How can Europe better address transnational information suppression and protect information freedom both within and beyond its borders? While Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference is recognised as a growing threat to European sovereignty and fundamental rights, FIMI has been long understood as disinformation only. This overlooks a key aspect – information suppression. By silencing information with the purpose of muting dissenting voices or narratives outside a country’s borders, actors can curb democratic participation and free speech in Europe.
We invite you to join us to explore these questions at the ARM Final Conference in Brussels. On 2/3 February 2027, we will host a day of panels and discussions. Bringing together researchers, EU policymakers, practitioners and civil society, the event will present ARM’s findings on information suppression and discuss how they can be taken further as practical steps to protect information integrity for both society at large, and vulnerable diaspora communities in Europe.
Building on the important work done by the European External Action Service, the conference will examine how policy frameworks such as the Digital Services Act and the European Democracy Shield could better address information suppression alongside disinformation. We will also look beyond the threat posed by large states such as China and Russia, looking at highly active actors such as Rwanda and Ethiopia. Comparing these cases, we hope to show the links between information suppression and transnational repression, where FIMI constitutes a threat to not only state sovereignty, but also individual fundamental rights.
Further details on the programme speakers will follow soon.