Today, major media in Poland did not display their content in protest against plans to cut their advertising revenues by the government. NATO countries should treat advertising markets as an element of democratic security. Altering revenue streams is bad news for media advertising. It is also an open door invitation for more disinformation business.
Visegrad Insight has been continuously warning against the damage to the advertising market which increases the corruption of the media ecosystem and exposes democracies to foreign malign influence in the shape of disinformation. Our maps out dangers to media and advertising ecosystem that could irreversibly expose Central Europe to the hostile influence of hostile actors. As it turns out one of the scenarios is now unfolding in Poland, where the government is using the crisis to cut media revenues and curb press freedom.