Disinformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Challenges in Definition and Recognition

Abstract: Disinformation is one of the greatest threats to democratic processes, and the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) further complicates the fight against its spread. The European Union (EU) has taken a pioneering role in regulating AI, introducing the strictest rules since August 2024. But what do the terms “disinformation” and “artificial intelligence” really mean? How do they interact, and what are the potential dangers (and opportunities) that arise from their intersection? This article explores these questions by examining the key trends in an attempt to define these concepts, while situating them within the context of EU regulations such as the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act). The hypothesis is that the general public finds it difficult to fully understand these concepts due to their broad scope and the challenges in defining their terminology. Through desk research, analysis, and synthesis, this paper assesses whether the frequent use of these buzzwords means they are largely understood or misunderstood. In the discussion section, the article summarises the main challenges and opportunities, posed by the synchronisation of these two phenomena. Keywords: disinformation, artificial intelligence, terminology, European Union (EU), regulation, Digital Services Act (DSA), Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act).