(74) Toolkit of escalating responses to mis-, disinformation, and FIMI aimed at the demand side
By Onno Hansen-Staszyński | Last Updated: 11 October 2025
Phase one: basics
1. Build trust – listen first, avoid negative judgments, then use tools. Consistently show that you are firstly defending and empowering people and only then institutions and procedures.
2. More information – share facts (works best when no politics or moral issues are at stake).
3. Facilitate multi-perspectivity – create an environment in which individuals can formulate thoughts without being judged and may not react to others; use the outcomes as participation input (works best in smaller groups).
4. Counternarratives – offer alternative storylines, customized to the target group (works best with those already partly aligned).
5. Pre-bunking – provide an experience of using manipulation techniques in order to trigger understanding (shown to be effective).
6. Highlight inconsistencies – do so gently, in trusted relationships in order to not break off contact.
7. Strengthen resilience – enhance experiences of autonomy, belonging, achievement, especially for those in danger of sliding.
8. Alternative belonging – offer healthier communities for those deep in fringe groups.
Phase two: follow-up
Enhance specific literacies, e.g. media literacy, digital literacy, AI literacy, citizen education.
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