The disinformation landscape in Luxembourg

Despite its small size and high levels of freedom of expression and press quality, Luxembourg has not been immune to disinformation. The country has faced the spread of false narratives, often influenced by its multilingual environment and proximity to larger neighbouring countries.
The press is widely respected in Luxembourg, and journalists enjoy a high level of public trust. Issues like banking secrecy and tax evasion have historically remained off limits, but previous revelations like LuxLeaks have challenged this status quo.
Awareness of disinformation issues is relatively recent, and while regulations are evolving, there are currently no specific laws penalising the dissemination of false news. A new law, expected in 2024, aims to enhance access to public information, addressing past limitations due to data protection concerns.
Luxembourg’s media landscape was redefined following the 2021 vote on a new system of state aid for the media. Although media outlets operate freely, close ties between journalists and political or economic power can sometimes raise concerns on full freedom of expression, presenting a medium risk to political independence. Historical ties between media outlets and political parties still influence the sector, though these connections no longer pose a significant threat to media independence. Despite the lack of specific regulations on conflicts of interest between media owners and political figures, political interference remains generally restrained.
Notably, RTL dominates Luxembourg’s media landscape, receiving significant state subsidies, and reaching the majority of the population on a weekly basis.
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