Disinformation is deliberately spread to manipulate opinions and undermine trust in the state, science, and media. This is according to a post on the German government’s website. The manipulated information can appear in various forms – such as a fake article from an established media outlet, an AI-generated deepfake video, or a fabricated message in messenger services.
Especially since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, disinformation has increased significantly, the German government says. Foreign actors use it to unsettle people and weaken trust in democracy. For such campaigns, the term FIMI (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference) has become established.
The German government is countering disinformation on multiple levels. The lead responsibility lies with the Federal Ministry of the Interior, as it is a hybrid threat. On June 16, 2026, Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt, together with representatives of federal and state security authorities, opened the Joint Center for the Defense of Hybrid Threats (Hybrid). The goal is to detect and combat espionage, sabotage, disinformation, and other forms of hybrid threats. An overview of federal and state measures is provided by the “Joint Action Plan of the Federal and State Governments against Disinformation and for a Resilient Democracy.”
Source: Bundesregierung
