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

October 10, 2023

The role of Tucker Carlson in Russian state media’s propaganda strategy

In an op-ed for the Moscow Times, ISD's Elise Thomas discusses Tucker Carlson's ubiquity in Russian media despite not working for or with state media.

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

September 28, 2023

Narrative über den Krieg Russlands gegen die Ukraine (NUK)

This report presents key findings on disinformation narratives against Ukrainian refugees within Russian- and Arabic-speaking communities.

Anti-Migrant, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

September 16, 2023

Julia Ebner on the ‘conspiracy mentality’: How it starts and how it evolves

ISD’s Julia Ebner spoke to RNZ about how extremist ideas and conspiracy mentalities are becoming mainstream and what is causing it.

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

September 13, 2023

Huberta von Voss and Julia Ebner discuss freedom of the press, the far right and conspiracy theories

ISD Germany's Executive Director, Huberta von Voss and extremism expert Julia Ebner discuss freedom of the press and the far-right on a NDR broadcast.

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

September 7, 2023

How the Proud Boys evolved from a “boys drinking club” into the extremist group behind January 6

ISD Senior Research Manager Katherine Keneally speaks to Sky News about the evolution of the Proud Boys before and after the January 6 insurrection.

Far-Right Extremism, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Terrorism and Extremism

September 6, 2023

Digital currencies and cashless societies, the new target of conspiracy theories

ISD’s Aoife Gallagher and Julia Ebner spoke to the FT about how digital currencies and cashless societies have been wrapped into conspiracy theories.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

September 6, 2023

GNET’s conspiracy theories series: The role of culture, community behind conspiracy-linked violence

In an article for GNET's miniseries on conspiracy theories, ISD Senior Analyst Elise Thomas outlines the key elements of violent conspiracy theories.

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

September 5, 2023

GNET’s conspiracy theories series: The diverse manifestations of conspiracy-linked violence

In the second article for GNET's miniseries on conspiracy theories, ISD's Milo Comerford focuses on the diverse violent outcomes of these beliefs.

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

September 1, 2023

Wildfires in Hawaii – when wildfires burn, the clouds of misinformation rise

ISD's Jennie King spoke to Bloomberg about the online wave of climate denial and conspiracy theories following the Hawaii wildfires.

Climate, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

August 30, 2023

Jennie King: Climate denialism traps everyone in “antechamber of discussion” arguing about credibility rather than action

ISD’s Jennie King spoke to the NYT about the proliferation of conspiracy theories following this summer's natural disasters.

Climate, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

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