Abstract:
The rising threat of foreign digital interference presented as a strategic and intentional use
of digital tools, poses a significant threat to democratic principles. Threat actors are now able to
interfere in another state’s political processes, utilizing information manipulation techniques that
may not be illegal by nature but are nonetheless harmful. These malicious activities can lead to
substantial regional destabilization and disruptions. The European Union (EU) has emerged as a
frontrunner in conceptualizing and institutionalizing countermeasures against these hybrid
challenges. In particular, the joint efforts of the EU Commission's departments, particularly its
diplomatic service, the European External Action Service (EEAS), have introduced proactive
measures and frameworks aimed at fostering a common understanding of the danger and
devising preventive measures. As part of this initiative, the EEAS has produced three
comprehensive reports on the phenomenon of Foreign Information Manipulation and
Interference (FIMI). This study examines the evolution of the EU’s countermeasures, the
exploration of its gradual progress in the articulation of key concepts, the institutional
mechanisms, and the critical perspectives on the EU's approach. The study employs a thematic
analysis of official policy documents, annual EEAS reports on FIMI, and academic literature to
trace the shift from traditional cyber threats to complex, non-illegal forms of information
manipulation. The findings outline the demand for ongoing enhancement of more punitive and
systemic counter mechanisms stemming from the rapidly evolving state of FIMI, regardless of
the EU’s progress in building institutional resilience. The scrutiny concludes by reflecting on the
implications of the EU’s experience for other states, such as Kazakhstan, which face similar
threats in this open information space.
