Protecting Democracy by Countering FIMI
ADAC.io aims to protect democracy in the EU by strengthening the ability to deny the intended effects of Foreign Information Manipulation & Interference (FIMI) on society.
The Project
Based on the concept of Foreign Information Manipulation & Interference (FIMI) as elaborated by the EU EEAS, the purpose of ADAC.io is to protect democracy in the EU by strengthening the ability to deny the intended effects of FIMI on society.
ADAC.io aims to significantly develop upon current knowledge of how FIMI can be detected, categorised, analysed, shared, and countered.
This will be achieved through a series of coordinated contributions to the DISARM Framework, the NATO-Hybrid COE Attribution Framework, STIX 2.1, OpenCTI, ABCDE, and the FIMI countermeasures toolbox.
This approach acknowledges the importance of TTPs and common data handling standards to the ability to attribute FIMI actors and further positions TTPs within the broader analytical processes that are necessary to develop countermeasures.
In addition to establishing improved technical standards and operating procedures, ADAC.io will generate research knowledge that can support better decision-making about FIMI countermeasures.
For example, the project will conduct research on the public impact of attribution, research methods for linguistic and visual analysis, develop an understanding of how cross-platform manipulation evades traditional analysis methods, as well as establish a dataset of previous FIMI interventions.
ADAC.io includes a specific component on gendered disinformation designed to better integrate gender into the technical formats.
Finally, the project will work closely with a community of practice that includes the EU EEAS, representatives of member states, civil society, and journalists/European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO).
Publications
ADAC.io partners and collaborations will be sharing public publications on how FIMI can be detected, categorised, analysed, shared, and countered. View these publications here:
Attribution and Information Influence Operations: A ‘Field Guide’ for Open-Source Investigators and Researchers
This report addresses key challenges and presents generalisable principal issues that need to be considered when making decisions that impact upon attribution investigations and research using open-source data.
A Framework for Attribution of Information Influence Operations
This report presents an updated version of the NATO Stratcom CoE and Hybrid CoE IIO Attribution Framework, incorporating new insights and examples that illustrate how it has been and can be applied in practice.
A Comprehensive Review of DISARM Framework and its Compatibility with Related Frameworks Used to Model Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference
The DISARM Framework, supported by the EU-funded ADAC.io project, is a tool for identifying and mitigating Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI). This review assesses its effectiveness, with input from user feedback, and evaluates its compatibility with frameworks like ABCDE and STIX to ensure its relevance for diverse stakeholders.
News & Updates
ADAC.io Research Cited in EEAS’s Report on FIMI Architecture
In March 2025, the European External Action Service (EEAS) released its third major report on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), unveiling a new analytical model known as the FIMI Exposure Matrix.
Register: ADAC.io workshop on information manipulation for fact checkers and journalists
Are you a journalist or fact checking organisation? Are you interested in learning more about foreign information manipulation and interference? Join our free online workshop to learn more about information manipulation, with a special focus on FIMI (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference).
Register your interest: Workshops for NGOs
Are you a member of a civil society organisation dealing with mis- and disinformation or related issues?
Forms of information manipulation, such as disinformation and propaganda, threaten democratic societies. ADAC.io is offering free workshops, organised by Institut für Journalistik (TU Dortmund), to enhance competencies in addressing these challenges.
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Partners
The Institute of Journalism at TU Dortmund University. Coordinating institution for GADMO, the German-Austrian hub of EDMO.
University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Poland. Member of Central European Digital Media Observatory (CEDMO).
Debunk.org is an independent technology think tank and non-governmental organisation that researches disinformation.
Alliance4Europe is a pro-democracy NGO that specialises in countering disinformation and building communities.
Psychological Defence Research Institute at Lund University.
Security, Crime, and Intelligence Innovation Institute at Cardiff University.
The Hague Program for Cyber Norms at Leiden University