political advertising (TTPA). Nevertheless, political advertisements continue to appear on platforms through undeclared sponsorships, ineffective detection systems, or inconsistent moderation enforcement. Reporting such advertisements is, therefore, important since ineffective enforcement against undeclared political advertising can contribute to systemic risks, including covert influence operations, foreign interference, and state sponsored amplification of disinformation through sponsored content and coordinated campaigns.
Where relevant, findings may be communicated to the appropriate online platforms and stakeholders for further assessment under their respective policies and obligations. Any decisions regarding moderation, enforcement, or other actions remain solely the responsibility of the platforms concerned, which must act in accordance with their policies and applicable legal frameworks, while respecting fundamental rights, including freedom of expression.
The information and material presented through this initiative are provided for transparency and public awareness purposes and do not prejudge any subsequent actions that may or may not be taken by online platforms or other relevant entities.
