Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

π Society π Geopolitics

The information war: truth, manipulation, and the struggle for reality

4 episodes

1

How AI is affecting quality of factual information
2

The scourge of manipulation: how can we combat deepfakes?
3

Are modern uncertainties fragmenting our shared sense of reality?
4

The human brain is critical infrastructure — and it has no firewall

People watching a lot of retro televisions. Propaganda and fake news concept. Politicians manipulate society with help of public television. Created with Generative AI

Épisode 1/4

How AI is affecting quality of factual information

On December 9th, 2025

3 min reading time

Thierry Warin

Professor of Data Science for Global Transformations at HEC Montreal

Key takeaways

According to NewsGuard, more than 2,089 AI-generated news sites are currently operating, publishing content in 16 languages.
In August 2025, leading AI chatbots relayed false claims in 35% of cases, compared to 18% the previous year.
According to the Entrust Identity Fraud Report's 2025 projection, a deepfake attack will occur every five minutes by 2024.
Furthermore, social media personalization algorithms contribute to the fragmentation of the public sphere, creating echo chambers.
It is necessary to evolve human countermeasures, such as moderation and media literacy, to adapt to this phenomenon.

Deepfake Ban and Regulating DeepFakes for Image Recognition Technology

Épisode 2/4

The scourge of manipulation: how can we combat deepfakes?

On December 2nd, 2025

4 min reading time

Célia Zolynski

Associate Professor of Private Law at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

Key takeaways

According to the AI Act, a deepfake is defined as an image, audio or video content manipulated by AI, which bears a resemblance to real people, objects, places, entities or events.
There is a difference between digital “replicas” (i.e. imitations of a person) and digital “forgeries” (i.e. digital counterfeits).
In 2023, 98% of manipulated videos accessible online were sexual in nature, and most targeted women.
The European Commission wants to impose labelling requirements on online platforms and generative AI providers.
In France, AI-generated content is punishable if the person depicted has not given their consent, or if the parodic nature of the content is not immediately apparent.

Épisode 3/4

Are modern uncertainties fragmenting our shared sense of reality?

On January 13th, 2026

6 min reading time

Gérald Bronner

Professor of Sociology at Sorbonne université

Key takeaways

Previously, the myth of progress directed people’s focus towards the future and society as a whole, but today, the ideology of the present directs people’s focus towards themselves.
According to an Ipsos survey conducted in 50 different countries, 62% of citizens agree with the idea that the present is better than the future.
Today, the feeling of alienation from the world stems from an inability to act, such as repairing one’s phone or car oneself.
The technological revolution and the rise of narratives that constantly question individual feelings cause frustrations that fuel a sense of unease.
Different communities, such as shifters, therians, or hikikomoris, embody an extreme form of escape from others and from the world.

Épisode 4/4

The human brain is critical infrastructure — and it has no firewall

On April 14th, 2026

4 min reading time

Guillaume Chillet

Cognitive Scientist, Head of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Defense Innovation Agency (AID)

Key takeaways

The first national strategy to combat information manipulation, published by France in February 2026, devotes most of its objectives to regulating platforms but neglecting citizen resilience — an approach with legal, technical and psychological limitations.
Exposing individuals to manipulation techniques as a preventive measure strengthens their judgement without generating mistrust, a conclusion validated across a cohort of over 37,000 participants.
NATO and Sweden have implemented institutional approaches focused on strengthening the exposed public rather than on controlling sources.
Cognitive sovereignty is a trainable capacity that protects one’s judgement against manipulation, combining individual autonomy with collective resilience.

Our top braincamps

π Geopolitics π Society

The information war: truth, manipulation, and the struggle for reality

How AI is affecting quality of factual information

Key takeaways

The scourge of manipulation: how can we combat deepfakes?

Key takeaways

Are modern uncertainties fragmenting our shared sense of reality?

Key takeaways

The human brain is critical infrastructure — and it has no firewall

Key takeaways

Our top braincamps

Geopolitics of agricultural commodities put to the test by global crises

Facing cyber threats: public and industrial strategies

How do diversity and inclusion drive innovation in business?