The caretaker Minister of Innovation and Growth, Irena Mladenova, emphasized that effectively combating disinformation requires a coordinated effort involving the technology sector, the scientific community, and state institutions. Speaking at the final event of DisInfoHack 2026 at the GATE Institute at Sofia University, Mladenova stated that these stakeholders must work together to enable society to make informed decisions and decrease susceptibility to external influences lacking clear objectives. The minister stressed that initiatives like DisInfoHack are valuable not only for their final outcomes but also for the sustained work involved.
According to Mladenova, the format of the hackathon, which incorporates mentorship and an extended process of idea development, contributes significantly to building enduring skills. She expressed hope that participants have gained a robust ability to distinguish reliable information from misinformation within the current information flow. A primary objective of the initiative, she noted, is fostering a network and expanding the reach of acquired knowledge.
Mladenova urged participants to disseminate what they have learned among their professional and personal circles to maximize the project’s impact. DisInfoHack operates as part of a broader three-year project in Bulgaria called Countering Disinformation Environment (Ecosystem) in Bulgaria (CoDE). This larger framework aims to develop information resilience through a scientific methodology.
CoDE is tasked with studying and analyzing Bulgaria’s information environment to summarize effective best practices and tools for the fight against disinformation.
Topics: #minister #coordinated #fight
What specific roles or responsibilities is Minister Mladenova proposing for the technology sector, scientific community, and state institutions in this coordinated effort?