Bulgarian caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky stated that disinformation poses a threat greater than mere fake news, noting that it undermines public trust, fosters societal division, and weakens democracy. She made these remarks on Monday during the opening of the DisInfoHack 2026 final event at the Big Data for Smart Society Institute (GATE) Institute of the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. Neynsky emphasized that combating disinformation requires more than technological solutions; it necessitates critical thinking, knowledge, and the willingness to question established narratives.
Addressing the attendees, she commended the younger generation for its skepticism and refusal to accept pre-packaged answers, calling this characteristic a significant strength. She stated that Bulgaria and Europe require young people who are curious, confident, and free, underscoring the vital role the audience plays. The Foreign Minister further asserted that a nation’s security is contingent not only on its physical borders but also on the populace’s capacity to discern truth, adding that this foundational security starts with the audience itself.
DisInfoHack is an initiative stemming from the three-year project Countering Disinformation Environment (Ecosystem) in Bulgaria (CoDE). The project aims to bolster information resilience by employing a scientific methodology to research and analyze Bulgaria’s current information environment. This effort seeks to establish best practices and develop tools for the effective management and control of disinformation.
Topics: #undermines #democracy #foreign
