Caretaker Electronic Governance Minister Georgi Sharkov emphasized the critical need for prompt response and accurate situational assessment when confronting modern cyber threats and information influence operations, speaking at the concluding event of DisInfoHack 2026. He noted that the RESIST model—which encompasses threat recognition, early warning, and situational assessment—forms the foundation for countermeasures. While initially designed for the information sphere, this framework is now being applied broadly to cybersecurity and hybrid operations.
Minister Sharkov clarified that contemporary risks extend beyond technical cyberattacks to include sophisticated information operations, content manipulation, and campaigns designed to sway public opinion, often targeting the foundational “infrastructure” of public consciousness. He detailed that Bulgaria maintains a national cyber situational center coordinating efforts across multiple agencies, including the Ministry of Electronic Governance, the Interior Ministry, the State Agency for National Security, and the Defence Ministry. These bodies are actively working to counter external disinformation, particularly concerning electoral processes and critical infrastructure.
A persistent challenge, the Minister pointed out, remains the transition from analysis to real-time operational action. “It is not enough to understand how something happened months later; we must be able to react in real time,” Sharkov stated. He expressed confidence that initiatives like DisInfoHack help build skills for early identification of disinformation and understanding complex hybrid scenarios.
Effective defense, he concluded, requires enhanced coordination among institutions, the scientific community, and experts. The Minister underscored that robust national governance in this digital space relies on this collaborative approach. DisInfoHack is part of the CoDE project, which aims to develop information resilience by studying and analyzing the information environment in Bulgaria to establish best practices for counteraction.
Topics: #assessment #governance #minister
The emphasis on timely response and accurate assessment seems particularly relevant given the evolving nature of cyber threats.
What specific steps should governments take to improve their readiness for cyber threats and influence operations?