Disinformation in the Slovak election

The October 2023 session of the PRINCEPS Executive Club brought together experts and practitioners in Prague to discuss the growing threat of disinformation in democratic processes, using the recent Slovak parliamentary elections as a key case study. Hosted by the PRINCEPS Risk Intelligence Institute, the discussion explored how evolving forms of digital manipulation challenge existing legal frameworks and public trust in electoral integrity.

The event featured Dominika Hajdu, Policy Director at the Centre for Democracy & Resilience, and Marián Balázs, commentator for Denník N. Both speakers brought deep insight into the regional political landscape and the mechanisms of disinformation.

Discussion

The conversation focused on the Slovak elections as an example of a shifting information environment, where populist rhetoric, propaganda, and disinformation are widespread, and the boundaries between them are becoming increasingly blurred. According to Marián Balázs, this creates serious challenges for democratic societies, particularly when it comes to crafting legislation. The lack of clear definitions makes anti-disinformation laws vulnerable to misuse, potentially susceptible to misuse for political purposed.

Dominika Hajdu offered a policy-focused perspective, proposing that rather than outright bans on disinformation, the response should target social media algorithms that determine the visibility and reach of online content. By regulating these underlying systems, she argued, it is possible to mitigate the spread of harmful narratives without compromising freedom of expression. This approach reflects a broader shift from controlling content to governing the structures through which content spreads.