Chatbots as Censors: How the EU Machine is Eyeing AI for Speech Control

Question

I found this post on the InfoWars website that states that the EU machine is eyeing AI for speech control. One of the most notable parts of the article is when it states that the Brussels-based AI company is not associated with the EU. This proves that Infowars is drawing out connections that aren't deliberately true

Answer 1

While the organization mentioned in the article linked Disinfo Lab have had some talk of creating "AI-based tools and methodologies for automated content verification," they have no direct ties to the EU as a whole. All the while the EU has released the AI Act as a legal regulator against AI in what they deem to be "high risk," such as transportation systems, medical devices, and AI systems that "will have to be registered in an EU database". So while it may be possible with restrictions for Disinfo Lab to use AI as a basis of factchecking its not at all tied to the EU and is not using chatbots as censors.

https://www.disinfo.eu/ai-against-disinformation/

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20230601STO93804/eu-ai-act-first-regulation-on-artificial-intelligence

Comments

This factcheck does a great job of clearly addressing the key distinction between the organization mentioned in the article, Disinfo Lab, and the European Union's broader regulatory framework regarding AI. The explanation is thorough in clarifying that while Disinfo Lab may be exploring AI-based tools for fact-checking, it isn't directly tied to the EU's regulatory efforts, specifically the AI Act. The inclusion of references to both Disinfo Lab’s work and the EU AI Act strengthens the credibility of the factcheck, providing a well-rounded perspective on the matter. Additionally, the clear statement that Disinfo Lab is not using AI chatbots as censors is an important point that helps avoid any potential misunderstandings. Overall, the factcheck effectively clarifies the relationship between the two entities and the role AI plays in this context.

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I found it interesting how you mentioned that DisinfoLab is not using chatbots as censors. Additionally, I found it interesting how you mentioned the EU’s AI Act acts as a legal regulator against transportation systems, medical devices, and AI systems. There are many things that can and need to be monitored. It is helpful to discover the truth in both sources and information devices such as AI systems.

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I think you did a great job clarifying that DisinfoLab is not officially part of the EU gov because that is pretty important to the claim. One thing I'm curious about is how the claim started, and that if there were any EU funded projects with companies similar to DisinfoLab. Or maybe if the people who made this claim had political motives.

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This is a strong take! You did a great job separating DisinfoLab from the EU itself, which is important to clearing up the exaggeration in the original claim. I’d suggest going one step further, while DisinfoLab may develop AI-based verification tools, have you looked into how much of that is actually in use or even functional right now?

Answer 2

As I looked through the source of the claim from the article, I made a discovery. DisinfoLab is not located in the EU. Rather, it is in Brussels, Belgium. Although, it does not claim to be a part of the EU. Instead, my investigation found DisinfoLab is a non-profit operating independently. They make policy recommendations to the EU and member-states. The link for a trusted source on the same claim/topic is below. The source is called Reclaim The Net. They claim they advocate for pushback against online censorship, cancel culture, and surveillance. While they are described as a small team, they seem reputable. The original first instance of this claim/idea was described to be in May 2023, through a source linkedin below. It is called Globsec. The source talks about NGOs, which stands for Non-Government Organizations, and how counter-disinformation has been attempted by many of them including DisinfoLab.

Comments

This is a great factcheck! I like how you focused on Disinfolab and really went into depth about them. This understanding of the companies behind the claim and investigating the claim itself make it clear how it seems exaggerated and misleading.

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I'm confused -- Belgium is in the EU and has been for several decades. https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/eu-countries_en

Answer 3

The claim that the European Union is leveraging chatbots for speech control, as presented in the Infowars article titled "Chatbots as Censors: How the EU Machine is Eyeing AI for Speech Control," originates from a piece authored by Didi Rankovic and published on March 5, 2025. This article references a report by EU DisinfoLab, a Brussels-based nonprofit organization that investigates disinformation campaigns and provides policy recommendations. The Infowars article interprets DisinfoLab's research as indicative of a broader EU initiative to employ chatbots for censorship purposes. However, this interpretation appears to be a misrepresentation. The EU's Artificial Intelligence Act, which came into force in 2024, classifies AI systems into risk categories, with chatbots typically falling under the "limited risk" category. This classification entails transparency obligations, such as informing users when they are interacting with AI systems, but it does not equate to censorship . Furthermore, the Digital Services Act mandates that online platforms remove illegal content once they are aware of its presence, but it does not specifically target chatbots for speech control. Therefore, the assertion that the EU is using chatbots as tools for censorship lacks substantiated evidence and appears to be a misinterpretation of existing regulations.

https://www.infowars.com/posts/chatbots-as-censors-how-the-eu-machine-is-eyeing-ai-for-speech-control

https://reclaimthenet.org/eu-disinfolab-chatbot-censorship-dsa-misinformation