Project description
Mapping the evolving mis/disinformation ecosystem
Online information ecosystems are becoming increasingly complex, shaped by rapid technological change and evolving manipulation tactics such as AI-driven astroturfing and political gaslighting. The EU-funded COMPASS project seeks to map the mis/disinformation landscape using a temporal trichotomy framework across past, present and future contexts. It will also examine the underexplored ‘paraplatform’ environment and actor motivations opposing regulatory and societal countermeasures, while assessing the impact of EU regulatory tools in identifying gaps and improving vulnerabilities. These empirical foundations will support a robust co-creation process involving policymakers, media and civil society organisations, resulting in a suite of empowerment toolkits, crisis communication protocols and evidence-based policy guidelines.
Objective
The COMPASS project confronts the escalating threat of mis/disinformation to European democracy, addressing reactive countermeasures and co-building systemic resilience. Our central ambition is to determine how democratic societies can counter sophisticated information manipulation, including AI-driven astroturfing and political gaslighting, without compromising fundamental rights like freedom of expression and privacy. COMPASS introduces a novel 'temporal trichotomy' approach to analyze threats across past, present, and future contexts. Our interdisciplinary consortium will first map the mis/disinformation landscape, including the under-explored 'paraplatform' ecosystem and the motivations of actors opposing countermeasures. We will then critically assess the real-world impact of the EU's regulatory arsenal (DSA, EMFA), identifying gaps and developing an understanding on user vulnerabilities. These empirical foundations will fuel a robust co-creation process with policymakers, media, and CSOs, producing a suite of empowerment conceptual toolkits, crisis communication protocols, and evidence-based policy guidelines. By integrating legal, psychological, and socio-technical expertise, COMPASS will deliver a new, actionable theory of democratic resilience, equipping EU actors with the foresight and tools to safeguard our shared information ecosystem.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.2 - Culture, creativity and inclusive society
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.2.1 - Democracy and Governance
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL2-2025-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
10120 Tallinn
Estonia
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.