Several civil society organisations and academia* across Europe face a new trend: coordinated waves of information requests and questionnaires that resemble journalism or legitimate, transparency-related inquiries, but appear to be generated at scale by AI tools or bots.
Based on the initial technical and security investigation of the sources of those requests, their underlying purpose does not seem to be getting actual answers about their work or clarifying specific issues raised in their papers. Instead, the tone of these inquiries pressures organisations, institutions and researchers, and maps who engaged with whom and who funded what in a pre-constructed narrative. There is a sense that the inquires sent aim to build material that can later be used to question the organisations' and academia's credibility and motives, rather than genuine interest in receiving more in-depth information about findings from research reports. When the questions arrive in volume, with similar wording and at moments linked to key national or EU-level policy debates, it becomes clear that something is ‘off’. Such tactics can create a chilling effect for organisations and lay the groundwork for smear campaigns. And from the wording we have seen, it seems that this is exactly their aim.
We are deeply concerned about what it means for the future of civil society engagement and advocacy. Civil society is how people organise, speak up, and hold decision-makers accountable, and weakening it silences those who are already least heard. If left unaddressed, such tactics could also undermine requests for access to information itself, as abuse of these tools fuels pressure to restrict them. It is worth remembering why a strong civil society matters, the values it helps protect and communities it represents.
A healthy democracy depends on a strong civil society
Democracy goes beyond voting: it requires the freedom to organise, conduct research in the public interest, scrutinise decisions, challenge policies and bring concerns to decision-makers. Civil society plays a vital role in ensuring diverse voices are heard, as recognised by the European Commission.
Protecting the space for civic action requires early monitoring of threats and sustained support for fundamental rights, independent media and culture. As the EU negotiates its next long-term budget, this support must remain a priority, enabling organisations to address emerging challenges and resist abusive tactics.
We call on the European Commission to turn its commitments into action: ensure that the EU Strategy for Civil Society, the European Democracy Shield and related initiatives translate into effective protection for civil society organisations, human rights defenders, researchers and others who act in the public interest. This includes safeguarding their ability to monitor, report, investigate and challenge decisions without intimidation, retaliation or abusive legal action, and ensuring access to adequate, long-term funding and effective remedies.
Have you received similar requests?
If your organisation, institution or research team has received unusual information requests, questionnaires or e-mails of this kind, feel free to get in touch at [email protected]. Documenting these cases helps understand the scale and pattern of the tactic and supports an informed response.
* ECNL was among the organisations that received such requests. We are not naming other recipients to protect them from further exposure and potential abuse.