VOST Europe

Report March 2025

Submitted

VOST Europe is a network of Virtual Operations Support Teams (VOSTs) across Europe that supports emergency response and crisis management by monitoring, verifying, and analyzing online information. It plays a role in combating disinformation during crises by identifying and countering false narratives that could hinder emergency response efforts. By providing real-time digital support, social media monitoring, and data analysis, VOST Europe enhances situational awareness for authorities, responders, and the public, fostering collaboration among national VOSTs and strengthening digital crisis response across borders.

Empowering Users

Commitment 17

In light of the European Commission's initiatives in the area of media literacy, including the new Digital Education Action Plan, Relevant Signatories commit to continue and strengthen their efforts in the area of media literacy and critical thinking, also with the aim to include vulnerable groups.

We signed up to the following measures of this commitment

Measure 17.2

In line with this commitment, did you deploy new implementation measures (e.g. changes to your terms of service, new tools, new policies, etc)?

If yes, list these implementation measures here

Do you plan to put further implementation measures in place in the next 6 months to substantially improve the maturity of the implementation of this commitment?

If yes, which further implementation measures do you plan to put in place in the next 6 months?

Measure 17.2

Relevant Signatories will develop, promote and/or support or continue to run activities to improve media literacy and critical thinking such as campaigns to raise awareness about Disinformation, as well as the TTPs that are being used by malicious actors, among the general public across the European Union, also considering the involvement of vulnerable communities.

VOST Europe, in collaboration with national VOST teams, has coordinated initiatives to raise awareness of disinformation while amplifying the dissemination of content produced by independent researchers and fact-checkers across its social media platforms. This strategic effort seeks to enhance public awareness of disinformation narratives and equip citizens with the necessary skills to critically assess and identify misinformation.

SLI 17.2.1

Relevant Signatories report on number of media literacy and awareness raising activities organised and or participated in and will share quantitative information pertinent to show the effects of the campaigns they build or support at the Member State level.

  • Nr of media literacy/ awareness raising  activities organised/ participated in: 6
  • Reach: 1.2M

Country Nr of media literacy/ awareness raising activities organised/ participated in Reach of campaigns Nr of participants Nr of interactions with online assets Nr of participants (etc)
Austria 0 0 0 0 0
Belgium 0 0 0 0 0
Bulgaria 0 0 0 0 0
Croatia 0 0 0 0 0
Cyprus 0 0 0 0 0
Czech Republic 0 0 0 0 0
Denmark 0 0 0 0 0
Estonia 0 0 0 0 0
Finland 0 0 0 0 0
France 0 0 0 0 0
Germany 0 0 0 0 0
Greece 0 0 0 0 0
Hungary 0 0 0 0 0
Ireland 0 0 0 0 0
Italy 0 0 0 0 0
Latvia 0 0 0 0 0
Lithuania 0 0 0 0 0
Luxembourg 0 0 0 0 0
Malta 0 0 0 0 0
Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0
Poland 0 0 0 0 0
Portugal 0 0 0 0 0
Romania 0 0 0 0 0
Slovakia 0 0 0 0 0
Slovenia 0 0 0 0 0
Spain 0 0 0 0 0
Sweden 0 0 0 0 0
Iceland 0 0 0 0 0
Liechtenstein 0 0 0 0 0
Norway 0 0 0 0 0

Empowering Researchers

Commitment 29

Relevant Signatories commit to conduct research based on transparent methodology and ethical standards, as well as to share datasets, research findings and methodologies with relevant audiences.

We signed up to the following measures of this commitment

Measure 29.1

In line with this commitment, did you deploy new implementation measures (e.g. changes to your terms of service, new tools, new policies, etc)?

If yes, list these implementation measures here

Do you plan to put further implementation measures in place in the next 6 months to substantially improve the maturity of the implementation of this commitment?

If yes, which further implementation measures do you plan to put in place in the next 6 months?

Measure 29.1

Relevant Signatories will use transparent methodologies and ethical standards to conduct research activities that track and analyse influence operations, and the spread of Disinformation. They will share datasets, research findings and methodologies with members of the Task-force including EDMO, ERGA, and other Signatories and ultimately with the broader public.

QRE 29.1.1

Relevant Signatories will provide reports on their research, including topics, methodology, ethical standards, types of data accessed, data governance, and outcomes.

In this period VOST Europe did not conduct any research, taking a more operational stance  

QRE 29.1.2

Relevant Signatories will update their research in the Transparency Centre to allow for greater awareness and availability of their work.

In this period VOST Europe did not conduct any research, taking a more operational stance  

QRE 29.1.3

Relevant Signatories will provide detailed information on methodology development to all stakeholders informed about research results. They will also regularly inform all members of the Task-force, including ERGA, EDMO and other Signatories about research activities they conduct, and, wherever possible, the related methodologies used. They will finally share, wherever possible, such research outcomes and related methodologies with the broader public.

In this period VOST Europe did not conduct any research, taking a more operational stance