The Council of Europe has requested its member states, including Georgia, to share information related to foreign information manipulation and interference.
Based on a document circulated by the Council of Europe, the organization’s Committee of Experts on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (PC-FIMI) is asking member states to submit relevant information covering the period from January 1 to April 15 of this year. The document has been sent to all Council of Europe member states.
The PC-FIMI examines a wide range of issues, including disinformation, media concentration and media capture, media freedom, organized crime, cybercrime, and corruption.
“Under the authority of the Committee of Ministers, and of the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC), the PC-FIMI is instructed to complete a feasibility study on the possible elaboration of a Council of Europe legal instrument on foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), including disinformation,” the document states.
The study explores challenges related to election interference, media concentration and capture, media freedom, democratic and information literacy, organized crime, cybercrime, corruption, and the malicious use of artificial intelligence and other technologies. It also examines legal gaps concerning the criminalization of certain conduct related to FIMI and identifies potential approaches for prevention, awareness-raising, and education measures.
Based on information published on the Council of Europe’s website, the first meeting of the PC-FIMI was held on January 27, 2026. The meeting was chaired by Gianluca Esposito, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law at the Council of Europe.
“It is a pleasure and a privilege to welcome you to the Council of Europe and to the first meeting of the Committee of Experts on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference,” Esposito said.
“As happy as I am to see you here, the reasons behind the establishment of this Committee are dark and consequential for our societies.”
He noted that the openness of democratic societies and their commitment to free expression have been exploited by foreign actors spreading misleading propaganda with the aim of creating divisions, fear, and advancing geopolitical interests.
Georgia, as a member state of the Council of Europe, has also received the request. Based on available information, the Georgian side has already prepared a response to the Committee’s inquiry.
