FMA attends workshop on foreign information manipulation and interference; underscores need for digital transparency and resiliency

Christina Lopez, FMA’s gender program officer, recently completed a two-day training on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), a growing threat that undermines democratic institutions, civic discourse, and public trust through coordinated, deceptive influence operations, on June 5-6, 2025.

The discussions delved into how foreign players use digital platforms, phony networks, and deceptive narratives to influence public opinion, polarize communities, and destabilize targeted countries, frequently under the radar.

Key topics covered:

• Understanding the FIMI lifecycle: from narrative seeding to amplification
• Detecting and mapping FIMI tactics, techniques, and actors
• Case studies on regional and global FIMI campaigns
• Rights-based, multi-stakeholder responses to safeguard information integrity

She and other participants from media and civil society organizations also explored how FIMI overlaps with gender, politics, and disinformation directed at civil society, making the issue crucial for activists, journalists, and digital defenders alike.

The training course gave tools, techniques, and frameworks for detecting, documenting, and disrupting foreign influence operations – all while emphasizing human rights, transparency, and resilience.

As foreign manipulation grows more sophisticated, so must our collective response.