Dr. Brendan Spillane, Assistant Professor at University College Dublin and Principal Investigator of the Horizon Europe VIGILANT project, presented the consortium’s latest research and innovations at the 6th Annual Joint Research Centre Annual Disinformation Workshop, held at the European Commission’s Berlaymont building in Brussels.
This year’s workshop, titled “Defending European Democracy,” was organised by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission in the context of the upcoming launch of the European Democracy Shield. The event brought together experts from EU institutions, academia, civil society, and international organisations to discuss how Europe can strengthen its resilience to disinformation, safeguard information integrity, and promote democratic values in the digital age.
Dr. Spillane spoke on Session 7: “Showcasing EU-Funded Projects Supporting European Democracy,” moderated by Alberto Domini, Policy Officer for Democracy, Equality and Culture at DG Research and Innovation.
His presentation, titled “Countering Disinformation and FIMI in Europe: Insights from the VIGILANT and ATHENA Horizon Europe Projects,” highlighted the innovative AI-enabled tools, methodologies, and ethical frameworks being developed within the VIGILANT project to support European Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in detecting, analysing, and investigating disinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) campaigns.
He was joined on the panel by leading researchers and innovators from across Europe, including:
- Prof. Kalina Bontcheva, University of Sheffield – VERA.AI: Verification Assisted by Artificial Intelligence
- Dr. Riccardo Gallotti, Fondazione Bruno Kessler – AI4TRUST: Continuous Monitoring of Online Media to Counter Disinformation
- Michal Trnka, CEO of Gerulata Technologies – Echoes Across Borders: Tracking Russian Propaganda in the EU
- Dr. Lena Frischlich, Associate Professor, Digital Democracy Centre
Throughout the two-day event, participants explored key themes such as:
- The strategic role of the forthcoming European Democracy Shield in protecting information ecosystems
- The use of AI both as a threat and a tool in the fight against disinformation
- The evolving landscape of FIMI campaigns targeting European societies
- Emerging EU-funded projects developing advanced counter-disinformation capabilities
- Future FIMI and disinformation threats to the EU and
The inclusion of VIGILANT in this high-level policy and research forum underscores the project’s growing role in the European effort to enhance digital resilience and strengthen democratic institutions. By combining AI-driven investigative tools with human-centred design and ethical oversight, VIGILANT is contributing to the EU’s broader strategy to protect citizens, institutions, and the integrity of public discourse.