EU-Backed Chatbot Launched to Combat Disinformation

A robotic head with metallic silver features and bright blue glowing eyes is centered against the European Union flag background. The flag’s distinctive circle of 12 golden stars on a deep blue field frames the android figure. The robot has a sleek, futuristic design with smooth contours and a humanoid appearance. The lighting creates subtle reflections on the metallic surface of the robot’s face.

Siôn Geschwindt

Introduction to ChatEurope

A group of major European media organisations has launched a chatbot aimed at combating online disinformation. The tool, called ChatEurope, responds to queries with information verified by journalists. It was set up by a consortium of media brands led by Agence France-Presse.

Fourteen other news organisations, including France Médias Monde, Deutsche Welle, El País, and Romania’s RFI, have supported the project, which is also backed by the European Commission. The chatbot was designed by DRUID AI, a Romanian enterprise AI platform, and uses a language model developed by French startup Mistral.

ChatEurope works by providing answers to user queries with full source citations, drawing on thousands of articles produced by the 15 consortium members. The responses cover topics including EU policy, climate, tech regulation, and geopolitics. The chatbot is available in seven languages: English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Romanian, and Spanish.

Countering Disinformation

The launch of ChatEurope comes as disinformation on social media platforms is becoming increasingly widespread. Over 40% of Europeans under 30 years old use social media as their primary news source, according to the latest European Parliament Youth Survey. However, disinformation on these platforms risks eroding trust in credible journalism, disrupting elections, and even inciting violence.

ChatEurope is designed to counter this trend by providing a reliable source of information on European affairs. The creators of the chatbot say it offers full editorial independence and avoids algorithmic bias, making it a valuable resource for a wide audience, from students to policymakers.