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Cyber based influence campaigns 20th - 26th April 2026 Report

  • Writer: CRC
    CRC
  • Apr 30
  • 19 min read
Cover Image- Text: Weekly Media Update: Information Operations


[Introduction]


Cyber-based hostile influence campaigns are aimed at influencing target audiences by promoting information and/or disinformation over the internet, sometimes combined with cyber-attacks which enhance their effect (hence force Cyfluence, as opposed to cyber-attacks that aim to steal information, extort money, etc.) Such hostile influence campaigns and operations can be considered an epistemological branch of Information Operations (IO) or Information Warfare (IW).

Typically, and as customary during the last decade, the information is spread throughout various internet platforms, which are the different elements of the hostile influence campaign, and as such, connectivity and repetitiveness of content between several elements are the main core characteristics of influence campaigns. 

Hostile influence campaigns, much like Cyber-attacks, have also become a tool for rival nations and corporations to damage reputation or achieve various business, political or ideological goals. Much like in the cyber security arena, PR professionals and government agencies are responding to negative publicity and disinformation shared over the news and social media. 

We use the term cyber based hostile influence campaigns, as we include in this definition also cyber-attacks aimed at influencing (such as hack and leak during election time), while we exclude of this term other types of more traditional kinds of influence such as diplomatic, economic, military etc.

During the 20th to the 26th of April 2026, we observed, collected and analyzed endpoints of information related to cyber based hostile influence campaigns (including Cyfluence attacks). The following report is a summary of what we regard as the main events. Some of the mentioned campaigns have to do with social media and news outlets solemnly, while others leverage cyber-attack capabilities.



[Contents]



[State Actors]


X 

Russia 


China


Iran

[AI Related Articles]


[General Reports]


[Appendix - Frameworks to Counter Disinformation]




[ Report Highlights]


  • An article by The Psychological Defense Agency argued that Russia has long functioned as a colonial empire, but that misleading narratives have obscured its history.

  • The European Union announced it has imposed sanctions on two entities: Euromore and Pravfond, for their role in spreading disinformation as part of Russia’s hybrid strategy.

  • As published by DFR Lab, a China-linked influence network known as Spamouflage has been spreading disinformation ahead of the April 26 elections for the Central Tibetan Administration.

  • As published by ISD, following the 28th of February strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, online antisemitic content rose sharply, increasing by 68% within a week.

  • As revealed in a CyberNews article, a medical student used AI tools, including Gemini, to create a fake online persona named Emily Hart, demonstrating how deepfakes can be monetized.

  • Based on an analysis by Tech Policy Press, Hungary’s April 2026 parliamentary election offered a clear reminder that disinformation is not a decisive political force on its own.

  • As published by NewsGuard's Reality Check, Tensions between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV have fueled a wave of viral misinformation on social media, with multiple false claims gaining significant traction online.

  • The European Union announced that its Delegation to Türkiye has launched a new initiative to combat disinformation through a television programme called Ambassadors of Truth, produced in collaboration with CNN Türk.


[ Report Summary]

  • According to a report by The Hill, French prosecutors have summoned Elon Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino for questioning over alleged misconduct linked to X.

  • An article by The Psychological Defense Agency argued that Russia has long functioned as a colonial empire, but that misleading narratives have obscured its history.

  • A study by the Ukrainian NGO LingvaLexa, conducted with support from the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, found that Kremlin propaganda plays a direct and measurable role in shaping the beliefs and behavior of Russian soldiers.

  • The European Union announced it has imposed sanctions on two entities: Euromore and Pravfond, for their role in spreading disinformation as part of Russia’s hybrid strategy.

  • As published by DFR Lab, a China-linked influence network known as Spamouflage has been spreading disinformation ahead of the April 26 elections for the Central Tibetan Administration.

  • As reported by NewsGuard's Reality Check, Pro-Iran social media accounts have circulated a video of a burning ship in the Strait of Hormuz, falsely presenting it as evidence of Iranian military success.

  • An article from Le Monde states that Iranian state-linked actors deploy AI-generated, highly shareable propaganda content to manipulate narratives, amplify anti-Western messaging, and divert attention from domestic issues.

  • As published by ISD, following the 28th of February strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, online antisemitic content rose sharply, increasing by 68% within a week.

  • According to an article by ISD, since the start of the Iran war, official Iranian accounts on X have shifted from formal messaging to provocative, meme-driven content designed to maximize engagement.

  • A recent analysis by CyberNews found 156 deepfake incidents involving U.S. government officials over two years.

  • As revealed in a CyberNews article, a medical student used AI tools, including Gemini, to create a fake online persona named Emily Hart, demonstrating how deepfakes can be monetized.

  • Based on an analysis by Tech Policy Press, Hungary’s April 2026 parliamentary election offered a clear reminder that disinformation is not a decisive political force on its own.

  • According to an article by Wired, modern conflicts are increasingly mediated through memes and meme-like content that simplify, decontextualize, and emotionally amplify war narratives, often creating a widespread illusion of understanding without deeper knowledge.

  • As published by NewsGuard's Reality Check, Tensions between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV have fueled a wave of viral misinformation on social media, with multiple false claims gaining significant traction online.

  • According to a short publication by The European Commission, it has launched the #ClimateFactsMatter campaign to address the growing spread of climate disinformation across the EU.

  • An article published by Politico highlights that jailbroken AI models allow state-linked and malicious actors to bypass safeguards, enabling the spread of disinformation and the generation of detailed plans for cyber and physical attacks.

  • The EEAS European External Action Service announced that the European Union has launched a new civilian mission in Armenia, known as EUPM Armenia, aimed at strengthening the country’s resilience against complex threats.

  • The European Commission announced it has launched a new funding call under its European Democracy Shield strategy to strengthen research on information integrity.

  • The European Union announced that its Delegation to Türkiye has launched a new initiative to combat disinformation through a television programme called Ambassadors of Truth, produced in collaboration with CNN Türk.

  • According to a report by CyberNews, as AI-generated content becomes harder to distinguish from reality, concerns over disinformation and fraud are growing.


[Social Media]


X

Investigation Into Disinformation and Misconduct On X

According to a report by The Hill, French prosecutors have summoned Elon Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino for questioning over alleged misconduct linked to X. Central to the investigation are claims that X facilitated the spread of illegal and harmful content, including child sexual abuse material and AI-generated deepfakes. Authorities emphasized that these interviews aim to assess compliance with French law and determine whether platform leadership adequately addressed these risks.


A major focus of the case is disinformation generated by Grok. The chatbot reportedly produced false and harmful content, including Holocaust denial narratives and explicit nonconsensual deepfakes. Although Grok later corrected some outputs, the incident raised serious concerns about how AI systems can amplify disinformation on a scale. French officials are also investigating whether X’s algorithms contributed to biased or distorted information flows, further undermining public trust. Prosecutors additionally suspect that the controversy surrounding Grok’s disinformation may have been deliberately amplified to influence market value ahead of a planned corporate listing involving Musk’s companies. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities currently decline to assist the French probe.


[State Actors]


Russia

The Narrative of Russian Colonialism

An article by The Psychological Defense Agency argued that Russia has long functioned as a colonial empire, but that misleading narratives have obscured its history. Unlike other European empires, Russian expansion has often been framed as defensive or civilizing rather than imperial. Such narratives act as a form of disinformation, masking patterns of domination and shaping global misunderstanding of both past and present conflicts, including the war in Ukraine.


Propaganda and distorted historical claims have been used to justify Russian actions. These include portraying conquest as beneficial, denying colonial practices, and spreading narratives that Russia is uniquely “anti-colonial.” The article points to modern examples like state-aligned media and online content that present occupation as positive while ignoring violence, repression, and cultural erasure. It concluded that such disinformation has severe consequences - it delays recognition of imperial behavior, weakens international responses, and enables continued aggression.


Source: Psychological Defence Agency. The Last European Colonial Empire. [online] Published 2026. Available at: https://mpf.se/download/18.732eef4e19d7078d81ab8/1775717958942/The-last-european-colonial-empire.pdf


Russian Propaganda as a Weapon and Its Impact on Belief and Behavior

A study by the Ukrainian NGO LingvaLexa, conducted with support from the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, found that Kremlin propaganda plays a direct and measurable role in shaping the beliefs and behavior of Russian soldiers. Based on surveys of over 1,000 prisoners of war, the research showed that a large majority accepted at least some state narratives, with many viewing the invasion of Ukraine as justified. Those who believed propaganda more strongly were significantly more likely to support the war, dehumanize Ukrainians, resist surrender, and express willingness to fight again, indicating that propaganda is not just background noise, but a key driver of combat motivation.


The study also highlighted the central role of anti-Western narratives, which frame the war as a defensive struggle against NATO and a broader "decadent" West. These narratives were widely believed among surveyed soldiers and proved just as influential as other propaganda themes in shaping attitudes and behavior. The findings suggested that propaganda should be understood as a core instrument of modern warfare, one that facilitates mobilization, sustains aggression, and influences battlefield decisions. The report called for stronger international recognition of propaganda as a tool of aggression, including potential legal accountability not only for political leaders but also for those involved in creating and disseminating such narratives.


Source: The Ukrainian NGO LingvaLexa. Words that Kill: How Russian Propaganda Shapes Mobilizarion and Combat Motivation. [online] Google Drive. Available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NEQFv4YCQ0boNq6EbIeIDeqyUTwn3U6n/view


The EU Lists Two Entities for Information Manipulation Activities

The European Union announced it has imposed sanctions on two entities: Euromore and Pravfond, for their role in spreading disinformation as part of Russia’s hybrid strategy. Euromore functions as an unofficial media relay, amplifying and legitimizing pro-Kremlin narratives aimed at European audiences, including content that questions the legitimacy of EU institutions and justifies Russia’s war against Ukraine. Pravfond, funded by the Russian state, contributes to disinformation through legal and analytical materials that reinforce key propaganda claims. These include false narratives such as the "Nazification of Ukraine”, "Russophobia”, and alleged persecution of Russian-speaking populations in neighboring countries. Together, these efforts are designed to manipulate public perception and weaken trust in democratic institutions.


At the same time, as reported by EU VS Disinfo, pro-Kremlin disinformation continues to recycle familiar narratives. These include portraying Ukraine as a "terrorist state" allegedly supported by NATO, reviving long-debunked conspiracy theories about Western "biolabs", and spreading false claims about secret NATO infrastructure. Disinformation surrounding the Bucha massacre has also evolved, from outright denial to more complex conspiracy theories aimed at deflecting responsibility for documented war crimes.


Source: 


China

Chinese Influence Operation Targets Tibetan Elections

As published by DFR Lab, a China-linked influence network known as Spamouflage has been spreading disinformation ahead of the April 26 elections for the Central Tibetan Administration. This activity is part of a broader pattern of Chinese information manipulation targeting multiple countries and issues, including Taiwan, the United States, and Japan. Using dozens of fake Facebook and Instagram profiles, the operation promotes misleading narratives aimed at undermining trust in the Tibetan democratic process. These include personal attacks against leader Penpa Tsering, claims that the elections are manipulated, and portrayals of the government as corrupt or dominated by religious elites.


The campaign relies on coordinated, inauthentic behavior, including mass-sharing posts within its own network to simulate credibility. It also amplifies real controversies by inserting false or exaggerated claims, attempting to deepen divisions within the Tibetan community. AI-generated images and recycled narratives are used to make the disinformation appear more convincing, although most posts receive little genuine engagement. Despite becoming more technologically sophisticated, the operation has largely failed to gain significant organic traction.


Source: Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab). China-linked Spamouflage targets Tibetan parliament-in-exile elections. [online] Published 24 April 2026. Available at: https://dfrlab.org/2026/04/24/china-linked-spamouflage-targets-tibetan-parliament-in-exile-elections/


Iran

Pro-Iran Sources Reframed U.S. Strike Video as Two Different Iranian Victories

As reported by NewsGuard's Reality Check, Pro-Iran social media accounts have circulated a video of a burning ship in the Strait of Hormuz, falsely presenting it as evidence of Iranian military success. Initially, the footage was shared as proof that Iran had sunk a U.S. vessel near Bandar Abbas. Days later, the same video was reused to claim that Iranian forces had severely damaged Indian-flagged ships. In reality, the video showed a U.S. strike on an Iranian warship, identified through visual analysis as the IRIS Haj Qasem, with no credible evidence supporting either of the viral claims.


The misinformation emerged amid escalating tensions following the collapse of U.S.-Iran peace talks and a subsequent maritime blockade ordered by Donald Trump. Since the war began in late February 2026, reports indicated that over 155 Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed by U.S. and Israeli operations. While Iran did intercept two Indian-flagged ships, verified reports showed only minor damage, with no injuries or major losses.


Source: NewsGuard. One video, two conflicting false narratives. [online] Available at: https://www.newsguardrealitycheck.com/p/one-video-two-conflicting-false-narratives


Antisemitic Narratives Surge Following the Iran Conflict

As published by ISD, following the 28th of February strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, online antisemitic content rose sharply, increasing by 68% within a week. Much of this surge was driven by disinformation and conspiracy theories, particularly claims that the war was a “false flag” orchestrated by Jewish elites or that Western governments are controlled by a hidden Jewish power structure. These narratives, widely shared across platforms, reframed the conflict through misleading and harmful lenses that amplified distrust and hostility.


Disinformation also spread through distorted criticism of Israel, where legitimate political debate was often mixed with antisemitic tropes. Online content frequently blames Jewish communities worldwide for the actions of the Israeli state or uses Holocaust-related distortions to push false narratives. At the same time, direct hate speech and slurs increased significantly, creating a more aggressive and hostile digital environment shaped by viral misinformation and conspiracy-driven rhetoric. This wave of disinformation had real-world consequences, coinciding with a rise in antisemitic attacks across several countries.


Source: Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD). The impact of the war with Iran on antisemitic discourse. [online] Published 22 April 2026. Available at: https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/the-impact-of-the-war-with-iran-on-antisemitic-discourse/


Iran’s Generated Misinformation Strategy During War

According to an article by ISD, since the start of the Iran war, official Iranian accounts on X have shifted from formal messaging to provocative, meme-driven content designed to maximize engagement. This includes AI-generated and misleading visuals targeting figures like Donald Trump and references to conspiracy-linked individuals such as Jeffrey Epstein. While often framed as humor, this content blends satire with disinformation, distorting political narratives and trivializing serious geopolitical issues.


The strategy has proven highly effective in spreading these narratives, generating hundreds of millions of views and dramatically increasing likes, shares, and comments. By using viral, platform-native formats, Iranian state actors have expanded their reach and made disinformation more accessible, especially to online audiences less engaged with traditional political messaging. This approach has also helped reshape perceptions of Iran, portraying it as a relatable or even sympathetic “underdog” rather than focusing on its controversial policies or human rights record. Source: Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD). Iran’s diplomats launch a meme war. [online] Published 23 April 2026. Available at: https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/irans-diplomats-launch-a-meme-war/  


Iran Uses Viral AI Propaganda to Distract Western Audiences

An article from Le Monde describes a coordinated Iranian propaganda campaign that leverages advanced generative AI and pop-culture aesthetics to conduct influence operations targeting Western audiences. Regime-linked actors, particularly a studio identified as Explosive Media, produce high-quality animated videos, often using Lego-style visuals, that mock U.S. and Israeli leaders and promote anti-Western narratives. These materials are disseminated across major social media platforms (X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), achieving large-scale reach through viral distribution, with hundreds of millions of views. The campaign combines technical sophistication with humor, satire, and emotionally engaging content to increase acceptability and shareability, particularly among politically disengaged or neutral audiences.


Tactically, the operation relies on narrative manipulation, co-opting existing anti-establishment sentiment and embedding ideological messaging within entertaining formats to obscure propagandistic intent. It employs distortion and omission, including downplaying or denying state violence and reframing geopolitical dynamics to divide adversaries, such as portraying the United States as subordinate to Israel. The campaign also exploits amplification dynamics, as media coverage and public attention in the West further extend its reach, inadvertently reinforcing its impact. Analysts warn that this strategy diverts attention from domestic repression in Iran and functions as a broader disinformation effort aimed at weakening democratic discourse by shaping perceptions and redirecting focus away from human rights issues.


Source: Le Monde. How Tehran’s propaganda lures the West into distraction. [online] Published 25 April 2026. Available at: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/les-decodeurs/article/2026/04/25/how-tehran-s-propaganda-lures-the-west-into-distraction_6752815_8.html


[AI Related Articles]


Deepfakes Targeting U.S. Officials
A recent analysis by CyberNews found 156 deepfake incidents involving U.S. government officials over two years. Most cases focus on a small group of high-profile figures, especially Donald Trump, who alone accounts for 58% of all incidents. Notably, some of these deepfakes are self-generated or shared by individuals, blurring the line between deliberate disinformation and political messaging.

Other frequent targets include Marco Rubio, JD Vance, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. While the raw numbers suggest Republicans are targeted more often, this is largely due to Trump’s dominance in the dataset; excluding him, deepfake incidents are relatively balanced between political parties. Generally, Deepfake-driven disinformation tends to focus on widely recognizable leaders rather than on the broader political system, as familiar figures are more likely to attract attention and influence public opinion.


Source: Cybernews. Trump, Rubio and Vance are the most deepfaked U.S. government officials in office today. [online] Published 23 April 2026. Available at: https://cybernews.com/ai-news/most-deepfaked-us-government-officials/


AI-Generated Influencer Spreads Political Disinformation

As revealed in a CyberNews article, a medical student used AI tools, including Gemini, to create a fake online persona named Emily Hart, demonstrating how deep fakes can be monetized. By targeting a specific political audience of older, conservative, pro-Trump users, the creator crafted posts promoting divisive and misleading narratives on issues like immigration, religion, and politics, often aligned with supporters of Donald Trump.


The strategy relied on AI-generated images and tailored messaging designed to appear authentic and emotionally engaging. This approach quickly gained traction, with some posts reaching millions of views and attracting thousands of followers, many of whom paid for exclusive content. Although the accounts were eventually suspended, the operation shows how easily individuals can use AI to create convincing fake identities that spread misleading content on a large scale.


Sources: Cybernews. Indian man is behind MAGA’s AI-generated sweetheart Emily Hart. [online] Published 25 April 2026. Available at: https://cybernews.com/ai-news/emily-hart-maga/ 


Jailbroken AI Enables Disinformation and Attack Planning

An article published by Politico highlights the growing exploitation of artificial intelligence by malicious actors, demonstrating how AI systems, when stripped of built-in safeguards, can be weaponized to support harmful and potentially violent activities. Researchers from the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center (NCITE) showed U.S. lawmakers that “jailbroken” or “abliterated” AI models, with disabled safety mechanisms, can generate detailed instructions for terrorism, cyberattacks, and criminal acts. These models, unlike safeguarded “censored” systems, provide step-by-step guidance for executing attacks, illustrating how easily adversaries can manipulate AI tools to bypass restrictions. Tactics used include prompt engineering techniques, such as disguising harmful queries in complex or academic language, to evade detection systems and extract prohibited information.


The article also identifies state-linked actors and cyber threat groups as key participants in leveraging AI for disinformation and offensive operations. Russia-linked groups have reportedly used AI models to disseminate disinformation online, while Beijing-backed hackers attempted to automate cyberattacks using advanced language models. The accessibility of off-the-shelf AI tools further lowers the barrier for such activities, increasing the risk of widespread misuse. Overall, the article underscores a rapidly evolving threat landscape in which both state and non-state actors exploit vulnerabilities in AI systems to conduct influence operations, spread disinformation, and enable harmful real-world actions, raising significant concerns about the adequacy of current safeguards and regulatory responses.


Sources: Politico. AI chatbots can be jailbroken, alarming lawmakers and exposing safety gaps. [online] Published 22 April 2026. Available at: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/22/ai-chatbots-jailbreak-safety-00887869 


[General Reports]


Orbán’s Hungary Defeat Showed Disinformation is Not a Political Magic Trick

Based on an analysis by Tech Policy Press, Hungary’s April 2026 parliamentary election offered a clear reminder that disinformation is not a decisive political force on its own. In the election, Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party lost to newcomer Péter Magyar, despite a campaign marked by extensive pro-government disinformation. While Fidesz spread coordinated false claims, such as manipulated videos alleging plans to reintroduce conscription, this did not prevent a decisive opposition victory. The findings reinforced that the purpose of factchecking is not to sway election outcomes, but to provide voters with reliable information and tools to assess claims independently.


The campaign also highlighted the limits of other commonly cited influences. Russian-linked disinformation efforts appeared weak and largely ineffective compared to domestic propaganda networks. At the same time, AI-generated political content was widely used by both sides, often to provoke emotional responses rather than to convincingly deceive. Meanwhile, the EU-driven ban on political advertising by platforms such as Meta and Google significantly reduced the volume of online propaganda and may have benefited the opposition, which achieved stronger organic engagement.


Source: Fülöp, Z. and Teczár, S. Orbán’s Hungary defeat shows disinformation is not a political magic trick. [online] Tech Policy Press. Published 20 April 2026. Available at: https://www.techpolicy.press/orbns-hungary-defeat-shows-disinformation-is-not-a-political-magic-trick/ (techpolicy.press)


The Role of Meme Culture in Shaping War Perception and Understanding

According to an article by Wired, Recent conflicts involving the United States, Iran, Israel, and Lebanon have spread widely on social media, not only through news but through memes. These ranged from jokes about conscription and viral songs to dark humor about missile strikes and wartime life. While humor has long been a way to cope with fear and uncertainty, social media has transformed it into a fast-moving, global phenomenon. Memes are designed to be simple, relatable, and highly shareable, often stripping away context in favor of engagement.


Governments are increasingly adopting meme-like formats to shape narratives, blending real footage with cinematic edits, gaming references, or AI-generated visuals. This content spreads easily because it mirrors the language of online culture, making propaganda more accessible and emotionally engaging. However, this environment creates an "illusion of understanding", where constant exposure to simplified content makes people feel informed without deep knowledge.


Source: WIRED. War memes are turning conflict into content. [online] Published 20 April 2026. Available at: https://www.wired.com/story/war-memes-turn-conflict-into-content/



Trump Pope Rift Sparked Viral False Claims

As published by NewsGuard's Reality Check, Tensions between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV have fueled the spread of 3 viral false claims related to the Catholic Church, garnering 1.5 million views on the social media platform X alone. The claims began spreading on the 12th of April 2026, following public criticism exchanged between the two figures. Both pro- and anti-Trump users circulated claims that the pope donated to Kamala Harris’s campaign, a fabricated quote attributed to Cardinal Timothy Dolan supporting Trump, and a fake post suggesting Trump threatened the Vatican with secret "files". None of these claims is supported by evidence.


Source: NewsGuard. Trump-Pope rift sparks viral false claims. [online] Published 24 April 2026. Available at: https://www.newsguardrealitycheck.com/p/trump-pope-rift-sparks-viral-false


[Appendix - Frameworks to Counter Disinformation]


EU Campaign to Counter Climate Disinformation

According to a short publication by The European Commission, it has launched the #ClimateFactsMatter campaign to address the growing spread of climate disinformation across the EU. Led by its climate department, the initiative provides multilingual resources: videos, infographics, and guides, to help citizens recognize misleading content and better understand climate issues and policies.


The campaign focuses on exposing how disinformation distorts public understanding of climate change, often by spreading false or misleading claims that undermine trust in scientific facts and delay action. It offers practical tools for identifying manipulation techniques and encourages critical thinking about the sources and intent behind climate-related information.


Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Climate Action. #ClimateFactsMatter: Countering climate disinformation in the EU. [online] Published April 2026. Available at: https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/climate-disinformation/climatefactsmatter-countering-climate-disinformation-eu_en (climate.ec.europa.eu)


EU Mission to Strengthen Armenia’s Resilience

The EEAS European External Action Service announced that the European Union has launched a new civilian mission in Armenia, known as EUPM Armenia, aimed at strengthening the country’s resilience against complex threats. Operating under the Common Security and Defence Policy, the mission will provide strategic and operational support to Armenian institutions in addressing challenges such as foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), cyberattacks, and illicit financial activities. It will focus on capacity building across government bodies and promote a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to crisis management and national security. The mission, requested by Armenian authorities, will initially run for two years and be headquartered in Armenia. It complements the existing EU Mission in Armenia, which focuses on observation and confidence-building in conflict-affected areas.


Source: European External Action Service (EEAS). Armenia: EU establishes a new civilian mission to contribute to strengthening the country’s resilience. [online] Published 21 April 2026. Available at: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/armenia/armenia-eu-establishes-new-civilian-mission-contribute-strengthening-country%E2%80%99s-resilience_en (consilium.europa.eu)



EU Calls for Initiative to Tackle Evolving Disinformation Threats

The European Commission announced it has launched a new funding call under its European Democracy Shield strategy to strengthen research on information integrity. The initiative responds to the rapid rise of disinformation and manipulation tactics online, including the use of AI-generated content, fake websites, influencer misuse, and the exploitation of algorithms to amplify misleading or divisive narratives.

The proposal emphasized that by distorting information environments, influencers can affect elections, policy debates, and individual choices, making it essential to better understand how such manipulation operates and spreads. To counter this, the EU plans to invest in research infrastructure and collaboration across sectors such as academia, civil society, and technology to improve the ability to detect, analyze, and respond to disinformation.


Source: European Commission. New open call for proposals under the Digital Europe Programme. [online] Published 21 April 2026. Available at: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/new-open-call-proposals-under-digital-europe-programme



EU Tackles Disinformation Through New Media Program

The European Union announced that its Delegation to Türkiye has launched a new initiative to combat disinformation through a television programme called Ambassadors of Truth, produced in collaboration with CNN Türk. The show aims to educate audiences about how disinformation operates, why it spreads, especially during crises, and how individuals can better recognize and resist misleading content.


Hosted by Nezih Orhon, the programme brings together experts from academia, media, and fact-checking organizations to examine key disinformation challenges. Topics include the risks of AI-generated content, health misinformation, foreign influence campaigns, and the vulnerabilities of children and families in the digital space. It also highlights how false or manipulated information can undermine trust and decision-making. Beyond raising awareness, the initiative focuses on practical solutions, offering viewers tools to verify information and navigate online media more critically.


Source: European External Action Service (EEAS). Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye takes a new step in the fight against disinformation: “Ambassadors of Truth” premieres on CNN Türk. [online] Published 24 April 2026. Available at: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/t%C3%BCrkiye/ambassadors-truth_en 



Biometric Verification to Counter AI-Driven Disinformation and Fraud

According to a report by CyberNews, as AI-generated content becomes harder to distinguish from reality, concerns over disinformation and fraud are growing. A company co-founded by Sam Altman, Tools for Humanity, is partnering with Match Group and Zoom to introduce biometric identity verification. Their solution, the “Orb”, uses iris scanning to confirm whether users are real humans, aiming to reduce the spread of fake identities and AI-generated personas online.


This effort responds to the increasing use of synthetic media and deepfakes in disinformation campaigns and scams. Instead of detecting fake content directly, the system verifies real users and assigns a “proof-of-human” badge to their profiles. While technology promises greater trust and security, it also raises questions about privacy and accessibility. As AI continues to enable large-scale deception, tools like biometric verification highlight the growing need for new defenses against disinformation, even as they introduce new challenges around data protection and user trust.


Source: Cybernews. Sam Altman’s iris-scanning company joins forces with Tinder and Zoom to exterminate deepfake scams. [online] Published 23 April 2026. Available at: https://cybernews.com/ai-news/tinder-zoom-human-verification/



[CRC Glossary]


The nature and sophistication of the modern Information Environment is projected to continue to escalate in complexity. However, across academic publications, legal frameworks, policy debates, and public communications, the same concepts are often described in different ways, making collaboration, cooperation, and effective action more difficult.


To ensure clarity and establish a consistent frame of reference, the CRC is maintaining a standard glossary to reduce ambiguity and promote terminological interoperability. Its scope encompasses foundational concepts, as well as emerging terms relating to Hostile Influence and Cyfluence.


As a collaborative project maintained with input from the community of experts, the CRC Glossary is intended to reflect professional consensus. We encourage you to engage with this initiative and welcome contributions via the CRC website.










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