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EU Wants to Enlist Online Platforms to Fight Hybrid Threats, EU Document Shows
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 30, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
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The EU proposes new measures for online platforms to combat hybrid threats, aiming to protect democracy across Europe.
EU Proposes New Measures for Online Platforms to Combat Hybrid Threats
EU's Strategy Against Hybrid Threats
By Lili Bayer and Andrew Gray
Understanding Hybrid Threats
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Online platforms subject to landmark EU tech rules could be required to detect and tackle hybrid threats in Europe under a proposal set to be announced by the European Commission next month and seen by Reuters.
Role of Online Platforms
The EU uses the term hybrid threats to refer to coordinated attacks using a combination of economic, technological or other measures that fall short of formal warfare. They can include such things as disinformation campaigns or the use of social media to control the political narrative.
Implications of the European Democracy Shield
The document, known as the European Democracy Shield, is part of European Union efforts to counter foreign information manipulation and interference and protect and promote democracy across the 27-country bloc, triggered in part by Russian misinformation.
Under the Digital Services Act which became applicable last year, Alphabet's Google, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Elon Musk's X, TikTok and other online platforms have to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content on their platforms.
They may have to broaden their efforts under the European Democracy Shield.
"The Commission will prepare a DSA crisis protocol for hybrid threats, to better detect, deter and respond to incident and crises which will be developed with online platforms, national authorities and relevant stakeholders," the document said.
The document will also urge tech companies which signed up to the Code of Conduct on disinformation to analyse threats posed by deepfakes and AI-generated videos and media to elections, and identify measures to counter them.
Signatories to the Code include Google, Microsoft, Meta and TikTok.
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen is expected to announce the proposal on November 13, according to a Commission agenda. The timing and the details could still change until then.
(Writng by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Jan Harvey)
Key Takeaways
- •EU plans to involve online platforms in combating hybrid threats.
- •Hybrid threats include disinformation and social media manipulation.
- •The European Democracy Shield aims to protect EU democracy.
- •Tech companies may face expanded responsibilities under new rules.
- •Proposal announcement expected on November 13.
Frequently Asked Questions about EU wants to enlist online platforms to fight hybrid threats, EU document shows
1What is a hybrid threat?
A hybrid threat refers to coordinated attacks that use a mix of economic, technological, and other measures that do not amount to formal warfare, such as disinformation campaigns.
2What is the Digital Services Act?
The Digital Services Act is a regulation in the EU that requires online platforms to take responsibility for illegal and harmful content on their services.
3What is the European Democracy Shield?
The European Democracy Shield is a document aimed at countering foreign information manipulation and protecting democracy within the EU.
4What are deepfakes?
Deepfakes are synthetic media in which a person’s likeness is replaced with someone else’s, often used in misleading or malicious contexts.
