NATO StratCom COE Commissions Cyabra to Uncover AI-Driven Social Media Manipulation in Major 2026 Report
New York, Feb. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cyabra Strategy Ltd. (“Cyabra”), the real-time disinformation solution to detect coordinated inauthentic behavior, announced its contribution in the publication of a new report by the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence (NATO StratCom COE), following Cyabra’s completion of the research it was commissioned to conduct for the study.
The commission reflects NATO StratCom COE’s need to evaluate whether existing platform detection models remain effective against emerging, AI-enabled influence operations.
The newly published report, Social Media Manipulation for Sale, 2025 Experiment on Platform Capabilities to Detect and Counter Inauthentic Social Media Engagement, examines the commercial market for inauthentic social media engagement and documents how easily manipulation services can be purchased across major platforms. Cyabra’s findings within the report reveal a "new frontier" in authentic-looking, AI-generated bot networks that are reshaping the landscape of online influence.
The collaboration highlights Cyabra’s position as a global leader in the fight against disinformation. NATO StratCom COE, a multi-national organization tasked with strengthening the Alliance’s strategic communications capabilities, leveraged Cyabra’s technology to analyze how malicious actors are utilizing Generative AI to bypass traditional detection methods and manipulate geopolitical discourse.
The report’s conclusions underscore that manipulation remains easy to execute and difficult to reliably prevent, with direct implications for democratic resilience, geopolitical stability, and public trust in digital information environments. As AI lowers the cost of generating credible personas and automates content orchestration across platforms, hostile actors can deploy influence operations faster, with more persuasive content, and with less detectable coordination.
Cyabra research in the report: the new AI-era bot model is “in-conversation” influence
Cyabra’s contribution to the report highlights a critical shift in the disinformation threat landscape: the evolution from legacy, high-volume amplification behavior to AI-enabled, human-like inauthentic accounts designed to blend into authentic communities and steer perceptions from inside trusted conversation spaces.
Cyabra’s analysis shows that modern inauthentic operations increasingly rely on:
- Context-aware, multilingual content generated at scale using AI, including AI-generated visuals and text that match the tone of target discussions
- Lower-volume, distributed activity that reduces detectable coordination signals
- Strategic insertion into high-visibility threads, placing crafted comments under posts by influencers, journalists, and public figures rather than operating in isolated spam loops
- More organic network patterns, with fake accounts interacting not just with each other, but also with authentic users and communities
“We are honored to have been commissioned by NATO StratCom COE to provide the analytical framework for this year’s investigation”, said Dan Brahmy, CEO of Cyabra. “Cyabra remains committed to equipping public and private sector leaders with the tools necessary to uncover these threats and protect the integrity of the information ecosystem.”
Dr. Gundars Bergmanis-Korats, AI Laboratory Chief, NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, added: “This report underscores the need to prioritize cross-platform behavioral detection by identifying synchronized patterns in timing, tone, and relational dynamics, as these increasingly indicate sophisticated, AI-enabled manipulation. Cyabra’s research and analytical support were instrumental in helping us test these dynamics at scale and translate complex platform behavior into actionable insights.”
The full report is available to download from the NATO StratCom COE website:
Social Media Manipulation for Sale: 2025 Experiment on Platform Capabilities to Detect and Counter Inauthentic Social Media Engagement
Cyabra has entered into a business combination agreement with Trailblazer Merger Corporation I (NASDAQ: $TBMC), a blank-check special-purpose acquisition company.
About Cyabra
Cyabra restores trust and authenticity for global enterprises and governments by analyzing actors, behaviors, and content, and translating evidence into clear mitigation steps at scale. The company provides decision-grade clarity in contested information environments, enabling institutions to respond proportionately and effectively to coordinated online manipulation.
For more information, visit www.cyabra.com.
Media Contact:
pr@cyabra.com
About Trailblazer
Trailblazer is a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization, or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. For more information, visit: www.trailblazermergercorp.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to certain products and services that are the subject of a proposed transaction (the “Business Combination”) between Trailblazer and Cyabra. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding Cyabra's business strategy, products and services, research and development costs, plans and objectives of management for future operations, and future results of current and anticipated product offerings, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, the following risks relating to the proposed transaction: the ability to complete the Business Combination or, if Trailblazer does not consummate such Business Combination, any other
initial business combination; expectations regarding Cyabra’s strategies and future financial performance, including its future business plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products and services, pricing, operating expenses, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and Cyabra’s ability to invest in growth initiatives and pursue acquisition opportunities; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Trailblazer or Cyabra following announcement of the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein; the inability to complete the proposed Business Combination due to, among other things, the failure to obtain Trailblazer stockholder approval; the risk that the announcement and consummation of the proposed Business Combination disrupts Cyabra’s current operations and future plans; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination; unexpected costs related to the proposed Business Combination; the amount of any redemptions by existing holders of Trailblazer’s common stock being greater than expected; limited liquidity and trading of Trailblazer’s securities; geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations; the size of the addressable markets for Cyabra’s products and services; the possibility that Trailblazer and/or Cyabra may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; the ability to obtain and/or maintain the listing of the combined company’s common stock on Nasdaq following the Business Combination; operational risk; and the risks that the consummation of the proposed Business Combination is substantially delayed or does not occur.
Important Information for Investors and Stockholders
In connection with the Business Combination, Trailblazer Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Trailblazer (“Holdings”) has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which became effective on January 20, 2026, containing a proxy statement/prospectus, and certain other related documents, which will be both the proxy statement to be distributed to holders of shares of Trailblazer’s common stock in connection with its solicitation of proxies for the vote by its stockholders with respect to the Business Combination and other matters as may be described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus of Holdings relating to the offer and sale of its securities to be issued in the Business Combination. Theproxy statement/prospectus was sent to all Trailblazer stockholders on January 21, 2026 so that they may vote on the Business Combination.
INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF TRAILBLAZER ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND THE PARTIES INVOLVED.
Trailblazer stockholders are able to obtain the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference therein,in all cases without charge, at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: Trailblazer at 510 Madison Avenue, Suite 1401, New York, NY 10022, Telephone: 646-747-9618.
Participants in the Solicitation
Cyabra, Trailblazer, and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Trailblazer stockholders regarding the proposed Business Combination. Information about Trailblazer's directors and executive officers and their ownership of Trailblazer's securities is set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus pertaining to the proposed Business Combination.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval. No sale of securities shall occur in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification under applicable laws.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
