Bulgarian caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky stated that disinformation constitutes a threat exceeding mere fake news, arguing that it actively undermines societal trust and divides populations, thereby weakening democracy. These remarks were made on Monday during the opening of the DisInfoHack 2026 final event at the Big Data for Smart Society Institute (GATE) at the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. Addressing the attendees, Neynsky stressed that combating disinformation requires more than technological solutions; it demands critical thinking, knowledge, and the willingness to question established narratives.
She commended the younger generation, characterizing their inherent curiosity and refusal to accept pre-packaged answers as a significant national asset. She emphasized the vital role of these individuals in strengthening the nation. The Foreign Minister further noted that national security is not solely determined by physical borders.
Instead, she asserted that a country’s security fundamentally relies on the public’s capacity to accurately identify truth. This understanding, she stated, begins with the citizenry. The DisInfoHack initiative is part of the three-year Countering Disinformation Environment (Ecosystem) project in Bulgaria (CoDE).
This effort is designed to bolster information resilience by employing scientific research methods to analyze Bulgaria’s information landscape and develop best practices for controlling disinformation. Neynsky’s address underscored the critical intersection between domestic societal cohesion and effective foreign policy management in the digital age.
Topics: #undermines #democracy #foreign
It is concerning to hear officials frame disinformation as a direct threat to democratic stability.
What specific actions or measures does Neynsky propose to counter the threat of disinformation?