Building resilience against disinformation through media literacy and cross-border cooperation
In an era of AI-generated content and information warfare, Project FOKUS (Pol. Fakty, Odporność, Kompetencje i Umiejętności Społeczne, Eng. Facts, Resilience, Competences & Social Skills) brings together two committed organizations – ETO (Poland) and WatchDog.MD (Moldova) – to strengthen social resilience against disinformation. Our mission is simple yet vital: to equip civil society, journalists, and media professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to identify, counter, and prevent manipulation in the information space.
Why FOKUS?
Following the recent electoral victory of the pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), Moldova stands once again at a crucial crossroads between consolidating its democratic transformation and withstanding intensifying external pressures. Despite the renewed mandate for reform and European integration, the country continues to face persistent disinformation campaigns seeking to shape public opinion and erode trust in democratic institutions. According to Thomson Reuters (2021), over 80% of Moldovans rely on social media or search engines as their primary sources of information – channels increasingly exploited by manipulative actors leveraging generative AI and coordinated influence operations.
Recognizing this challenge, FOKUS focuses on four pillars:
- Facts – strengthening the ability to verify and analyze information.
- Resilience – empowering communities to resist manipulation and external influence.
- Competences – building practical skills in open-source intelligence (OSINT), operational security (OPSEC), and AI-content detection.
- Social Skills – fostering critical thinking and cooperation across civil society and media.
What We Do
The project includes a series of specialized Training-of-Trainers (ToT) sessions, interactive workshops for journalists and civil society organizations, and expert exchanges between Polish and Moldovan specialists. Through these activities, we aim to:
- Enhance participants’ ability to detect and debunk disinformation, including AI-generated fake content.
- Improve understanding of manipulative tactics and influence techniques used online.
- Strengthen collaboration between civil society, media, and government experts in countering information manipulation.
One of the key components of FOKUS is knowledge transfer – adapting Polish and European experience in countering disinformation to the Moldovan context. Experts from ETO will share hands-on methodologies used in analyzing disinformation, running OSINT investigations, and improving public awareness.
Partnership for Impact
Our partner, WatchDog.MD, is a leading Moldovan think tank dedicated to promoting transparency, democracy, and accountability. Active since 2017, it has played a crucial role in monitoring elections, tracking government reforms, and exposing manipulation in the public sphere. Together, we combine local expertise with international know-how, creating a sustainable network of professionals capable of identifying and countering modern information threats.
Beyond the Project
FOKUS supports the broader “whole-of-society” approach promoted by the European Union – encouraging cooperation between institutions, media, and citizens to build collective resilience against disinformation. As Moldova prepares for its 2025 elections, our work will help create a more informed, aware, and critical public sphere.
By empowering people with facts, resilience, competences, and social awareness, FOKUS lays the groundwork for a safer and more transparent information environment — in Moldova and beyond.
Project co-financed by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation as part of the RITA – “Region in Transition” Program implemented by the Education for Democracy Foundation.
