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Evolving Discourse on Digital Disinformation as a threat: A Critical Discourse Analysis of European Parliament Debates
Malmö University, Faculty of Culture and Society (KS), Department of Global Political Studies (GPS).
2025 (English)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 14 HE creditsStudent thesis
Abstract [en]

The purpose of this thesis has been to understand how digital disinformation is discursively framed as a threat within the EU, how the discourse evolves and what actions are suggested to counter the digital disinformation. This thesis has adopted securitization theory as a theoretical perspective and a Critical Discourse Analysis to analyse six European Parliament debates between 2022 and early 2025. The debates have been analysed on three levels, problems (what external events and developments influence the threat), actors (what actors pose the threat) and actions (what actions are suggested). The finding suggests how discourse have evolved and become more complex on all levels. Problems have evolved from including conflicts to technological developments. Furthermore, actors have evolved and become more complex, including foreign state actors, social platforms and its owners. Moreover, proposed actions have evolved from a whole-society-approach to stricter regulations, including emergency actions. However, by adopting securitization theory, the thesis also shows how counter discourses emerge throughout the debates, rejecting securitization moves. These findings suggest the complexity of securitizing digital disinformation and the challenge of the EU to find a coherent response.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2025. , p. 39
Keywords [en]
Digital disinformation, EU, European Parliament, Securitization theory
National Category
Social Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-77672OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mau-77672DiVA, id: diva2:1972545
Educational program
KS GPS International Relations
Supervisors
Examiners
Available from: 2025-06-19 Created: 2025-06-18 Last updated: 2025-06-19Bibliographically approved

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