Guardrails, Safeguards or Red Tape? : Competing Narratives of AI-Driven Disinformation Regulation in the European Union

Sammanfattning

Artificial Intelligence is the latest amplifier of communication technology, which, like its predecessors, is utilised to create and disseminate disinformation. This thesis critically examines how the EU’s policymakers construct this issue within the legislative discourse. Through a multi-layered discourse analysis, the research integrates Critical Discourse Analysis for micro-level linguistic scrutiny, Frame Analysis for meso-level definitions, and Strategic Narrative theory for macro-level understanding, revealing the bloc’s multifaceted goals and inherent policy tensions. The analysis identifies multiple framing themes and four broad narrative positions. One narrative emphasises strict measures to protect democratic values and security; another prioritises innovation and individual freedom with lighter oversight; a third bridges the two through a balanced ‘responsible innovation’ approach. A separate narrative centres on attributing blame to tech companies and hostile states. The study also uncovers persistent, unresolved contradictions, notably the tension between ‘free speech and content regulation’, and the oscillating perception of ‘Big Tech as partner or adversary’. The findings have implications for Communication for Development, highlighting the need for digital literacy, inclusive governance, and equitable access to reliable information for democratic participation. This thesis offers insights into the complex and contradictory nature of digital governance in a rapidly evolving technological landscape, underscoring the challenges of balancing democratic principles, ethics, and competitiveness.