At the conclusion of DisInfoHack 2026 at Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, Prof. Sylvia Ilieva, Director of the GATE Institute, stated that disinformation should be viewed not as a crisis, but as a constant and evolving process. She emphasized that the primary objective of the CoDE project was to establish a sustainable network and ecosystem for countering such misinformation.
Prof. Ilieva noted that what began as an ambitious goal has become a tangible achievement through the collective efforts of the project’s partners. She highlighted that contemporary disinformation tactics have expanded beyond mere text, now encompassing images, videos, and content generated by artificial intelligence.
This evolution significantly accelerates the spread of false narratives while complicating countermeasures. To address this, initiatives like DisInfoHack, which she characterized as a “slow hackathon,” play a vital role in developing sustainable approaches. Participants engage with real-world cases, analyze complex issues, and collaborate across diverse fields, including technology, journalism, and institutional bodies.
According to Prof. Ilieva, this structured interaction is crucial because it builds a necessary ecosystem of knowledge and specialized skills required for effective counteraction. DisInfoHack operates under the umbrella of the three-year CoDE project, which aims to strengthen Bulgaria’s information resilience using a scientific methodology.
The project researches the nation’s information environment and compiles best practices and tools for managing the flow of information. Prof. Ilieva expressed hope that the initiative will continue to grow, convening an increasing number of participants annually.
Topics: #process #gate #director
