ABSTRACT

This research aims to explore the European Union’s (EU) security policies in the digital culture related to new threats of disinformation. Entering the Russian-Ukraine military conflict in early 2022, the EU believes that European society was facing new threats in the form of disinformation. The EU tightened sanctions against Russia related to the Ukrainian conflict, including sanctions against Russian media. The EU decided to ban the broadcast of Russian TV and Radio stations RT and Sputnik, as well as closing their offices in several EU member countries. This step was taken because the EU accused both media outlets of spreading disinformation and pro-Kremlin propaganda related to the conflict in Ukraine. The research was conducted using a qualitative method. Two theories were used in this research, namely Securitization Theory by Barry Buzan and Communicative Action Theory by Jurgen habermas. Through Securitization Theory, researchers explore the EU’s action in constructing Russian media outlets as a threat to regional and global security and stability. Using Communicative Action Theory, researchers analyzes the EU’s actions in using certain communication and narratives to justify its policy towards Russian media outlets, and through this theory, researchers also question the legitimacy of the ban. The preliminary findings of this research show that the EU ban is controversial. Many parties accused the EU of restricting freedom of speech and limit the freedom of press. On the other hand, the EU maintains that this step is necessary to combat propaganda and disinformation, which are considered threats to national security and the integrity of the democracy in the EU.

Keywords: European Union, Russian media outlets, ban, disinformation and propaganda, securitization theory, communicative action theory

ABSTRAK

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi kebijakan keamanan Uni Eropa (UE) dalam budaya digital terkait ancaman baru disinformasi. Memasuki era konflik militer Rusia-Ukraina di awal tahun 2022, UE beranggapan bahwa masyarakat Eropa dihadapkan pada ancaman dalam bentuk disinformasi baru. UE memperketat sanksi terhadap Rusia terkait konflik Ukraina, termasuk sanksi terhadap media massa Rusia. UE memutuskan untuk melarang penyiaran stasiun televisi dan radio Rusia RT dan Sputnik, serta menutup kantor-kantor mereka di beberapa negara anggota UE. Langkah ini diambil karena UE menuduh kedua media massa tersebut melakukan penyebaran disinformasi dan  propaganda pro-Kremlin terkait konflik di Ukraina. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan metode kualitatif. Dalam penelitian ini digunakan dua teori, yaitu Securitization Theory oleh Barry Buzan dan Communicatiove Action Theory oleh Jurgen Habermas. Melalui Securitization Theory peneliti mengeksplorasi tindakan UE mengkonstruksi media massa Rusia sebagai ancaman bagi keamanan dan stabilitas regional dan global. Dengan Communicative Action Theory peneliti menganalisis tindakan UE menggunakan komunikasi dan narasi tertentu untuk membenarkan kebijakannya terhadap media massa Rusia, melalui teori ini peneliti juga mempertanyakan legitimasi tindakan pelarangan tersebut. Temuan sementara penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa larangan UE ini menjadi kontroversil. Banyak pihak menuduh UE melakukan pembatsan kebebasan berbicara dan mengekang kebebasan Pers. Di lain pihak UE mempertahankan pendapat bahwa langkah tersebut diperlukan untuk memerangi propaganda dan disinformasi yang dianggap merupakan ancaman terhadap keamanan nasional dan integritas demokrasi di Uni Eropa.

Kata Kunci: European Union, media massa Rusia, pelarangan, disinformasi dan propaganda, securitization theory, communicative action theory