Increasing resilience in the age of disinformation

The report argues that countering disinformation requires a shift from merely correcting false claims to building holistic societal resilience. It analyzes the 'psychological defence' model, specifically the Swedish Psychological Defence Agency (MPF), and evaluates Norwegian and European approaches. Key findings suggest that while Norway has high institutional trust, it lacks the centralized coordination seen in Sweden. The authors recommend that Norway strengthen national coordination, clarify conceptual terminology to avoid 'militarizing' social issues, and prioritize strategic, transparent communication to maintain public trust outside of crisis periods.

• The report defines 'psychological defence' as a broad set of strategies and resilience measures intended to protect populations from foreign influence operations, cognitive manipulation, and hybrid threats, including propaganda and disinformation.
• Disinformation is distinguished from other information threats by three specific criteria: the information must be factually wrong, it must be shared with the intent to deceive, mislead, or harm, and it must have the potential to cause harm.
• The Swedish Psychological Defence Agency (MPF), established in 2022, serves as a centralized hub for coordinating national efforts, promoting media literacy, and countering foreign influence. It distinguishes between 'threats' (foreign disinformation) and 'vulnerabilities' (domestic actors who spread disinformation and need support to become resilient).
• Research indicates that traditional countermeasures like fact-checking and media literacy are insufficient on their own because disinformation often functions by undermining trust and exploiting identity rather than simply spreading false data.
• A two-part survey of Norwegian participants showed that in crises, people rely most on personal networks (41% turn to family), while NRK is the most trusted news source (68%), though not necessarily the first point of contact during an emergency.
• The report warns against the 'militarization of language,' arguing that framing disinformation as 'warfare' can escalate tensions, justify surveillance or censorship, and blur the boundaries between civilian and military domains.
• Norway is considered well-positioned to resist disinformation due to high education levels, strong trust in public institutions, and a robust editor-controlled media landscape.
• The authors recommend that the Norwegian Ministry of Defence strengthen national coordination, potentially through a centralized unit, to avoid fragmented efforts and provide a unified voice for public messaging.
• The report emphasizes the need for 'strategic and transparent communication' from national authorities to build trust during periods of stability, which creates a more robust foundation for responding to future crises.

APA

Lönn, G., & Bergersen, S. (n.d.). Increasing resilience in the age of disinformation. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/ef26ddd3-3d9b-4c38-ab53-af55c822828b/Increasing resilience in the age of disinformation PRIO Paper 2026.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Lönn, Gabriel, and Stine Bergersen. Increasing resilience in the age of disinformation. Peace Research Institute Oslo, n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/ef26ddd3-3d9b-4c38-ab53-af55c822828b/Increasing resilience in the age of disinformation PRIO Paper 2026.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lönn |first1=Gabriel |last2=Bergersen |first2=Stine |title=Increasing resilience in the age of disinformation |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/ef26ddd3-3d9b-4c38-ab53-af55c822828b/Increasing resilience in the age of disinformation PRIO Paper 2026.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lnnndincreasing, author = {Lönn, Gabriel and Bergersen, Stine}, title = {{Increasing resilience in the age of disinformation}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/ef26ddd3-3d9b-4c38-ab53-af55c822828b/Increasing resilience in the age of disinformation PRIO Paper 2026.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }