Publication
The collective securitisation of ‘disinformation’ and the EU's ban on Russia Today and Sputnik
In this article, Sophie Vériter examines the EU’s unprecedented ban on Russian state media following the invasion of Ukraine, using securitisation theory and interviews to trace decision-making, key actors, and the wider implications for democracy, legitimacy, and information governance.
- Author
- Sophie Vériter
- Date
- 05 September 2025
- Links
- Read the full article here
The article shows that the EU’s ban on RT and Sputnik emerged through an expedited, informal process, shaped by a decade of disinformation policies and the leadership of the Baltic states and the European Commission. The decision reflects a collective securitisation of disinformation, where supranational institutions, member states, and the public interact recursively to frame information as a security threat.
Key findings highlight the normalisation of emergency politics, the expansion of EU executive power, and tensions between security measures and democratic principles. While the ban addressed perceived existential threats, it risks undermining legitimacy, coherence, and trust, potentially weakening citizens resilience and setting lasting precedents for freedom of expression and digital governance.