For 20 years, ISD has delivered field-leading threat detection, analysis and real-world strategies to combat terrorism, extremism and authoritarianism - in all their ideological forms.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

Democratic societies face a barrage of influence operations from foreign state actors that threaten election integrity, national security and individual rights. ISD is a world leader in identifying, analysing, exposing and combating Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), identifying networks of pro-Kremlin, pro-Chinese and pro-Iranian influence that is manipulative in character and conducted in an intentional and coordinated manner. Actors of such activity can be state or non-state actors, including their proxies inside and outside of their own territory.  

May 27, 2026

All operations on Armenia: Russia’s influence machine targets the vote

Multiple Russian information operations are converging on Armenia in an apparent attempt to influence parliamentary elections on 7 June

Democratic Integrity, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation

April 23, 2026

Iran’s diplomats launch a meme war

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation

April 15, 2026

How pro-Iran networks gained a billion views on war propaganda

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation

April 2, 2026

Foreign actors and foreign influence: An exploratory analysis of international state actors targeting Ireland in 2025

Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour, Data Access and Transparency, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

March 31, 2026

Irish unity, Palestine and Soleimani: Analysis of an Iranian information operation targeting Ireland

Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour, Data Access and Transparency, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

March 14, 2026

Iran floods global social media with AI content during ongoing conflict

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

March 9, 2026

ISD investigation exposes sophistication of Russian interference in EU and beyond

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation

March 7, 2026

AI floods the Iran conflict narrative with misinformation and state influence

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation

March 5, 2026

A “narrative war” unfolds online after US-Israel strikes on Iran

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation

Further Reading

November 1, 2022

Sasha Havlicek on why conspiracists claim terror attacks are being faked

Sasha spoke to BBC Panorama about why people believe terror attacks are hoaxes and the promoters of these conspiracies.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

October 24, 2022

Surge in election poll watchers part of bigger conspiratorial trend

ISD’s Jiore Craig features in TIME speaking about the surge in poll watchers since the ‘Stop the Steal’ movement first began.

Democratic Integrity, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

October 20, 2022

Information Warfare and Wikipedia

In this report, ISD and CASM Technology examine the ways in which Wikipedia may be vulnerable to systematic manipulation.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation

October 17, 2022

Trump fans urging for rise in poll watchers ahead of midterms

Some Trump fans are already accusing Democrats of voter fraud and are calling for a rise in poll watchers.

Democratic Integrity, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Threat Analysis and Prevention

October 8, 2022

GOP gubernatorial candidate claims she is prepared for office thanks to her media career

Tudor Dixon, who pushed conspiracy theories on her show 'Real America News', is aiming to unseat Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Democratic Integrity, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse

October 6, 2022

Effectiveness of the Sanctions on Russian State-Affiliated Media in the EU – An investigation into website traffic & possible circumvention methods

This report assesses the effectiveness of restrictions on Russian state-affiliated media by the EU after the invasion of Ukraine.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Tech Accountability and Safety, Tech Legislation and Regulation

September 29, 2022

Salutes & chants: Trump embraces QAnon in the lead up to the 2022 midterm elections

ISD's Jared Holt speaks to USA TODAY and Insider about Trump's loyal QAnon supporters.

Far-Right Extremism, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

September 29, 2022

Salutes & chants: Trump embraces QAnon in the lead up to the 2022 midterm elections

ISD's Jared Holt speaks to USA TODAY and Insider about Trump's loyal QAnon supporters.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse

September 29, 2022

Trump re-energizes QAnon community just weeks ahead of the midterm elections

Senior Research Manager Jared Holt features in VICE News' article about Trump's recent activity endorsing the QAnon community.

Democratic Integrity, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse

September 23, 2022

Stock music song twice appropriated by QAnon and Trump

ISD’s Jared Holt spoke to the Washington Post about the latest Donald Trump and QAnon crossover: an innocuous stock music song.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Terrorism and Extremism

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