The HYBRIS project is concerned with research into hybrid threats that use online coordinated operations to influence the beliefs and attitudes of selected target groups, mobilise them to act and subsequently compromise the physical and digital infrastructure. Disinformation is an essential component of hybrid threats. Disinformation campaigns are often aimed at fuelling fear in the population, which can have different consequences. Regardless of whether the news is false information or not, it is important for security authorities to recognise whether reactions to news on social media and other news channels, or possibly subsequently organised actions, pose a threat to people or critical infrastructure.
The project is about recognising threatening narratives, assessing the threat situation of critical infrastructures and evaluating content with regard to disinformation and hybrid threat categories. HYBRIS also aims to increase responsiveness, effectiveness and resilience and to intensify cooperation between security authorities, taking into account legal requirements (Rule of Law by Design) and ethical aspects (Ethics by Design). The Centre for Innovation Systems and Policy (ISP) supports the project coordinated by Alexander Schindler (AIT Center for Digital Safety and Security, DSS) by monitoring the project with regard to ethical issues such as data protection, privacy, bias, fairness, accountability, societal risk assessment, harm avoidance and respect for human rights. In addition, an "Ethics Impact Assessment Tool" is being developed, which allows the impact of the project work to be assessed with regard to criteria such as transparency, justice, fairness, responsibility, right to privacy, trust and human dignity.
Key Words: Ethics, AI, disinformation, law
Start: 01/2023
Duration: 24 Months
Funded by: FFG
Contact: Peter Biegelbauer
