Projects

The Center for Digital Trust is committed to research in the fields of blockchain, cybersecurity and resilience, and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC).

Our team of experts conduct research on a diverse range of topics within these areas, exploring new ideas and developing innovative solutions to complex challenges. To give you a glimpse into our ongoing and past work, we have compiled a selection of some of our current and completed projects.

Current Projects

Safeguarding Against Cybersecurity Threats in Digital Financial Advice

Safeguarding Against Cybersecurity Threats in Digital Financial Advice draws on expertise in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI), with a particular focus on the human aspects of digital influence, to investigate and advance knowledge on financial influencing and the risks associated with finfluencer content. Financial services and cybersecurity represent critical areas of concern for both regions. By developing a framework to identify and mitigate the risks of misinformation disseminated by finfluencers, the project aims to contribute to evidence-based financial regulation and promote safer financial practices.

Beyond advancing knowledge of cybersecurity threats, particularly mis- and disinformation and the digital influence of finfluencers, the project’s categorisation and mitigation frameworks can be adopted by financial educators and consumer protection agencies to raise public awareness and strengthen individuals’ ability to recognise and guard against undue online financial influence. The associated educational module and publication will further extend the project’s reach and contribute to reducing susceptibility to manipulative financial content. The findings may also support regulators in developing appropriate approaches to monitoring and regulating finfluencer content.

Aim:

Identify finfluencers’ strategies and establish link to the concept of mis-/disinformation:
- To unravel how finfluencers exert influence, the risks they pose and to categorise them.
Identify finfluencers’ AI-powered tools:
- To show AI’s role in amplifying finfluencers’ influence.
Develop a mitigation framework against misinformation risks posed by finfluencers:
- To contribute to mitigating finfluencers’ risks.
Design an educational module focused on mis-/disinformation in financial influencing:
- To educate students on finfluencers’ dangers and enhance financial literacy.

Deliverables/Results:

Categorisation framework on finfluencers (AI-powered) threat tactics with focus on mis-/disinformation
Mitigation framework against cyberthreats with focus on mis-/disinformation risks
A publication of our findings to reach at least 200 financial educators.
A developed module on cybersecurity risks in financial influencing with focus on mis-/disinformation
Two workshops to spread our project’s impact to at least 100 students and financial educators

Project Details

Start	05.2026
Duration	12 Months
Contact	Prof. Dr. Bettina Schneider (FHNW): bettina.schneider@fhnw.ch Franka Ebai (FHNW): franka.ebai@fhnw.ch
Funding	Swiss Leading House Africa
Partners	FHNW Institute for Information Systems, Center for Digital Trust Johannesburg Business School (JBS)
Project Tags	#DigitalTrust #Cybersecurity #AI

Collaborate with us: Explore Our Project Expertise

If you are interested in working on a project with us, we welcome the opportunity to collaborate with you. We have extensive experience with a diverse range of projects, including InnoSuisse and Europe Horizon initiatives. Our team is passionate about exploring new ideas and discovering innovative solutions to complex problems, and we are always seeking new opportunities to apply our expertise. If you would like to discuss a potential project or learn more about our capabilities, we encourage you to reach out to us.