The caretaker Minister of Innovation and Growth, Irena Mladenova, stated that effectively combating disinformation requires a highly coordinated effort involving the technology sector, the scientific community, and the state. Speaking at the conclusion of DisInfoHack 2026 at the GATE Institute at Sofia University, the Minister emphasized that these various stakeholders must work together to ensure society can make informed decisions and withstand external influences with unclear objectives. Mladenova highlighted that initiatives like DisInfoHack are valuable not only for their final outcomes but also for the sustained work underpinning them.
She noted that the format of the hackathon, which involves mentorship and prolonged idea development, is instrumental in building sustainable skills. According to the Minister, this process helps participants develop a critical ability to assess the credibility of information encountered online. The primary objective, she stated, is to build a robust network and expand the reach of the knowledge gained.
She urged participants to disseminate what they have learned to their wider professional and personal networks to amplify the project’s impact. DisInfoHack is part of a larger, three-year effort called Countering Disinformation Environment (Ecosystem) in Bulgaria (CoDE). This overarching project adopts a scientific methodology to study and analyze Bulgaria’s current information environment.
The goal is to synthesize best practices and effective tools necessary to strengthen national information resilience and support the ongoing fight against misinformation.
Topics: #minister #coordinated #fight
