Strengthening Information Integrity: CYAN Joins FIMI Training

To confront the evolving threats posed by Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), Gabriel Lopez, Project Officer of the Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking (CYAN) and Area Coordinator for Luzon of the YNFORM Project, joined a specialized two-day training on June 5–6, 2025.

The workshop brought together civil society leaders and media professionals to deepen their understanding of how foreign actors weaponize information ecosystems. FIMI, characterized by covert and deceptive influence operations, aims to distort public discourse, destabilize democratic processes, and sow division across communities.

The training brought together representatives from civil society and media sectors to critically examine how foreign actors deliberately distort information to influence public perception, destabilize democratic processes, and weaken institutional trust. The sessions offered in-depth analysis of how these manipulative practices evolve and are amplified through both online and offline channels.

Throughout the two-day training, participants examined the full cycle of foreign information manipulation—from the initial seeding of narratives to their systematic amplification across various platforms. The sessions also offered insights into identifying and tracking the networks and actors behind disinformation campaigns. These discussions were grounded in real-world examples of foreign interference observed in both national and regional contexts. Emphasis was placed on the importance of collaborative, rights-based strategies to safeguard the integrity of the information space and ensure democratic resilience in the face of external manipulation.

Particular attention was given to the ways FIMI intersects with gendered narratives and attacks on civic space—an especially relevant concern for youth advocates, journalists, and human rights defenders.

Through this training, Lopez contributed the youth perspective and strengthened CYAN’s ongoing work in promoting transparency, informed citizen engagement, and democratic resilience. The initiative reflects a broader effort to equip frontline advocates with the tools needed to respond to increasingly complex information threats in the digital age.