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.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, and former acting CIA director Michael Morell discuss ASD’s Policy Blueprint for Countering Authoritarian Interference in Democracies at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center on June 26, 2018.
Past Events
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. [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]