Foreign Information Manipulation and Its Impact on Democratic Societies
Foreign Information Manipulation and Its Impact on Democratic Societies
Democratic societies are facing a barrage of influence operations executed by foreign actors with the aim of undermining election integrity, compromising national security, and threatening individual rights. ISD is a global leader in identifying, analyzing, exposing, and combating Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), identifying networks of pro-Kremlin, pro-Chinese, and pro-Iranian influence that are manipulative and conducted intentionally and in a coordinated manner. These activities may be carried out by state actors, non-state entities, or proxies based both within and beyond national boundaries.
On July 7, 2026, ISD-US Managing Director for Transatlantic Policy and Programming David Salvo raised concerns in The Globe and Mail about increasing risks of foreign interference in Canada’s local elections. Such interference poses significant threats to Canadian democratic integrity and national sovereignty.
The paper underscores the importance of fostering public awareness and strengthening policies to combat foreign information manipulation, which often involves information warfare tactics and online manipulation by authoritarian states. These strategies are designed to incite conflicts, distort facts, and sow doubts about democratic processes – frequently through advanced technologies like automated bots and targeted content.
Examples illustrate the scale of the threat: Following US-Israel strikes on Iran on March 5, 2026, a “narrative war” unraveled online, marked by extensive activity from Iranian regime supporters. Similarly, Kremlin-aligned talking points flooded the platform X on February 12, 2026, particularly surrounding the ICC case on child deportations. These instances highlight organized efforts by foreign actors to manipulate information and weaponize it for political leverage both domestically and internationally.
The policy paper calls for urgent action by liberal democracies to develop cohesive strategies to combat cognitive and hybrid warfare launched by authoritarian regimes.
???? The report was fully and exclusively transferred and translated by the Studies Department at AboMatrix