I was an intern in the CSD’s Economic Program and worked with the program’s Disinformation Team. The team’s work involves researching Russian and Chinese influence operations in Europe, including examining the Kremlin’s main mechanisms used to launch its aggressive cyber campaigns and evaluating the effectiveness of the European Union’s policies aimed at addressing the evolving threats posed by online disinformation.

The principal project I was involved in entailed researching the implementation measures enacted by some of the world’s largest social media companies—such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok, and Twitter—in accordance with the Code of Practice on Disinformation, a self-regulatory tool to combat online disinformation in the EU designed by stakeholders including social media platforms, leaders in the online advertising industry, e-payment and e-commerce service providers, fact-checkers, and research and civil society organizations. In addition to examining the all-encompassing measures put in place by signatories of the Code, I researched the particular initiatives established by signatories to address disinformation in Bulgaria and similar markets in the CEE region. This involved analyzing the policies put forth by signatories to eliminate financial incentives for the dissemination of disinformation, ensure transparency in political advertising, identify and address tactics employed by malicious actors, and empower researchers and fact-checkers. I also examined the specific measures deployed by signatories following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to combat the dissemination of Russian propaganda in Central and Southeastern Europe.

In addition to this project, I also engaged in other assignments and events, including attending policy forums on topics such as corrosive capital and investment screening, strategic partnership for energy and climate security in the Black Sea region, and public administration integrity in Southeastern Europe. Through these events, I had the opportunity to listen to a diverse array of ideas, initiatives, and policy proposals put forth by ambassadors, civil society representatives, and industry leaders on a range of critical issues.