COuntering Manipulation while Preserving Authentic Speech and Society

The COMPASS project confronts the escalating threat of mis/disinformation to European democracy, addressing reactive countermeasures and co-building systemic resilience. Our central ambition is to determine how democratic societies can counter sophisticated information manipulation, including AI-driven astroturfing and political gaslighting, without compromising fundamental rights like freedom of expression and privacy. COMPASS introduces a novel 'temporal trichotomy' approach to analyze threats across past, present, and future contexts. Our interdisciplinary consortium will first map the mis/disinformation landscape, including the under-explored 'paraplatform' ecosystem and the motivations of actors opposing countermeasures. We will then critically assess the real-world impact of the EU's regulatory arsenal (DSA, EMFA), identifying gaps and developing an understanding on user vulnerabilities. These empirical foundations will fuel a robust co-creation process with policymakers, media, and CSOs, producing a suite of empowerment conceptual toolkits, crisis communication protocols, and evidence-based policy guidelines. By integrating legal, psychological, and socio-technical expertise, COMPASS will deliver a new, actionable theory of democratic resilience, equipping EU actors with the foresight and tools to safeguard our shared information ecosystem.