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

May 9, 2025

Between violent extremism and hostile state activity: Iranian targeting of the UK  

The UK has thwarted 20 Iran-backed plots since 2022—including a suspected planned embassy attack this month.

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

May 6, 2025

Stolen voices: Russia-aligned operation manipulates audio and images to impersonate experts 

This ISD Dispatch examines Operation Overload’s latest tactics, narratives and targets during the first quarter of 2025.

Emerging Technologies, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

January 21, 2025

Foreign terrorist organizations and violent extremists mobilize and call for violence in the US following New Orleans terrorist attack

This dispatch examines the extremist responses to the IS-inpsired New Year's Day terrorist attack in New Orleans that claimed 15 lives.

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

January 9, 2025

Behind the Curtain: Unveiling Pro-Kremlin Ecosystems in Europe

The study explores connections between radical, conspiracy and pro-Kremlin communities on Telegram in France, Germany and Italy, analysing interaction

Democratic Integrity, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

November 26, 2024

Analysing Claims of Electoral Interference During the Irish Local and European Elections

False claims of election interference in Ireland’s June elections failed to gain traction, but November’s general election may be a new opportunity fo

Democratic Integrity, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

October 29, 2024

ISD speaks to Fox about Russia-backed manipulation of the US

Melanie Smith joined LiveNOW to discuss Kremlin information manipulation operations after deadly hurricanes.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

October 28, 2024

ISD’s Max Read speaks to NPR about acts of arson targeting ballot boxes in Washington and Oregon

Max Read, senior research manager at ISD, spoke with NPR about false claims surrounding ballot box security following arson incidents in two states.

Democratic Integrity, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

October 24, 2024

Russian propaganda exploits US hurricane response to undermine FEMA and Ukraine support

Russian state-affiliated media and social media accounts have used hurricanes Milton and Helene to undermine trust in disaster relief efforts.

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

October 15, 2024

How extremists and politicians exploited Hurricane Helene to spread antisemitic hate & election conspiracies

ISD analysts found that misinformation during Hurricane Helene fueled antisemitic hate and election conspiracies, undermining public trust.

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

October 11, 2024

Investigation | How a pro-Kremlin ad campaign used the Israel-Hamas conflict to spread propaganda in France and Germany

This Investigation examines how a pro-Kremlin ad campaign used the Hamas-Israel conflict to spread disinformation narratives about Ukraine.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Terrorism and Extremism

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