During the final event of DisInfoHack 2026 at Sofia University’s GATE Institute, caretaker Electronic Governance Minister Georgi Sharkov emphasized that timely response and accurate situational assessment are paramount in today’s environment of cyber threats and information influence operations. He noted that the foundation for counteraction lies in the RESIST model, which incorporates threat recognition, early warning, and situational assessment. While initially designed for the information sphere, this framework is now being applied across cybersecurity and hybrid operations.
Minister Sharkov stressed that contemporary risks extend beyond technical cyberattacks to include information operations, content manipulation, and campaigns designed to sway public opinion, often targeting the public consciousness. He outlined that Bulgaria maintains a national cyber situational centre, coordinating efforts among bodies such as the Ministry of Electronic Governance, the Interior Ministry, the State Agency for National Security, and the Defence Ministry. These institutions are actively working to counter external disinformation, particularly concerning electoral processes and critical infrastructure.
A key challenge, the minister stated, remains translating analysis into immediate operational action. “It is not enough to understand how something happened months later; we must be able to react in real time,” he asserted. He expressed confidence that initiatives like DisInfoHack aid in developing skills for early disinformation identification and understanding complex hybrid scenarios.
Effective response, he concluded, requires robust cooperation between government bodies, the scientific community, and experts to safeguard digital sovereignty. The minister highlighted that the overall framework for national resilience relies on coordinated governance. DisInfoHack is part of the CoDE project, which aims to scientifically analyze the information environment in Bulgaria and develop best practices for counteracting disinformation.
Topics: #assessment #governance #minister
