Civil Society in Ireland, France and Germany respond to far-right narratives targeted at youth

Today, European Movement Ireland has launched a report, The Disinformation Landscape: Youth in Ireland and the EU, examining how European authorities and civil society organisations are countering disinformation among young people and working to build resilience in communities.  

It explores some of the trends around disinformation and youth, in particular from Active Clubs, a fast-growing network of far-right activists, with links to mixed martial arts (MMA) across Europe.

EM Ireland’s report analyses disinformation narratives promoted by this transnational network in Ireland, France and Germany. 

In Ireland, Comhaltas na nGaedhael, which is part of the growing network of Active Clubs, pushes disinformation narratives regarding migration, gender roles, people of colour and Irish history.

Comhaltas na nGaedheal has live social media accounts across Instagram, Telegram and Substack, which have a combined online following of 2,339 people accounting for approximately 10% of the far-right movement in Ireland.   

Commenting on the findings of the report, Dr. Gillian Kennedy, Policy and Research Manager, European Movement Ireland said; 

“Examining Active Clubs across Ireland, France and Germany, has provided an eye-opening and worrying insight into racist and dangerous narratives they promote.

“Active Clubs have managed to attract young men through their promotion of hyper masculine, clean living, “strong” fit men who need to be ready “to fight” against “the system”.

While these groups differ in each local chapter across member states, there are common themes of disinformation centred on their anti-migration agenda and the promotion of ultra nationalism.  

Across Ireland, France and Germany, state and youth-led civil society groups are responding to disinformation narratives from organisations like Active Clubs, by running youth and education programmes specifically targeted at countering disinformation and encouraging young people to report hate speech online.

The EU has also put in place useful youth-focused tools to counter disinformation, however there is an urgent need to counter disinformation through a youth specific lens. 

In France and Germany there are approximately 32 Active Clubs in both states, spreading from the cities of Paris and Berlin, and across rural heartlands.

In contrast to Ireland, the larger presence of these networks, could be explained by an established movement of far-right organisations in France and Germany.

According to research of Active Clubs in France on Telegram, there are approximately 20 local organisations in France, with the German network, Active Club Deutschland, less publicly visible online, with only 12 reported groups. 

To counter disinformation and the narratives promoted by extremist groups like Active Clubs, civil society organisations in Ireland, France and Germany have been working with young people in communities to address these issues.

Speaking to European Movement Ireland about her day-to-day general experience of disinformation in Dublin’s inner city, youth worker Sarah Whelan, Crosscare, Ballybough Youth Service said; 

“I have found overall far-right activism has decreased in recent times, however there are many who are still vocal and would have strong anti-migrant views.  

At the Crosscare in Ballybough we seek to address disinformation in informal ways by asking young people about the sources of their information and giving them an open forum to discuss their opinions and concerns. In particular, we encourage young people to think critically about issues they are reading, listening to or watching on social media.” 

In France, the civil society response to disinformation is focused on education, with awareness-raising activities seeking to address disinformation and emotional manipulation, for example a Civic Fab initiative called “What the Fake”. 

In Germany, the approach to countering disinformation among young people is significantly different, with young adults actively encouraged to report hate speech online, for example, REspect!.   

Furthermore, the EU addresses this challenge primarily through the EU’s 2022 Code of Practice on Disinformation (CoPoD), which forms part of a broader regulatory framework, in addition to the Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising and the Digital Services Act.   

Dr. Gillian Kennedy, Policy and Research Manager, European Movement Ireland concluded; 

“Given the common challenges groups like Active Clubs and disinformation narratives pose across Ireland, France and Germany, and more broadly in the EU, there is potential for knowledge exchanges and collaboration among civil society working with youth populations to improve shared practices.  

“The EU has in place useful youth-focused tools to counter disinformation and promotes opportunities for collaboration and learning across Member States.

“However, there is still significant scope for more awareness-raising and visibility of these tools. More work is needed on countering disinformation, in particular, through a youth specific lens.  

“All stakeholders involved in this report noted a need for the provision of more funding for local youth groups who are particularly impacted by grave challenges posed by disinformation.”