Federal Council sets up interdepartmental working group to combat influence operations and disinformation
The Federal Council has instructed the DDPS to set up the Interdepartmental Working Group on Influencing Activities and Disinformation. The aim is to strengthen the coordination of work to combat influencing activities and disinformation within the Federal Administration as well as possible countermeasures. The Federal Council is thus implementing measures from its report «Influence activities and disinformation» in fulfillment of Postulate 22.3006 of the National Council's Security Policy Committee.
Influence operations aim to manipulate the perception, thoughts and actions of individuals and societies. Certain states use influence operations against Switzerland. These include, for example, disinformation, propaganda and transnational repression aimed at portraying Swiss institutions as dysfunctional, weakening confidence in democracy or intimidating people. Such activities are part of hybrid conflict management.
With growing geopolitical tensions, influencing activities against Switzerland are also likely to increase. The Federal Council wants to take action against this and has therefore set up the Interdepartmental Working Group on Influence Activities and Disinformation (IDWG). The aim is to strengthen work within the Federal Administration on the topic of influence operations and disinformation.
The IDWG is based in particular on the Federal Council's report «Influencing activities and disinformation» of 19 June 2024 in response to postulate 22.3006 of the National Council's Security Policy Committee, but also on the report «Situation of Tibetan and Uyghur persons in Switzerland» of 12 February 2025 in response to postulate 20.4333. In these reports, the Federal Council decided on measures to counter these threats.
Develop further measures against influence operations and disinformation
The IDWG coordinates the work of the Federal Administration on this topic and will also strengthen national and international cooperation in order to counter influence operations and disinformation. It will also develop an understanding of the situation in Switzerland and current developments in the area of influence operations and disinformation. Based on this, it can, if necessary, propose measures to political decision-makers to prevent, strengthen resilience or defend against attacks. It also helps to raise awareness among the authorities and the general public.
The IDWG is headed by the State Secretariat for Security Policy (SEPOS) and comprises the offices most affected by the threat from the DDPS, the FDFA, the EAER, the DETEC, the FDJP, the Federal Chancellery and the delegates of the Swiss Security Network (SSN). Experts from academia, civil society and abroad are involved on a case-by-case basis.
Source: State Secretariat for Security Policy SEPOS
