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Migration and Home Affairs
  • General publications
  • 10 October 2022
  • Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs
  • 1 min read

Spotlight on COVID-19, Violent Extremism and Anti-Government Movements

Spotlight on COVID-19, Violent Extremism and Anti-Government Movements News

Fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding measures taken by governments and authorities, there has been a surge in anti-government action throughout Europe. Several extremist groups, both from the violent left and right, have been feeding on and propagating misinformation, disinformation, conspiracy narratives and fake news. This reaches a broad audience of people who in turn become violent towards authorities.

As a result of recent events, we see a growing mix of anti vaxxers (the anti-COVID vaccination movement), conspiracists – including those spreading mis- and disinformation about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, who are often the same groups spreading mis- and disinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic – climate extremists, and many more. The accumulative result is an increase in public distrust, particularly among vulnerable individuals, towards authorities and governments.

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Publication date
10 October 2022
Author
Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs