Dynamic wargame exercise pitting two teams against each other in an attempt to take control of the eastern European country of Mundovia. Two teams will battle it out using a range of hybrid warfare tactics and countermeasures ahead of a decisive presidential election. Each side will have to use their resources carefully and consider everything from cyber resilience and judicial corruption to vote buying and bot networks. The exercise is based on real-world tactics and participants will gain insight into the full spectrum of Russian influence tactics and how they can be countered.

Number of participants: 20 participants

Access: free to participants registered in #Disinfo2025 - a separate registration for the workshop is mandatory!

This session will unpack contexts and issues relevant to disinformation and information integrity in Sri Lanka, and how it resonates to the overall Indo-Pacific regional situation. A panel of Sri Lankan journalists will share about the challenges and opportunities for counter-disinformation efforts in their country, followed by a presentation of the Indo-Pacific situation. The rest of the session will be dedicated towards small group discussions on how the Indo-Pacific situation relates to the global picture, and potential collaborations and interventions the participants can do following the event.

Number of participants: 30-40 participants

Access: free to participants registered in #Disinfo2025 – a separate registration for the workshop is mandatory!

Get ready to dive into the conference spirit! Join us for a casual pre-conference gathering to connect with fellow attendees and make new connections.

We’ll kick off the conference and set the stage for two days of discussion, exchange, and fresh insights.

With:
Diana Wallis, President of EU DisinfoLab

When examining where propaganda and terrorism have most starkly converged in the digital age, Syria stands as a grim example. There, Russian and Iranian disinformation intersected with jihadist narratives and the regime’s own propaganda machinery.

To explore this complex ecosystem, we will host Nicolas Hénin, a researcher and former journalist with extensive experience in disinformation and societal resilience. In 2013, while reporting from Syria, he was abducted and held for 300 days by the jihadist group ISIS. A decade later, as he faced his torturers in court, he learned that their justification for the atrocities committed in Syria was rooted in a potent mix of propaganda.

He will be interviewed by Waad Al-Kateab, a Syrian filmmaker and the director of For Sama. Together, they will guide us through this battlefield of narratives, where local and international actors have constantly reshaped information to serve their political and military objectives.

With : 
Nicolas Hénin, researcher, former war reporter

Interviewed by:
Waad Al-Kateab, filmmaker, Action For Sama

In this session, we will explore how disinformation and information manipulation are weaponised to undermine healthcare systems and public services in conflict zones and crisis contexts. Drawing from powerful case studies and frontline investigations, the discussion will focus on how false narratives are used to justify violence, discredit humanitarian actors and erode public trust in essential healthcare services.

With: 

Hamza Al-Kateab, Action For Sama 
Greg Rohde, EU DisinfoLab Board member 

Chaired by:

Elodie Ho Ngoc-Thy, World Health Organisation

At #Disinfo2025 we’re opening a new track entirely dedicated to tech and Policy issues. To set the tone, our very own Joe McNamee will update the current regulatory discussions that will serve as a baseline for the following discussions. It’s fat, sweet and makes indigestible food bloody and tasty, welcome to the policy ketchup.

With: 
Joe McNamee, EU DisinfoLab

The evolving landscape of foreign disinformation campaigns targeting European democracies, highlighting case studies from Poland, Germany, and Romania, providing a comparative, cross-border view of interference threats, equipping audiences with concrete insights into how information warfare is being waged across Europe—and how defenders are adapting.

With:

Agata Pyka, Notes from Poland
Max Bernhard, CORRECTIV
Michal Trnka, Gerulata

Chair: Paula Gori, EDMO 
 

What happens when facts are twisted to serve ideology? This session exposes two powerful examples: the deceptive tactics of anti-abortion centres set up to manipulate pregnant women, and the US government's attempts to muzzle scientists during the Trump era. A gripping look at how disinformation threatens not just science, but fundamental rights and democracy itself.

With: 
Representative from Women's Link Worldwide / Managing Attorney
Jennifer Jones, Union of Concerned Scientists

Chaired by:

Flora Teoh, Science Feedback

This presentation will detail the investigative steps and methodologies used to identify 531 Telegram accounts using generative AI to create English and Russian political content, key indicators of this type of behaviour, and how their TTPs evolved during the operation.

With:
Léa Ronzaud, Graphika 
Jean le Roux, Graphika 

With:
Representative from the EDRN project

In this session, we explore how disinformation and information manipulation are reshaping the threat landscape across critical security domains - particularly weapons of mass destruction (WMD), nuclear and radiological risk and maritime security. Through expert insights and case studies, the panel will examine how information warfare exacerbates/amplifies escalation risks, undermines deterrence, and exploits vulnerabilities in traditionally siloed areas of defence and international cooperation.

With:
Lukas Albrecht, German Aerospace Center
Valeriia Hesse, Open Nuclear Network

This session sheds light on the methods, networks, and regional impacts of propaganda operations, exploring how authoritarian regimes embed disinformation into statecraft and media ecosystems to expand influence beyond their borders, with a focus on Hungary, Russia, and the Balkans. 

With:
Dagard Pierre, Reporters sans frontières 

Mirjana Jevtovic, Radio Free Europe

Szilárd Teczár, Lakmusz

Chaired by:
John Cappello, Balkan Security Network 

In this session we will have an update on the current enforcement of European regulation. Multiple investigations and proceedings have been opened by the European Commission, but what is their impact? What did the new Code of Conduct change? And moreover, what is to expect of the current call to simplify regulation?

With:

Werner Stengg, Cabinet of European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen

Disinformation is evolving, and AI is accelerating it. No longer confined to human actors, falsehoods are now authored, amplified, and adapted by machines. This session unpacks how AI is being weaponised to produce convincing fakes, overwhelm information ecosystems, and undermine democratic debate. These threats may be powered by algorithms, but their impact is very real.

With: 
Marc Faddoul, AI Forensic

This session will explore how disinformation targets the preparedness and psychological resilience of both military and civilian personnel in national security contexts. Speakers will examine gendered disinformation, morale erosion and identity-based manipulation as strategic tools used in modern information warfare. The case studies presented will highlight approaches to building resilience within armed forces, civilian populations and defence structures.

With:
Stefke Teunisse, Dutch Army 
Tanna Krewson, The Centre for Information Resilience 
Johannes Lindgren, NATO StratCom COE / Swedish Psychological Defence Agency (tbc)

The fragility of democracy and the rapidity of its erosion are no longer just in history books, nor is history confined to those books. In this session, we will use history and philosophy to help us understand the current move towards illiberal movements that are ripping apart the rule of law. We hope learning from the past will teach us how to resist the forces undermining democracy and freedom.

With:
Arnaud Miranda, Sciences Po 

Timothy Ryback, Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation in The Hague

Chaired by:
Susan Morgan, EU DisinfoLab

This session delves into the legacy of disinformation campaigns by major polluters and the political games still shaping global climate talks. With COP30 approaching fast, we explore how global negotiations are influenced not only by science and diplomacy but also by disinformation, lobbying, and persistent narratives that refuse to fade. As these familiar actors adapt to new tools and networks, the challenge to cut through disinformation and advance urgent climate action has never been greater. In a year billed as a turning point, can the truth cut through?

With: 
Lindsey Gulden, Former ExxonMobil climate scientist
Henry Peck, Global Witness/Senior Campaigner
Stephanie Hankey, Tactical Tech

Chaired by:
Audrey Gueudet, European Climate Foundation

This session will highlight practical strategies and collaborative efforts to counter FIMI. It brings together experts and initiatives focusing on community-driven defences, legal frameworks and measures to improve societal resilience against disinformation.

With:
Inês Narciso, ISCTE-IUL / CPI
Benjamin Shultz, American Sunlight Project 
Katarína Klingová, GLOBSEC

Chaired by:
Tomas Chlon, SAUFEX

This session takes a deeper look into the Paperwall, HaiEnergy, and Glassbridge infrastructure, unveiling a detailed map of the ecosystem, exposing fresh evidence of Chinese state involvement, and decoding the narrative tactics serving both Chinese and, surprisingly, Russian interests. Dr Paul Charon and Côme Allard share the findings of their investigation into Baybridge, a complex influence operation shaping today’s information space.

With:
Côme Allard, Tadaweb
Paul Charon, IRSEM

Chaired by:
Beatriz Marin Garcia, European External Action Service

Join us for a walking tour of Ljubljana, followed by drinks and informal exchanges – a relaxed way to explore the city and connect with fellow participants.

This session will present the latest AI tools developed to support journalists, fact-checkers and civil society in identifying and analysing disinformation across various formats. Participants will learn how solutions like vera.ai enhance open-source verification workflows, and how AI is integrated into newsroom practices – from prompt training to narrative monitoring. Presenters will share real-world applications of these technologies, giving insights into how automation can reinforce and scale human-led investigations. The session will also introduce new tools for early detection of disinformation patterns, promoting a community-oriented approach to technology adoption.

With:
Kalina Bontcheva, University of Sheffield / veraAI
Stefan Voss, DPA

With platforms increasingly limiting API access and restricting public data—RIP CrowdTangle—many researchers are now placing their hopes in formal access-to-data mechanisms for vetted partners. But while these frameworks are still under design or negotiation, what’s already possible today? This session showcases concrete investigations, monitoring methods, and tools built on publicly available data. Members of the counter-disinformation community will share how they have so far been able to continue to uncover influence operations, track narratives, and audit platforms—despite the growing barriers being put in their way. The session also asks: what public access infrastructure should be preserved, improved, or created to ensure a baseline of transparency?

With:
Sára Soľárová, KInIT
Nowmay Opalinsy, Cassini

Chaired by:
Louna Wemaere, Quota Climat

With:
Craig Silverman (tbc)

Chaired by:
Ana Romero, EU DisinfoLab

This session explores Russia’s shifting information landscape – from the global reach of AI-powered propaganda, the new arms race in cognitive warfare domain and the asymmetric nature of the cognitive war, lessons learned from reverse-engineering AI-powered troll farms, to the domestic influence of Telegram as a dominant news platform.

With:
Sviatoslav Hnizdovskiy, OpenMinds
Alesya Sokolova, Novaya Gazeta Europe
Kévin Limonier, Geode

In this session, we will explore methodologies and frameworks to investigate disinformation campaigns and their enablers. From AI to OSINT, from algorithms to ad libraries, learn from some of the best members of the community. 
 

With:
Christo Buschek, Spiegel and Mozilla Senior Fellow
Christoph Pfeufer, German Ministry of Foreign Affairs (tbc)

Every week, the counter-disinformation community documents new elements indicating that regulations are not adequately enforced. Yet, it seems very little action comes from these reports. In this session, we will explore how we can improve the quality of our findings, so they can serve as evidence for future enforcement mechanisms.
 

With:
Shivika Sharma, Check First
Stéphane Duguin, CyberPeace Institute

A timely exploration of the latest challenges, responses, and emerging threats in the disinformation landscape. This session covers a range of topics highlighting the evolving nature of disinformation and its impact on trust and society.

With:

Aleksandra Atanasova, Reset Tech

Rémy Gerbet, Wikimédia France

Jordan Ricker, Opsci.ai (coordinator of PROMPT)

Chaired by:

Domen Savic, Citizen D 

In this session, we will learn from a Syrian fact-checking organisation, an Israeli journalist and activists how false narratives proliferate in the region—and how journalists and civil society actors are pushing back. 

With:
Ahmad Primo, Verify.sy
Omer Benjakob, Haaretz 

Chaired by:
Waad al-Kateab, filmmaker, Action For Sama

This session looks at how shared frameworks and cross-sector collaboration can move the fight against disinformation from theory to practice. It will explore how efforts like the DISARM framework are being operationalised – for example, through automated tagging of tactics and techniques – and what it means to measure the real impact of influence campaigns. 

With:
Colin Gérard, VIGINUM
Victoria Smith, DISARM/CASM 
Jermain Njemanze, Filigran

Chaired by:
Filip Grzegorzewski, EEAS

Once upon a time, quality journalism was sustained through the sale of newspapers, subscriptions, and advertising revenue. Today, the landscape is dominated by metrics, virality, and engagement hacks. Without indulging in nostalgia for a mythologised "Golden Age" of media, this session asks: how did our information ecosystem become addicted to clickbait? What economic and structural forces are at play? And more importantly, what concrete steps can we take to break this vicious cycle and reimagine sustainable models for funding trustworthy media?

With:
Claire Atkin, Check My Ads
Einar Hålien, Schibsted

Chaired by:
Joe McNamee, EU DisinfoLab

Not all influence comes wrapped in hashtags, headlines and viral campaigns. This session shines a light on the quiet, creative, and often overlooked tactics of foreign interference, from low-tech persuasion to the strategic use of culture, identity and historic memory. It highlights emerging global alliances that defy traditional East-West binaries and challenge how we understand power, identity, and manipulation in today’s information wars.

With: 
Alden Wahlstrom, Mandiant/ Google Threat Intelligence Group.
Jakub Śliż, Pravda/President
Kayla Bassett, Center for the Study of Organized Hate/Director of Research 

Chaired by:
Maria Giovanna Sessa, EU DisinfoLab

This session exposes how disinformation is fought across South and Southeast Asia: Dismislab reveals a bot network manipulating Bangladesh’s election discourse; a Philippine media outlet engages youth through fact-checks with top creators; and a Sri Lankan journalist shares local strategies for detecting and combating disinformation.

With:
Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, Digitally Right
Jen Aquino, Probe
Lahiru Doloswala, The Morning

Chaired by:
Nighat Dad, OSB 

This session will explore how different actors (cities, civil society, researchers and institutions) are not only responding to disinformation but actively shaping more resilient information ecosystems. From local governments pushing back against climate disinformation, to researchers unpacking the links between doomerism and democratic fragility, the discussion will highlight strategies that look beyond crisis response toward long-term preparedness. We will also consider how thinking about the future of governance and civic trust can help anticipate emerging threats and build adaptive and informed societies. The session will bring together diverse voices focused on countering today’s narratives while laying the groundwork for tomorrow’s resilience.

With:
Representative from C40 
Ravi Shankar Sreenath, Ripple research 
Virginia Mahieu, Center for Future Generation 

Disinformation may be evolving, but we are far from powerless. This session focuses on strategies to build societal resilience before, during, and after exposure to false narratives, coordinated campaigns, manipulative content, and influence operations. From "prebunking" and media literacy to rapid response mechanisms and community-led interventions, we’ll explore how individuals, institutions, and technologies can inoculate the public against manipulation. Hear from fact-checkers working across sectors to counter deception at scale. 

With:
Lorenzo Marini, Verificat
Tori Zopf, European Fact-Checking Standard Network

Chaired by:
Borut Mekina, journalist

First, they get after you (and your data). Then they abuse you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. And then, at a time when “Digital sovereignty” has become a new magic word, we often struggle to define how the digital world would evolve. Confronted with the concentration of data and capital that feeds unfair competition, this session will give the floor to people and initiatives developing new approaches.

With:
Maarten Schenk, Lead Stories 
Robin Berjon (tbc)

Chaired by:
Petra Bezjak Cirman, Slovenian Government Communication Office

Harassment of civil society, the defunding of counter-disinformation initiatives, censorship of researchers and academics, physical violence, and intimidation—these are not abstract threats but escalating realities in the United States. Today, Americans themselves are sounding the alarm, calling Europe for help as democratic institutions come under siege. 

With: 
Nina Jankowicz, America Sunlight Project

Followed by an interview with:
Imran Ahmed, Center for Countering Digital Hate

We’ll wrap up with shared takeaways, reflections, and a look ahead at what’s next.