The RESONANT project has made significant progress in defining and analysing information suppression through WP1, which developed a conceptual framework and compiled the RESONANT IS Literature Database. This database serves as the foundation for further research and has been instrumental in mapping and inventorying cases of information suppression across multiple countries. These cases have been incorporated into the RESONANT IS Incidents Database, enriched through an extensive literature review, secondary desk research, and empirical data collection.
To deepen the understanding of risks and threats linked to information suppression, WP1 conducted 56 interviews with diaspora members from China, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. These interviews contributed to the identification of major threats and their impact on politics, social cohesion, and democracy, forming the basis for the RESONANT Inventory of IS Risks and Threats. The research also enhanced the definition of information suppression, refining key concepts and linking them to Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) activities.
In WP2, RESONANT focused on mapping and analysing tools for TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) detection, identifying a range of open-source tools and testing them in twelve distinct investigative scenarios. The testing results highlighted the need for refinements, particularly in OCR-based fact-checking and phone number analysis. A revised approach improved the detection methodologies, and the outcomes were integrated into the RESONANT suite of tools.
Additionally, WP2 is working on identifying and classifying TTPs used in FIMI campaigns. The task involves extensive literature collection, collaboration with sister projects, and social network analysis, supported by data protection measures such as Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) and a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA). These classifications build upon the insights gained in WP1, particularly in relation to the documented cases of information suppression and their geopolitical impact.
In WP3, RESONANT has developed a detailed research framework for the behavioural and legal analysis of FIMI impacts on diaspora communities, drawing from the findings of WP1 and WP2. This framework includes the selection of case studies, risk identification, and methodological alignment with the existing datasets. The behavioural analysis component is in progress, with interview methodologies and ethical considerations being finalised.
Throughout these activities, RESONANT has ensured compliance with ethical and security requirements, implementing data protection protocols, pseudonymisation, and secure data storage solutions.