The DE-CONSPIRATOR consortium held its First-Year Consortium Progress Meeting and General Assembly on December 16-17, 2024, in the historic city of Rome, hosted by our esteemed partners at IAI – Istituto Affari Internazionali. The meeting marked a critical milestone for the project, bringing together partners to review progress, discuss deliverables, and set the stage for the upcoming year.

Day 1: Setting the Stage and Reviewing Progress

DE-CONSPIRATOR First Year Consortium Progress

Riccardo Alcaro (IAI) and Akin Unver (OZU)

The meeting commenced with a welcome session led by our Project Coordinator, Akin Unver (Ă–zyeÄźin University), and our host, Riccardo Alcaro (IAI). They introduced the newly established Network of Interest (NOI) members and provided a reflection on key developments in the FIMI landscape over the past year. Additionally, a brief overview of the status of all Work Packages (WPs) and outstanding deliverables ensured all partners were aligned for the discussions ahead.

The first day’s agenda then unfolded with presentations and discussions led by the respective partners. These included:

WP2: Conceptualising FIMI

Led and presented by Sinan Ulgen, Founder and Director of Centre of Economic and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM), this session reviewed the progress of ongoing tasks, while laying the groundwork for upcoming deliverables that will unfold later this year. Input from partners sparked fruitful discussions on enhancing task execution.

WP3: Mapping FIMI Tactics and Networks

Aurelio Insisa (IAI) provided a comprehensive review of WP3 tasks, including the challenges posed by data availability on social media platforms. Efforts to identify domestic intra-EU FIMI networks and analyse content types were discussed, with partners identifying solutions to advance the work.

WP4: Assessing FIMI Impacts

Led by Akin Unver, this session included a presentation of the FIMI Significance Indicator Scorecard and updates on the FIMI event database. Discussions on narrative contestation, particularly regarding Chinese FIMI, provided valuable insights for future research.

DE-CONSPIRATOR First Year Consortium Progress
DE-CONSPIRATOR First Year Consortium Progress
DE-CONSPIRATOR First Year Consortium Progress

Sinan Ulgen (EDAM)

Aurelio Insisa (IAI)

Akin Unver (OZU)

The first day concluded with a networking buffet dinner hosted at IAI, offering a unique opportunity for partners to engage in informal yet impactful conversations. The event featured two distinguished guests from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Mr. Tancredi Francese, Director of the StratCom Unit, and Ms. Serena Tonelli, Deputy Director of the StratCom Unit.

Their presence fostered meaningful connections between the DE-CONSPIRATOR project and key strategic stakeholders, highlighting the shared commitment to tackling disinformation and promoting democratic resilience. The discussion extended beyond introductions, delving into critical issues such as FIMI, strategic communication, and the role of diplomacy in countering propaganda.

Partners were able to pose insightful questions about how national and EU-level institutions collaborate to address the challenges posed by foreign information manipulation. The diplomats, in turn, shared valuable perspectives on the evolving threat landscape, underlining the importance of projects like DE-CONSPIRATOR in shaping effective policies and tools to combat disinformation.

Mr. Tancredi Francese and Ms. Serena Tonelli from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Looking Ahead and Strengthening Collaboration

The second day kicked off with presentations from WP leaders focused on preparing for the next phases:

WP5: Behavioural Insights

Justina Baršytė, Professor and Founding Director of AdCogito Institute for Advanced Behavioural Research (AdCogito) discussed the development of psychometric tools to assess FIMI susceptibility, emphasizing the importance of partner collaboration to support ongoing tasks.

WP6: Social and Collective Drivers of FIMI

Alexander Politov from Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) discussed how social and collective processes drive or mitigate the impact of FIMI.

WP7: Multi-Dimensional Policy and Regulatory Toolkit

Tuba Bircan, Professor of Sociology from the Vrije University (VUB) outlined DE-CONSPIRATOR’s efforts to create a comprehensive policy and regulatory toolbox for combating FIMI and presented the roadmap for future actions.

WP8: Dissemination and Communication Efforts

Nikolaos Sotirou and Thomas Bakratsas, Dissemination and Communication Managers from White Research (WR) provided important updates on the project’s dissemination and communication activities, highlighting key upcoming events and the need for partner input to maximise outreach.

 

Justina Baršytė (AdC)

Alexander Politov (CSD)

Tuba Bircan (VUB)

Finally, the meeting concluded with a second NOI session led by Akin Unver and Riccardo Alcaro, followed by a voluntary sightseeing walk in Rome, offering partners an opportunity to unwind and network in a relaxed setting.