Event

ASD convenes transatlantic policymakers, elected officials, academics, technical experts, and leaders from civil society and the private sector to address the urgent need to secure our democracies, create a common understanding of the techniques used to undermine democracies, and share lessons learned about effective defensive and deterrent strategies.

Digital Threats and Propaganda: How North Carolina and Other States are Targeted by Foreign Actors

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte for an exclusive lunch event on Thursday, May 29, featuring experts from the Alliance for Securing Democracy, as they unpack how countries like Russia, China, and Iran are actively shaping public discourse [...]

2025-04-01T12:10:10-04:00April 1, 2025|By ASD Team|

Vassilis Ntousas Moderates GMF Discussion on EU Responses to Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

Foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) is a growing threat to democracies worldwide, with social media platforms as prime battlegrounds. In Europe, domestic and foreign malign actors engage in information operations aimed at underm [...]

2025-03-26T11:44:04-04:00March 25, 2025|By Vassilis Ntousas|

ASD and the McCain Institute Hold Discussion on AI and a Complex Information Space ahead of the 2024 US Election

Generative AI programs can be used to churn out content parroting false narratives within seconds and produce sophisticated fake images, videos, and audio that are increasingly indistinguishable from authentic material. The widespread accessibility [...]

2024-11-04T12:12:11-05:00October 17, 2024|By ASD Team|

The China-Russia Nexus of Disinformation

Tuesday, February 27, 2024 10:00 - 11:00am ET 1600 - 1700 CET In the two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Russia’s and the People’s Republic of China’s use of disinformation has increased along with Moscow and Beijin [...]

2024-08-22T10:40:03-04:00February 16, 2024|By David Salvo and Bret Schafer|

Addressing Current and Emerging Threats To Secure Democracy

Democratic backsliding has been a defining feature of modern politics and the transatlantic space has not been immune to this trend. The subversive effect of autocratic efforts to undermine democracy has concerned leaders across Europe and the Unite [...]

2024-02-20T10:17:08-05:00November 27, 2023|By David Salvo|

ASD Event at Brussels Forum 2023 | US Elections in 2024: Politics, Ukraine Support, and Challenges to Democracy

Experts in opinion polling and politics join this discussion around the 2024 presidential race in the United States. Presidential politics could impact the trajectory of the “New Atlanticism” and US support for Ukraine as isolationist or “America Fi [...]

2023-08-09T11:03:57-04:00May 26, 2023|By Rachael Dean Wilson|

David Salvo on Risk and Resilience in the Face of Russian Interference in Europe and Eurasia

Which elements of Putin’s playbook do we see used time and time again in different countries in Europe and Eurasia? What signs should we have seen in Ukraine from 2015 to 2022? And which of these can help inform civil society resilience strategies i [...]

2023-08-09T09:47:59-04:00May 22, 2023|By David Salvo|

The Elections in Turkey and Poland: How Domestic Corruption Undermines Democracy

From Ukraine’s courageous defense of its own sovereignty and democracy to the ongoing demands for human rights and reform in Iran, there are many reasons for optimism about the future of the liberal democratic order. But this hope ought to be tempere [...]

2023-05-05T12:59:22-04:00April 27, 2023|By Josh Rudolph|

Lindsay Gorman Testifies Before Australian Parliament about China’s Influence Operations

Below is an unedited transcript of the proceedings provided by the Australian Parliament. Read the full transcript here. GORMAN, Ms Lindsay, Senior Fellow for Emerging Technologies and Head, Technology and Geopolitics Team, Alliance for Securing De [...]

2024-03-07T14:49:08-05:00April 21, 2023|By Lindsay Gorman|

Lindsay Gorman Talks China’s Surveillance State with the National Security Institute

As part of NSI’s ongoing series, “A Spotlight on China’s Global Repression,” NSI is excited to host a discussion examining how China uses digital tools, such as social media platforms like WeChat and TikTok and its social credit system, to further t [...]

2024-03-05T11:27:36-05:00March 30, 2023|By Lindsay Gorman|

Accountability and Transparency in Ukrainian Recovery and Reconstruction

The scale of Russia’s devastation and destruction in Ukraine will eventually have to be matched by a recovery and reconstruction process equal to the Marshall Plan. To prevent the massive flow of financial assistance from leaking into corruption and [...]

2023-05-04T11:53:38-04:00March 27, 2023|By Josh Rudolph|

David Levine Breaks Down Foreign Interference in Elections with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems

Is the public discussion in our democracies an open dialogue, or do malicious actors manipulate the debate for their own purposes? META (the owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) published a report in September 2022 about “Coordinated Inauthen [...]

2022-11-07T16:47:30-05:00October 27, 2022|By David Levine|

Why Do Foreign Actors Want to Erode U.S. Democracy?

In 2016, 2018, and 2020, America’s foreign adversaries, such as Russia and Iran, attempted to influence the U.S. elections. Just last month, FBI officials warned of potential interference from Russia and China in the upcoming midterms, providing a t [...]

2022-10-20T16:37:38-04:00October 18, 2022|By Laura Thornton|

Laura Thornton Analyzes Backsliding Democracies and Rising Autocracies in Europe with the National Committee on American Foreign Policy

In its 2022 Nations in Transit report, Freedom House observed an ongoing 18-year decline of democracies in Central Europe and Eurasia. With the electoral victories of the Brothers of Italy and the Sweden Democrats, both far-right parties with neo-fa [...]

2022-10-14T14:50:35-04:00October 13, 2022|By Laura Thornton|

Bryce Barros Breaks Down the Geostrategic Implications of Secondary Sanctions with the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents

This educational program, developed by The Association of Foreign Press Correspondents (AFPC-USA) in partnership with the Hinrich Foundation, provided foreign correspondents with the opportunity to learn from four well-known experts and gain a deepe [...]

2023-08-07T16:08:30-04:00October 12, 2022|By Bryce Barros|

David Levine Discusses the Importance of Nonpartisan Election Observation with SMART Elections

The Carter Center & the Alliance for Securing Democracy both leading organizations in election observation, say it's time for nonpartisan observation in U.S. elections. Join a timely and intimate conversation with them on: Why this is the time f [...]

2022-09-28T11:26:28-04:00September 27, 2022|By David Levine|

Laura Thornton on Information Wars at the Tbilisi International Conference 2022

Panelists Jamie Fly, President, RFE/RL Shota Gvernia, Non-Resident Fellow, EPRC Laura Thornton, Director and Senior Fellow, Alliance for Securing Democracy Brian Whitmore, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council Stefan Meister, Head of Program, [...]

2022-09-08T11:27:05-04:00September 6, 2022|By Laura Thornton|

Rachael Dean Wilson and David Salvo Discuss How Authoritarian Governments are Influencing Pennsylvania Elections with World Affairs Council Pittsburgh

Exacerbating polarization in America is a strategic move for authoritarian governments like Russia, China, and Iran. A democracy entangled in its own disagreements is a weakened player on the world stage and a boon for competitor nations. Iran and R [...]

2022-08-04T13:50:42-04:00July 27, 2022|By Rachael Dean Wilson and David Salvo|

Rachael Dean Wilson and David Salvo Unpack the Rise of Mis/Disinformation and its Effects on Pennsylvania Voters with World Affairs Council Pittsburgh

From fervent attacks on US political campaigns to mis, dis, and mal-information targeting trust in our elections, autocratic interference in democracy is truly a global challenge with local implications. As voters in a key swing state, Pennsylvanian [...]

2022-08-04T13:48:55-04:00July 26, 2022|By Rachael Dean Wilson and David Salvo|

David Levine on Evolving Election Threats with the USC Election Cybersecurity Initiative

2022 University of Southern California Regional Workshop: AK ID OR WA with David Levine, Elections Integrity Fellow, Alliance for Securing Democracy, German Marshall Fund of the United States. For more information about the USC Election Cybersecurit [...]

2022-08-25T15:30:48-04:00July 14, 2022|By David Levine|

Brussels Forum Day 2 // Rebuilding Trust in Elections

It takes more than superb election officials and secure processes to build trust in elections – it is truly a whole of society effort. Democracies need engaged leadership from government, the private sector, the media, and civil society to push back [...]

2022-06-28T13:04:22-04:00June 28, 2022|By Laura Thornton|

Brussels Forum: Day 2 // Democracy at Home and Abroad

China is implementing a multifaceted pressure campaign against Taiwan aimed at undermining the confidence of the people of Taiwan in their democratically elected government and weakening their will to resist integration with China. Beijing’s toolkit [...]

2022-06-28T13:10:26-04:00June 28, 2022|By Laura Thornton|

Bret Schafer on EU-U.S. Cooperation on Addressing Hybrid Threats

Featuring: Jennifer Bachus, Senior Bureau Official and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, US Department of State Rasmus Hindrén, Head of International Relations, European Centre of Excellence for Counterin [...]

2022-06-23T07:54:00-04:00June 22, 2022|By Bret Schafer|

Vassilis Ntousas on Democracy vs. Autocracy with the Global Progressive Forum

ASD's Head of European Operations Vassilis Ntousas moderated a panel on democracy vs. autocracy as part of the Global Progressive Forum 2022. [...]

2022-05-16T15:04:25-04:00May 12, 2022|By Vassilis Ntousas|

Bret Schafer Unpacks Russian and Chinese Disinformation Nexus with Washington Foreign Press Center

This briefing unpacks the Russia-China disinformation nexus, with a focus on the Global South, as well as the countries' increasing information warfare campaigns, within the context of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. [...]

2022-05-03T14:38:24-04:00April 27, 2022|By Bret Schafer|

Cities Fortifying Democracy: A Conversation with the Mayor of Warsaw

Opening Remarks Heather A. Conley President, The German Marshall Fund of the United States Speakers: Rafał Trzaskowski Mayor, City of Warsaw, Poland Moderator: Laura Thornton Director, The Alliance for Securing Democracy, The German Marshall Fund of [...]

2022-10-28T15:41:36-04:00April 25, 2022|By Laura Thornton|

Chinese Disinformation Fuels the War in Ukraine

Chinese disinformation spiked after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. China uses similar tactics as during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the scale and intensity are greater. Chinese disinformation conceals Russia’s responsibility for the war and promotes R [...]

2022-04-12T10:21:06-04:00April 8, 2022|By Bret Schafer|

Laura Thornton Analyzes Country Commitments from the Summit for Democracy with the Global Democracy Coalition

The Government of the United States hosted the first of two Summits for Democracy on 8–10 December 2021. In the face of increasing challenges to democracy globally, they aimed to bring together leaders from government, civil society and the private [...]

2022-04-06T11:43:45-04:00April 5, 2022|By Laura Thornton|

Propaganda, Politics, and War: Information Manipulation in France’s Presidential Election

Speakers Iris Boyer, Advisory, Institute for Strategic Dialogue France Julien Nocetti, Associate Fellow, French Institute of International Relations Bret Schafer, Senior Fellow and Head of the Information Manipulation Team, Alliance for Securing Dem [...]

2022-04-01T09:17:49-04:00March 29, 2022|By Kristine Berzina and Bret Schafer|

Director Laura Thornton Testifies Before European Parliament on Transatlantic Cooperation during Russia’s War in Ukraine

Statement before the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs Hearing on Transatlantic Cooperation Following Russian Aggression on Ukraine Ukraine and Global Democracy March 14, 2022 Thank you, Chair David McAllister and Rapporteur Tonino P [...]

2022-03-15T11:10:34-04:00March 14, 2022|By Laura Thornton|

How to Win the Disinformation War in Ukraine?

The disinformation war in Ukraine has now moved well past the initial stage and continues apace. Yet, Ukraine seems to be beating Russia at its own game on the information battlefield as officials in Kyiv are treating it as a real front line. So far [...]

2022-03-14T16:11:21-04:00March 9, 2022|By Bret Schafer|

David Levine Participates in the Association of European Election Officials’ Global Elections Day Summit

The aim of the Global Elections Day (GED) is to celebrate our most important democratic institution: elections. In the past almost two decades Global Elections Day evolved into a tradition, a real celebration organized in democracies throughout the [...]

2022-02-04T11:36:05-05:00February 3, 2022|By David Levine|

Chinese Disinformation in the Black Sea Region and Western Balkans

Speakers: Laura Thornton Director & Senior Fellow – Alliance for Securing Democracy (GMF) Sorin Ioniță Analyst & Civic Leader – Expert Forum Stefan Vladisavljev Author - China Observers Moderator: Alexandra Martin Rethink.CEE Fellow – GMF Di [...]

2022-02-01T12:36:10-05:00January 27, 2022|By Laura Thornton|

Laura Thornton Joins GMF for a Transatlantic Readout of the Summit for Democracy

Speakers: Amb. Stéphane Dion, Special Envoy of Canada to the EU and Europe & Ambassador to Germany Laura Thornton, Director, Alliance for Securing Democracy Manuel Lafont-Rapnouil, Director of Policy Planning, French Ministry for Europe and Fore [...]

2021-12-16T09:50:49-05:00December 14, 2021|By Laura Thornton|

Laura Thornton Discusses NATO’s Role in Countering Disinformation with the McCain Institute

NATO and its members are facing a growing threat in the form of disinformation campaigns that can be traced back to authoritarian regimes and their proxies. Much of this “weaponized” information seems aimed at weakening confidence in member governme [...]

2021-12-16T09:46:02-05:00December 14, 2021|By Laura Thornton|

Zack Cooper Testifies Before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China on China’s Economic Coercion

Statement before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China Hearing on How China Uses Economic Coercion to Silence Critics and Achieve its Political Aims Globally Between Beijing and a Hard Place: Responding to China’s Economic Coercion Zack Co [...]

2021-12-09T15:52:45-05:00December 7, 2021|By Zack Cooper|

Enablers of Malign Finance

Panelists: Will Fitzgibbon, Senior Reporter, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists Sydney Freedberg, Chief Reporter, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists Neil Jeans, Principal Consultant, Initialism Lakshmi Kumar, Po [...]

2022-01-11T12:49:11-05:00December 7, 2021|By Josh Rudolph|

Responses to Foreign Information Operations

Panelists: Anneli Ahonen, Senior Fellow, ISD Global, and Former Head of East Stratcom Task Force, EEAS & EU vs Disinfo Renée DiResta, Research Manager, Stanford Internet Observatory Lee Foster, Senior Vice President, Althea Group and Former Dire [...]

2024-03-05T11:37:43-05:00December 7, 2021|By Bret Schafer|

Josh Kirschenbaum Testifies Before European Parliament on Anti-Money Laundering

Statement of JOSHUA KIRSCHENBAUM Alliance for Securing Democracy, the German Marshall Fund of the United States BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND MONETARY AFFAIRS AND THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS Concerning “Anti-Mon [...]

2021-12-02T14:06:17-05:00December 1, 2021|By Joshua Kirschenbaum|

One Year Out from the Midterms: Maurice Turner on Where Election Misinformation Stands with BPC

Election misinformation is more prevalent now than at any other time in American history. 29% of Americans believe the 2020 election was “stolen” from former President Trump, despite there being no evidence of widespread voter fraud in any state. So [...]

2021-11-05T11:10:22-04:00November 4, 2021|By Maurice Turner|