At the conclusion of DisInfoHack 2026 at Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, Prof. Sylvia Ilieva, Director of the GATE Institute, stated that disinformation should not be viewed as a crisis, but rather as a continuous and evolving process. She emphasized that the foundational goal of the CoDE project was to establish a sustainable network and ecosystem for countering such misinformation.
Prof. Ilieva noted that the initial large-scale ambition of the project has successfully materialized through the combined efforts of all partners. She highlighted that contemporary disinformation tactics have expanded beyond textual content to include images, video, and AI-generated material.
This multimedia capability significantly accelerates the spread of false information while simultaneously complicating effective countermeasures. To address this, initiatives like DisInfoHack, which she characterized as a “slow hackathon,” play a vital role in developing sustainable strategies. Participants engage with real-world case studies, analyze complex issues, and collaborate with experts across diverse fields, including journalism, technology, and institutional bodies.
Ilieva stressed that this cross-sector interaction is essential for cultivating a comprehensive ecosystem of knowledge and skills necessary for effective counteraction. The DisInfoHack initiative operates under the three-year CoDE project, which aims to strengthen Bulgaria’s information resilience through scientific research. Its objectives include analyzing the nation’s information environment and compiling best practices and tools for countering disinformation effectively.
Prof. Ilieva concluded by expressing hope for the continued growth of the initiative to bring together an increasing number of participants annually.
Topics: #process #gate #director
It’s a helpful reframing to view disinformation as an ongoing process rather than a sudden crisis.