• • November 25, 2025
• -
• • November 25, 2025

Disinformation, hybrid threats, and coordinated influence operations rank among the most pressing challenges facing democracies in Europe. Since the onset of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Eastern European states have been on the front lines of defending against targeted disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, and strategic influence efforts. These developments underscore how vulnerable democratic systems can be to manipulative information strategies. The next Digital Dish by Aspen Germany will bring together experts from politics, media, academia, and civil society to discuss what lessons can be drawn from Eastern Europe’s experience in countering disinformation and how these insights can be applied to other European countries. The discussion will focus on the role of media and social media influencers during election campaigns, strategies to combat fake news on social media platforms, and political as well as societal measures to strengthen democratic resilience. The event will explore how democracies can systematically counter disinformation, safeguard public trust, and enhance their resistance to hybrid threats. The discussion will be held in German and under the Chatham House Rule.