An Infodemic Washes Over the EU?

The EU appears to be losing its 'war' against the tide of fake news and conspiracy theories related to the Covid19 pandemic (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/17/spreading-like-a-virus-inside-the-eus-struggle-to-debunk-covid-lies). The EU's counter propaganda body was initially tiny (it has grown) and was poorly funded (that too has increased). In spite of recent enhancements, the EU body has had nothing like the level of investment in the agencies generating fake news. The EU disinformation checkers have also had to focus almost exclusively on Russia (largely as a consequence of its invasion of Crimea). Russia is, in deed, a major source of fake news about Covid19 and vaccines developed for treatment of the virus. China, however, is also playing a significant disinformation role (the EU have had to recruit Mandarin speakers). A final problem is the fact that not all 27 members of the EU, are willing to antagonise Russia and/or China. Anti-vaxx sentiment is alive and well and spreading throughout Europe.