A new extensive opinion poll among the Central European countries is strongly refuting the claims of part of US political and technological institutions about the alleged “institutional censorship” of the EU. On the contrary, findings show general public support for transparent and effective regulation of social media to protect freedom of expression and democratic integrity.
In 2025, the V4 media survey, ordered by the Bakala Foundation Council, were addressed by respondents in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It turns out that the public, in the vast majority, promotes responsibility for the platforms of social media, especially in response to hateful manifestations, cyberbullying, misinformation and malicious content.
“Central Europeans do not refuse freedom of expression, but they want guarantees to maintain her freedom,” said Tessa Szyszkowitz, chairwoman of the Council for Editorial Independence. “Today’s digital environment requires protection against manipulation by algorities, extremism and misinformation aimed at profit. Citizens are increasingly perceiving EU interventions not as excessively exaggerated but as a necessary protection of democracy.”
Key findings include:
• More than 90 % of people in the region require the platforms to vigorously intervene against hateful manifestations, cyberbullying and content promoting self -harm.
• 67 % of people support measures against the spread of misinformation.
• 66 % believe that digital platforms should prefer credible sources of information.
• 61 % agrees that digital platforms should be transparent in terms of their decisions regarding the priority or suppression of content.
The most preferred intervention is to remove harmful content, followed by a limitation of its visibility and adding context, which reflects strong support by clear and determined steps.
Support for EU measures towards governments that undermine media freedom:
• Poland: 65 %
• Hungary: 60 %
• Slovakia: 57 %
• Czech Republic: 55 %
Supporting EU supervision over global digital platforms:
• Poland: 66 % supports, only 10 % against
• Hungary: 63 % supports, only 8 % is against
• Slovakia: 56 % supports, 15 % is against
• Czech Republic: 55 % supports, 17 % is against
A change in perception: US influence is perceived as a greater threat than the impact of China
The most remarkable thing is that a large shift in the survey: respondents now consider the US impact on digital manifestation as a greater threat than the influence of China, and the US concerns rose to 59 % sharply compared to 58 % in the case of China. This shift is particularly pronounced among young people (generation of 18-24 years), whose concerns about the US increased dramatically from 32 % in 2024 to 58 % this year.
“These findings are a serious challenge for statements from Washington and Silicon Valley,” Szyszkowitz said. “The data are clear: Central Europeans are deeply concerned about misinformation, hateful manifestations and digital manipulation – not regulation. They expect EU institutions to act vigorously to protect democratic digital freedoms.”
About the survey
This is the fourth year of the survey ordered by the Council for Editorial Independence (CEI), which was carried out by Median from 31 March to 22 April 2025 through online panel survey and telephone interviews on a total sample of 4,112 respondents aged 18 years or more. The survey was supported by the Bakala Foundation Foundation.
The Council for Editorial Independence, established by the Economia Media House, protects editorial freedom and supports professional journalism without interventions.
The Bakala Foundation Foundation supports free and independent media through education and training, strengthening journalistic integrity in Central Europe.
