European Parliament Demands Tougher Sanctions on Russian Troll Farms

The vote in Strasbourg strengthens the proposed European Democracy Shield, an initiative designed to counter foreign interference. While the Parliament lacks direct legal authority to enact sanctions—a power reserved for individual member states—the overwhelming majority vote serves as a significant political signal to the European Commission. Lawmakers argued that current protections are insufficient against coordinated efforts to amplify manufactured controversy.

Swedish MEP Tomas Tobé, who led the report, emphasized that Russia is investing heavily in digital disruption to undermine European societies. French MEP Nathalie Loiseau echoed this sentiment, asserting that freedom of expression does not grant foreign bots the right to artificially manipulate debates. However, the proposal faced resistance from 220 members, largely from far-right factions. Polish MEP Beata Szydło voiced opposition, warning that defensive measures against external actors should not inadvertently justify internal interference or overreach by EU institutions.