DE-CONSPIRATOR has made significant progress in advancing the theory, evidence base, and policy relevance of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) research.
On the conceptual front, the project has developed a standardized taxonomy of FIMI-related tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), helping align academic, regulatory, and platform-level terminology. A comparative review of Russian and Chinese strategic doctrines has revealed divergent approaches: Russia favors high-tempo, crisis-driven disinformation, while China prioritizes long-term narrative control through media partnerships and diaspora influence. These insights have been validated through expert workshops with stakeholders from NATO, the EEAS, and EU institutions.
Empirically, the project has begun mapping domestic amplification networks in Europe, including influencers, fringe media, and coordinated bot activity across platforms such as Telegram, X (Twitter), and YouTube. A multi-national FIMI event repository—now comprising over 100 documented cases—provides metadata on key actors and the flow of influence narratives.
Behavioral research is underway to understand societal vulnerability to FIMI. A psychometric tool, the “DisinforMeter,” has been designed and tested to measure individual susceptibility, while cross-country surveys examine trust in media and public reactions to influence operations.
On the policy front, the project has launched consultations with over 50 stakeholders—including regulators, tech platforms, and legal experts—to inform a regulatory toolbox aimed at improving platform transparency, legal accountability, and safeguards against AI-driven FIMI.
