Grants to improve Public Spaces in Pennsylvania

The GEC solicitation outlines a focused grant program dedicated to combating foreign malign influence by initiating quantified and qualified research into the scope and scale of propaganda and disinformation operations within the digital ecosystems of games and game-adjacent platforms. This initiative is highly aligned with the GEC's core mission, which can be inferred as countering foreign interference and safeguarding democratic information spaces. By specifically targeting the often-understudied gaming environment, the program seeks to close a critical knowledge gap regarding how adversaries use these channels to manipulate or influence populations. The primary priorities and focuses of this grant are geographically centered on Eastern Europe, a region frequently targeted by state-sponsored disinformation campaigns. Methodologically, the focus demands rigorous, dual-pronged research—both quantified (data-driven metrics and scale) and qualified (in-depth analysis of content and methodology)—to accurately characterize the nature of foreign propaganda and disinformation within this digital space. This specificity ensures that the funded research will generate highly relevant and actionable intelligence for policymakers and platform owners alike, concentrating resources where the threat is most pronounced. The target beneficiaries of this work extend beyond the grant recipient to encompass a crucial coalition of stakeholders. The immediate beneficiaries include governments, private industry partners (gaming and tech companies), and civil society organizations who will be invited to a culminating convening. The ultimate impact goal is to empower these groups with the evidence and shared understanding necessary to develop and implement effective defense strategies. This aims to reduce the public's exposure to foreign manipulation and foster a more resilient information environment within Eastern Europe's gaming community. The expected outcomes are clearly defined as the production of a comprehensive research report detailing the findings, and the successful execution of a high-level, multi-sector convening to disseminate and discuss that report alongside related research. Measurable results will include the completion and quality of the report, the attendance and caliber of participants at the convening, and the subsequent discussions or policy recommendations generated. The GEC's strategic priorities are served by this program's Theory of Change: that rigorous, shared research leads to an informed, collaborative stakeholder network, which ultimately results in better-coordinated, data-driven countermeasures against foreign disinformation.