Meta Platforms has announced it will stop allowing all political, election, and social‑issue advertisements on its platforms (including Facebook and Instagram) across the European Union from early October 2025. The decision is a direct response to the EU’s new Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulation, which requires detailed disclosure of ad sponsors, costs, targeting methods, and linked elections. Meta argues these rules introduce "significant operational challenges and legal uncertainties" and views them as overly complex and “unworkable.” The ban applies only to paid political ads, users and politicians can still post political content organically. Google issued a similar decision earlier, marking a broader tech industry backlash against the EU's tightening regulatory regime.

A sophisticated pro‑Russian disinformation campaign called “Matryoshka” has intensified its efforts in Moldova ahead of the September 2025 parliamentary elections, aiming to discredit the pro‑EU government and sway public opinion. It uses AI-generated content, fake social media accounts, anti‑Western messaging, and anti‑EU narratives, often tied to Russian-funded political networks as part of a broader strategy to destabilize Moldova’s democratic trajectory and influence voter behavior

France has accused China of running a disinformation campaign to discredit its Rafale fighter jets, using fake social media accounts, AI-generated content, and embassy networks. The alleged goal was to hurt international sales and promote Chinese alternatives, though China denies the claims.

After devastating flash floods in Texas in July 2025 killed over 100 people, conspiracy theorists falsely claimed the disaster was caused by government-engineered weather manipulation, including cloud seeding and “weather weapons.” These claims, spread by extremist groups and public figures, led to death threats against scientists, vandalism of radar systems, and widespread misinformation. Experts confirmed the floods were a natural result of an extreme weather system, not human intervention.

Extremist groups, including both Islamist and far-right actors, are leveraging global crises - such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Gaza conflict, and the 2024 UK riots—to disseminate misinformation, deepen societal divisions, and recruit new members. A GNET study funded by the UK Home Office reveals how these actors exploit “cognitive openings” during periods of uncertainty to radicalize individuals online. Platforms like X, TikTok, and Odysee are being used to spread tailored narratives that undermine trust in democratic institutions and incite violence. The report underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to counteract the spread of extremist misinformation during times of crisis.

A policy brief by the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) reveals how violent extremist groups across Europe and Africa are weaponizing disinformation to radicalize individuals, recruit followers, and justify violence. The report outlines how actors like ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates tailor conspiracy theories, manipulated narratives, and false claims to exploit local grievances—from anti-Western sentiment in Mali to Islamophobic tropes in European cities. These localized disinformation campaigns are becoming more sophisticated, posing major challenges to counter-extremism strategies and social cohesion.

South Korea’s presidential election has been marred by a surge of misinformation, with false narratives spreading rapidly on social media platforms. These include doctored images and unfounded claims targeting candidates, aiming to sway public opinion and undermine the electoral process. Authorities are grappling with the challenge of combating this digital disinformation to ensure a fair and transparent election.

The "Full Fact" Report 2025 highlights the escalating threat of disinformation in the UK, emphasizing the proliferation of AI-generated content and manipulated media. The report underscores the challenges posed by “cheapfakes” and the public’s limited understanding of synthetic content. It calls for swift and robust government action and criticizes major platforms for their insufficient responses. The report also stresses the importance of media literacy and the need for platforms to be held accountable in combating the spread of false information.

A recent investigation by has uncovered “The Sprinter Network,” a coordinated pro-Kremlin disinformation operation. This network comprises over 100 interconnected social media accounts disseminating false narratives to manipulate public opinion and undermine democratic institutions. The operation employs tactics such as fabricated news stories, manipulated images, and coordinated posting schedules to amplify its reach and impact. 

An investigation by The Guardian reveals how Russian intelligence agencies are using Telegram and other online platforms to recruit vulnerable individuals across Europe for acts of sabotage and disinformation. Recruits—often financially desperate migrants or disenfranchised youth—are paid to carry out arson, vandalism, and propaganda distribution targeting NATO-linked sites and infrastructure. Leaked communications show handlers explicitly instructing recruits to post fabricated narratives after operations, including blaming Ukrainian refugees or Western governments. Authorities in Germany, Poland, and the UK have confirmed arrests tied to these plots, reflecting a shift toward hybrid tactics that merge physical sabotage with coordinated narrative manipulation.

The French government has vehemently rejected false claims propagated by Russian state-controlled media, suggesting that President Emmanuel Macron used cocaine during his visit to Kyiv. These allegations were part of a broader disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting Macron and undermining the European Union’s stance on supporting Ukraine in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Russian outlets spread manipulated images and fake news stories, exploiting the growing distrust in political elites and the ongoing war.

Following the catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March 2025, the disaster response was complicated by a flood of AI-generated disinformation. Malicious actors exploited the urgent demand for information, distributing synthetic videos with fabricated destruction scenes and misattributed temple locations to generate ad revenue and social media engagement. Military-enforced telecommunications blackouts intensified the crisis, as the spread of clickbait AI content misled victims, responders, and the international community. A report warns that such misuse of generative AI during crises undermines emergency coordination, delays life-saving interventions, and erodes public trust.

A new open-source investigation reveals that over 40 South African social media influencers took part in a coordinated campaign attacking Ukrainian President Zelensky’s image, apparently as part of a paid influence-for-hire operation. The influencers – 29 of whom even advertised themselves as such in their profiles – spread posts criticizing Zelensky’s refusal of a short Kremlin-proposed ceasefire, using hashtags like #ZelenScam to amplify Kremlin-friendly narratives, and garnered about 290,000 views in the process . Researchers from DFRLab tie this effort to a broader surge in Russian disinformation across Africa (a fourfold increase since 2022), with Moscow linked to nearly 40% of such influence campaigns on the continent .

The Indian government has launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ to combat a surge of cross-border disinformation campaigns emanating from Pakistani social media networks. The operation was triggered by the dissemination of false videos and fabricated news stories, which aimed to incite communal tensions and discredit the Indian government’s policies. The Press Information Bureau of India was tasked with identifying and debunking these falsehoods, while coordinating with cybersecurity agencies to trace and disrupt the networks responsible. The operation has revealed the extensive use of fake news tactics as a tool of geopolitical influence, underscoring the growing challenge of cross-border narrative manipulation. 

Spain’s cybersecurity agency has identified coordinated foreign influence activity behind a surge of disinformation following the April blackout across the Iberian Peninsula. The report suggests that accounts linked to foreign actors amplified false claims about sabotage by migrants and secret military operations. Analysts noted linguistic patterns and account behavior consistent with prior campaigns tied to Kremlin-aligned networks. The disinformation was designed to exploit public uncertainty and deepen polarization during a critical infrastructure crisis, underscoring the strategic use of power outages as information warfare flashpoints.

In the aftermath of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest, the Philippines saw a sharp wave of disinformation online, with edited images, fake quotes, and recycled protest videos spreading rapidly across Facebook, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter). Old photos from unrelated events were misrepresented as mass pro-Duterte rallies, while fabricated statements falsely attributed to politicians like President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte were shared to inflame tensions. Experts note that the deliberate spread of misleading narratives sought to create confusion, stir outrage, and manipulate public perception during a politically sensitive moment.

Canada faces a new wave of election threats as deepfake videos, synthetic media, and AI-driven disinformation rapidly escalate. McGill University’s research warns that without urgent safeguards, deepfake scandals could confuse voters, undermine electoral integrity, and amplify foreign influence—as election campaigns move increasingly into AI-weaponized information warfare.

Across West Africa, foreign-backed disinformation campaigns are exploiting local languages like Hausa and Yoruba to spread authoritarian narratives. An investigation shows how platforms like Tiktok, Facebook and WhatsApp are weaponized to evade fact-checkers, sow division, and amplify foreign influence—highlighting an urgent blind spot in global disinformation defense strategies.

An EEAS Threat Report exposes a growing wave of state-sponsored disinformation campaigns, with Russia, China, and Iran identified as the primary culprits behind strategic influence operations targeting European information ecosystems. The report highlights how these actors are exploiting crises—from wars to elections and climate protests—to erode trust in institutions, amplify social divisions, and manipulate public discourse. It also identifies over 750 unique disinformation incidents in just six months, many amplified by coordinated bot networks and fake news sites.

In Brazil, coordinated disinformation campaigns on YouTube, WhatsApp, and Telegram intensified ahead of the 2022 elections, spreading anti-democratic conspiracies, anti-journalist narratives, and anti-science rhetoric. The ICFJ study links this to low media literacy, high digital reach, and platform inaction, which helped fuel the January 8, 2023 riots.

Canada’s intelligence leaders are sounding the alarm that foreign disinformation campaigns are actively undermining trust in democratic institutions ahead of the country’s next election. The report reveals how AI-generated videos, fake social media accounts, and cross-platform manipulation are being used to spread conspiracy theories and sow political division. The threat is so severe, authorities now call it “an existential threat to democracy.” 

An academic report from the Empirical Studies of Conflict (ESOC) project presents global dataset documenting 150 covert online influence operations between 2011 and 2023. The dataset identifies 150 campaigns targeting at least 70 countries, with Russia (60%), China (13%), and Iran (12%) responsible for the majority of foreign efforts. These campaigns used bots, trolls, fake accounts, and hashtag hijacking across platforms like X, Facebook, TikTok, and Telegram to defame opponents, manipulate public opinion, and promote authoritarian narratives.

A network of 28 social media and Telegram accounts with over 2 million followers generated more than 800,000 impressions in just 24 hours to promote the “Peace and neutrality, not our war” protest in Madrid. An investigation found that 82% of these accounts had previously disseminated pro-Russian or anti-Ukrainian disinformation. Organizers leveraged this digital infrastructure to amplify Kremlin-aligned messaging. This underscores how foreign propaganda networks are co-opting local movements to influence European narratives.

An investigation by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) exposes how Russian-affiliated groups recruit individuals through Telegram to spread anti-NATO propaganda, conduct cyberattacks on infrastructure, and fund hacktivist collectives like. From orchestrating migrant crises to sabotaging undersea energy cables, these hybrid attacks are testing Europe's resilience.

Israeli authorities uncovered an Iranian espionage network recruiting citizens through social media, exploiting financial and personal vulnerabilities for intelligence gathering. Recruits were tasked with surveilling military sites and infrastructure, using encrypted communications and cryptocurrency for covert operations. Brinker was instrumental in exposing the digital tactics behind this campaign, revealing the growing role of cyber warfare in foreign espionage efforts.

The Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise produced a fabricated video using AI tools, falsely accusing U.S. Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz of sexual misconduct. This disinformation aimed to interfere with the U.S. electoral process, prompting the Biden administration to impose sanctions on the involved Russian entities.

In the lead-up to Moldova's pivotal presidential election and EU membership referendum, disinformation campaigns, allegedly backed by pro-Kremlin sources, sought to destabilize the pro-European government. These efforts included hiring personalities to create misleading content, aiming to sway public opinion and undermine democratic processes.