Our Mission
Turning research into civilian prevention, protection and resilience
Our mission is to strengthen cognitive security and civilian resilience by helping individuals, institutions and communities understand, anticipate and respond to emerging threats to cognition, autonomy and decision-making.
ECCS works to translate advances in research on cognitive, informational and emerging technological threats into practical and responsible approaches to prevention and protection in civilian environments. We seek to strengthen the capacity of decision-makers, institutions and frontline professionals to recognise emerging and unfamiliar risks, assess evidence rigorously and proportionately, and develop effective preventive and protective responses.
Our mission is pursued through five connected commitments.
Understand
We conduct and support interdisciplinary research into the mechanisms, manifestations and consequences of emerging cognitive and technology-enabled threats.
Anticipate
We examine how harmful methods, practices and technologies may evolve, diffuse or be adapted within civilian environments, so that emerging risks can be considered before harmful practices become entrenched or difficult to address.
Recognise and assess
We develop rigorous approaches to recognising and evaluating emerging risks while guarding against both the under-recognition of genuine harms and unsupported attribution.
Prevent and protect
We translate research into analytical methods, risk-assessment frameworks, professional training, decision-support resources and policy guidance designed to support practical prevention, protection and response.
Build resilience
We foster cooperation among researchers, public institutions, security and prevention professionals, educational organisations, policymakers and civil society to strengthen individual, institutional and societal preparedness. Through this cooperation, we seek to help people and communities better withstand manipulation, coercion, exploitation and other emerging forms of harm.
Across these commitments, ECCS also gives particular attention to young people, people in vulnerable situations, victims and communities that may face heightened exposure to emerging cognitive and technology-enabled threats. All of our work is guided by scientific integrity, fundamental rights, human dignity, research ethics, data protection and the responsible use of evidence.