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

August 5, 2025

Investigation | Holding the line: Auditing the EU’s ban of Russian state media 3 years on

This ISD investigation examines the activity and influence of internet domains linked to Russian state-affiliated sanctioned media

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

August 4, 2025

False flag theories are spreading faster—and harming real victims

False flag conspiracy theories are surging as trust in institutions fades, spreading rapidly after crises and undermining real victims.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence, Terrorism and Extremism

July 31, 2025

ISD’s Julia Ebner discusses radicalization in the era of mainstreamed conspiracies

ISD's Julia Ebner was interviewed by Der Standard about radicalization and the normalization of fringe conspiracy theories.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence, Terrorism and Extremism

July 22, 2025

The rise of false flag conspiracy theories in moments of crises

False flag conspiracy theories now spread online at unprecedented volume and speed.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence, Terrorism and Extremism

July 11, 2025

ISD’s Moustafa Ayad speaks to NBC News about the spread of conspiracy theories during crises

ISD’s Moustafa Ayad spoke to NBC News about Russia’s amplification of conspiracy theories surrounding the L.A. protests.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation

July 10, 2025

Country Report: Assessment of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) in the 2025 German Federal Election

Foreign and domestic actors used AI, bots and fake media to spread disinformation, fueling divides ahead of Germany’s 2025 election.

Democratic Integrity, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

July 7, 2025

The Trump administration and its supporters are deeply entangled with conspiracy theories

ISD’s Jared Holt spoke to Politico, MSNBC and NPR about the role of conspiratorial thinking in the Trump administration's rise and current base. 

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence

June 12, 2025

ISD highlights information operations trends and AI use amid LA protests

ISD spoke to media outlets about a rise in conflicting narratives surrounding the LA riots.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Recommender Systems and Algorithms

June 10, 2025

Missiles and misinformation: False claims about the India-Pakistan clashes reach millions on X 

ISD analysis of how platforms handled a conflict between India & Pakistan reveals the limitations of content moderation systems.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Terrorism and Extremism

May 13, 2025

Investigation | How Russia Today is evading sanctions and spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda in Italy

Despite EU bans, RT content still spreads via proxy sites and pro-Kremlin accounts promoting pro-Russian propaganda films and posters.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

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