Bulgarian caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky stated that disinformation constitutes a threat greater than mere fake news, arguing that it actively undermines public trust and weakens the foundations of democracy. During her address at the DisInfoHack 2026 final event, held at the Big Data for Smart Society Institute (GATE) of the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, Neynsky emphasized the necessity of critical thinking and knowledge in combating such threats. She addressed the attendees, characterizing them as a generation that resists accepting pre-packaged answers, identifying this trait as a significant societal strength.
Neynsky stressed that such curiosity and independence are vital for both Bulgaria and Europe. Speaking in her capacity as a foreign official, she asserted that national security is dependent not only on physical borders but fundamentally on a society’s capacity to identify verifiable truth. The event itself is part of the Countering Disinformation Environment (Ecosystem) in Bulgaria (CoDE) project, a three-year initiative designed to enhance information resilience.
This project employs a scientific methodology to analyze Bulgaria’s information landscape, aiming to develop best practices and tools for effectively managing disinformation campaigns. Neynsky concluded by asserting that the ability of the citizenry to discern reality is the starting point of national security. Her remarks highlighted that the modern challenges to governance require vigilance and an educated public, underscoring the critical role of informed citizens in safeguarding democratic institutions both domestically and in the broader foreign sphere.
Topics: #undermines #democracy #foreign
