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

February 23, 2024

Two Years On: An Analysis of Russian State and Pro-Kremlin Information Warfare in the Context of the Invasion of Ukraine

This report outlines the evolution of Russian state & pro-Kremlin propaganda undermining international support for Ukraine since the 2022 invasion

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

February 2, 2024

Suspect accused of beheading father may have been influenced by conspiracy theories

ISD's Katherine Keneally spoke to USA Today about the case against Justin Mohn, what is known about him, and his apparent anti-government beliefs.

Far-Right Extremism, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence, Terrorism and Extremism

December 22, 2023

Conspiracy theories and violent rhetoric following Colorado ballot ruling on Trump

ISD’s Katherine Keneally spoke to NPR about conspiracy theories after the Colorado Supreme Court disqualified Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot.

Democratic Integrity, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Terrorism and Extremism

December 19, 2023

“Spamouflage”, pro-CCP network, targets West with AI images on Israel-Hamas conflict and shifts to US elections

VICE News covers ISD's investigation of a pro-CCP network using tactics like AI to deepen wedges within Western society and tarnish the US abroad.

Democratic Integrity, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Recommender Systems and Algorithms

November 23, 2023

Thousands of hours of recently released Jan 6 security footage being used to spread false narratives

ISD’s Head of Threat Analysis and Prevention, Katherine Keneally, told the NYT how video from Jan 6 released in 2023 was exploited.

Democratic Integrity, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence

November 22, 2023

Wellness influencers shift toward anti-climate conspiracies as pandemic subsides

Spanish fact-checking outlet Newtral covers ISD's analysis of wellness influencers and their shift from anti-vaccine content to climate denial topics.

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

November 21, 2023

The Irish mis- and disinformation ecosystem has grown and evolved since the pandemic

ISD’s 'Uisce Faoi Thalamh', a series of reports on mis- and disinformation in Ireland, were featured in the Irish Times.

Anti-LGBTQ+, Anti-Migrant, Far-Right Extremism, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Public Health, Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse, Terrorism and Extremism

November 8, 2023

Cécile Simmons: ‘I debunk wellness misinformation for a living… So, why did I fall for it?’

In an op-ed for Cosmopolitan, ISD's Cécile Simmons shares her own experience falling for wellness misinformation.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence, Public Health

October 15, 2023

Disinformation around climate change largely targeting solutions, not denying global warming

ISD's Jennie King spoke to NPR about how climate solutions such as the 15-minute city urban planning model are under attack from conspiracy theorists.

Climate, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

October 10, 2023

Social media platforms inundated with unverified claims about Israel and Gaza

ISD's Executive Director for AMEA, Moustafa Ayad, told NPR about the dangers of unverified sources being left to gain traction around Israel and Gaza.

Democratic Integrity, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Gaming and Alternative Platforms

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