A new study warns that Europe is on the brink of an unprecedented surge in disinformation, driven by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
According to a mini-Delphi survey by the EU-funded ATHENA project, a panel of 27 European experts predicts that foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) will grow exponentially within the next three to five years. The report cautions that foreign influence operations could destabilise democracies, undermine scientific consensus, incite real-world violence, harass minority communities, and even manipulate financial markets.
The ATHENA project, which tracks and analyses foreign disinformation campaigns, highlights AI, social media algorithms, closed messaging apps, and microtargeting as key tools reshaping the information battlefield. Experts warn these technologies will supercharge the production, targeting, and dissemination of false narratives.
With Russia and China already linked to disinformation and cyber campaigns against Europe, ATHENA’s findings underline the urgency of strengthening defenses. The project’s broader mission is to detect, analyse, and counter foreign manipulation to safeguard democratic processes.
The full consensus report and recommendations are available on the ATHENA website.
