The Summer School opened by setting the stage for three days of navigating the multi-layered intersection of disinformation and artificial intelligence in cyber crisis management. Lecturers Stephen Campbell, Cosimo Melella, Julian Neylan-DISARM and Rosaria Talarico-FRONTEX explored with participants how artificial intelligence is reshaping information landscape, importance of strategic communications and discussed growing risks of AI-generated content, algorithmic manipulation and hybrid threats that exploit societal vulnerabilities.

A session led by Beatriz Marin Garcia from the EEAS outlined cyber crisis management in the EU: stressing the role of trust, transparency and coordination for a multilevel response. Additionally, participants examined foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) affecting cyber resilience and discussed cases from the German experience with Felix Kroll and Torben Stein from the German Federal Foreign Office with an emphasis on practical tools for detecting and monitoring such campaigns early.

Over the course of three days, several sessions covered the fundamentals of artificial intelligence: its history, regulations, technical foundations and recent developments to demonstrate how technology can serve both as a threat and a defensive countering tool.

During the second day, participants engaged in a practical hands-on exercise that translated theory into practice. The exercise demonstrated the importance of structured information sharing and how to apply different models during crises. Participants navigated waves of disinformation and cyberattacks that required strategic decision making and coordination in a multi-stakeholder environment.

The final day started with participants reflecting on the table-top exercise and sharing their takeaways in practical cyber crisis management, noting the importance of understanding the needs and expectations of different stakeholders. As for the final session of the Summer School , participants discussed the ethnical aspects of using artificial intelligence as well as regulations and standards together with best practices, presented by professor Joanna Bryson from Hertie School.

Background

The EU CyberNet Summer School takes place from 13^th to 15^th August 2025 in Berlin, Germany and is organised by the EU CyberNet, a EU-funded project implemented by the Estonian Information System Authority, in cooperation with the German Federal Foreign Office.

• Background information
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