Ben Shultz

Ben currently serves as Lead Researcher at The American Sunlight Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to countering lies, disinformation, and online harms that undermine democratic institutions. He also maintains an affiliation with the Council of Europe as an Artificial Intelligence Expert.

Ben is a subject matter expert on foreign information manipulation and influence (FIMI) and his research is focused on two primary areas: 1) the efforts of the Kremlin to undermine democracy in the U.S. and Europe through disinformation campaigns; and 2) the use of online gaming and virtual reality platforms as recruitment channels by organized crime groups.

Ben’s prior experience includes two years as a Lead Analyst on Deloitte’s Counter-Foreign Malign Influence Team in Washington, D.C., and he served as a 2023 NATO Youth Summit Delegate. Ben holds an M.A. in International Relations from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a B.A. in Political Science from Sonoma State University. As a graduate student, he served as a Trainee at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and worked with DebunkEU, a media literacy organization based in Vilnius.