Maldita.es Foundation participates in the ATHENA consortium to collaborate in a study on disinformation and foreign interference in Europe

This project is part of the European Union’s strategic response to the growing threat of disinformation and foreign interference (FIMI), as has happened with the increase in cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns from Russia and China.

Project partners, from Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Spain, France, Belgium, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, will work for 3 years to study at least 30 FIMI cases. Based on the analysis of the tactics, techniques and procedures used, the consortium will develop strategies and recommendations to combat FIMI.

«The ATHENA project is not just a response to current threats, but a proactive step towards a more secure digital future for Europe,» said David Wright (Trilateral Research), project coordinator.

The project will also analyze from a legal point of view how eight member states of the European Union combat FIMI, to identify areas for improvement of their policies. In addition, it will develop an accessible questionnaire for citizens to identify the FIMIs they encounter in their daily lives.

What will Maldita.es Foundation do ?

Our journalists and disinformation experts will evaluate strategies against new and existing FIMIs to improve their resilience. They will also co-design and evaluate the FIMI disinformation analysis toolbox, the dynamic panel to monitor activities and strategies to combat FIMI and other solutions that the consortium will provide. They will also contribute to knowledge sharing on anti-FIMI measures to increase general awareness.

Universities and organizations from 11 countries participate in the consortium

The consortium is made up of:

• Trilateral Research (Ireland)
• The Foundation for Research and Technology (Greece)
• University of Cyprus (Cyprus)
• Bavarian Police Academy (Germany)
• Research Institutes of Sweden (Sweden)
• Laurea University (Finland)
• Eurecat (Spain)
• Storyzy (France)
• Trinity College Dublin (Ireland)
• European Organization for Security (Belgium)
• EU – DisinfoLab (Belgium)
• University College Dublin (Ireland)
• ISSP (Ukraine)
• Trilateral Research (UK)

The project has a total budget of 3,000,000 euros, of which the Maldita.es Foundation will receive 138,750 euros over three years. You can consult more information at this link .