17 July 2026
DRUMS 2025: Information Manipulation and Interference Against Technological Advancements, Shifting Global Power Dynamics and Ongoing Conflicts
Executive Summary
The Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS) held its annual Disinformation, Rumours, Untruths, Misinformation and Smears (DRUMS) conference from 28 to 29 October 2025.
The conference theme was “Information Manipulation and Interference Against Technological Advancements, Shifting Global Power Dynamics and Ongoing Conflicts”. Over two days, 230 participants from government agencies, academia, diplomatic corps, and non-governmental organisations learned from and engaged with 13 international and local speakers.
The keynote speech set the tone for the conference by exploring how foreign malign influence is entering its second decade with the deployment of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the potential impact of a new era of AI-first actors, who have built their processes around generative AI tools to create content for corporations, political groups, nation-states and others.
Panel 1 speakers spoke on trends in the information landscape. They touched on topics including the public perception of online falsehoods and AI, as well as cases of political propaganda and information manipulation across Brazil, India, and Europe.
Panel 2 speakers spotlighted the usage of AI in strategic communications, identifying various opportunities and vulnerabilities AI can bring, especially with the rapid development of generative AI.
Speakers for Panel 3 shared global case studies on information manipulation and interference, and discussed new strategies, including grey zone tactics and weaponisation of emerging technologies.
Panel 4 speakers surfaced valuable strategies and insights to manage disinformation. They stressed how building trust and resilience against disinformation can be conducted through collaboration, transparency, and adaptive governance in an evolving digital landscape.
The 2025 edition of DRUMS received positive feedback on various aspects, including the design and organisation of panels, selection of speakers and topics, operation, and administrative matters.
The following sections of this report summarise key points from the speakers’ presentations. Key takeaways from the Q&A sessions are available at the end of each panel.
Executive Summary
The Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS) held its annual Disinformation, Rumours, Untruths, Misinformation and Smears (DRUMS) conference from 28 to 29 October 2025.
The conference theme was “Information Manipulation and Interference Against Technological Advancements, Shifting Global Power Dynamics and Ongoing Conflicts”. Over two days, 230 participants from government agencies, academia, diplomatic corps, and non-governmental organisations learned from and engaged with 13 international and local speakers.
The keynote speech set the tone for the conference by exploring how foreign malign influence is entering its second decade with the deployment of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the potential impact of a new era of AI-first actors, who have built their processes around generative AI tools to create content for corporations, political groups, nation-states and others.
Panel 1 speakers spoke on trends in the information landscape. They touched on topics including the public perception of online falsehoods and AI, as well as cases of political propaganda and information manipulation across Brazil, India, and Europe.
Panel 2 speakers spotlighted the usage of AI in strategic communications, identifying various opportunities and vulnerabilities AI can bring, especially with the rapid development of generative AI.
Speakers for Panel 3 shared global case studies on information manipulation and interference, and discussed new strategies, including grey zone tactics and weaponisation of emerging technologies.
Panel 4 speakers surfaced valuable strategies and insights to manage disinformation. They stressed how building trust and resilience against disinformation can be conducted through collaboration, transparency, and adaptive governance in an evolving digital landscape.
The 2025 edition of DRUMS received positive feedback on various aspects, including the design and organisation of panels, selection of speakers and topics, operation, and administrative matters.
The following sections of this report summarise key points from the speakers’ presentations. Key takeaways from the Q&A sessions are available at the end of each panel.
