The fight against disinformation on health issues in the EU

As preparatory work ahead of the Health Council in June, Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Slovenia and Spain produced an information note highlighting the loss of confidence in science and health authorities, and the resulting disruption of public debate, representing a major challenge for democracies in the EU. Furthermore, they underlined that health misinformation is a significant health risk, given the recent upsurge in vaccine mistrust in many EU Member States and the spread of misleading content on social networks in particular.

Continuing to guarantee a high level of well-being and health through the Health Union. The need to support the European level in the fight against health obscurantism and misinformation. 

The fight against misinformation in the field of health is in line with numerous European initiatives in the field of prevention and “enlightened”/well informed health promotion. 

The loss of confidence in science and health authorities, and the resulting disruption of public debate, represent a major challenge for our democracies. 

Misinformation, particularly in the field of health, is a structural threat to our democracies, our public policies and, de facto, our health policies. The spread of disinformation and misinformation compromises the dissemination of knowledge, the defense of scientific truth, and the Union's resilience and security. 

The manipulation of information, whether by sharing false information without intent to harm, by sharing false information with the aim of misleading the recipient, or by sharing true information taken out of context for the same purpose, disrupts public debate and undermines citizens' trust in health institutions. Health misinformation is a major health risk, given the upsurge in vaccine mistrust in many member states, and the misinformation relayed on social networks in particular. This can lead to health risks and even death.

This is particularly true in the field of vaccination, with an upsurge in vaccine mistrust in many member states: 

• Our collective immunity and the development of epidemics (such as this winter's severe flu epidemic). 

• More broadly, resistance to public health measures, and sometimes even pressure or acts of violence against healthcare professionals. In some cases, it is even essential to provide support to these professionals to enable them to carry out their care duties with serenity.

• Health misinformation is continually fuelled by a constellation of diverse actors, including digital influencers, representatives of economic interests, populist political relays and organized, often transnational, networks. It therefore goes beyond the realm of scientific truth and represents an issue of national security and democratic resilience. Furthermore, the wide variety of sources of information and misinformation is amplified by the digital virality of social networks, making it more difficult for public authorities to protect individuals. We now know that more than half of the mental health information relayed by certain algorithm-based networks (such as Tik tok, Instagram, Youtube) is dangerous to the health of users, all the more so when they are young or susceptible to influence. 

• Mental health and suicide prevention when manipulated information is repeated and hammered home to people in distress or who have already developed behavioural disorders (such as eating disorders, recourse to cosmetic operations...).