Bulgarian caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky stated that disinformation constitutes a threat beyond mere fabricated news, arguing that it actively undermines public trust, causes societal division, and weakens the foundations of democracy. She delivered these remarks at the opening of the DisInfoHack 2026 final event, held at the Big Data for Smart Society Institute (GATE) at the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. Neynsky emphasized that combating disinformation requires a combination of technological solutions, critical thinking skills, and the intellectual courage to question established narratives.
Addressing the attendees, she commended the younger generation, describing them as curious, confident, and free—qualities she deemed essential for both Bulgaria and Europe. She stressed the pivotal role this demographic plays in national resilience. The Foreign Minister further asserted that a nation’s security is not solely determined by its physical borders but by the collective capacity of its society to accurately identify truth.
She concluded that this foundational security begins with the citizenry. The event itself is part of the Countering Disinformation Environment (Ecosystem) in Bulgaria (CoDE) project. This initiative aims to bolster information resilience within Bulgaria by employing a scientific methodology to research and analyze the nation’s information environment.
Ultimately, the program seeks to develop best practices and tools for effectively managing and controlling the spread of disinformation.
Topics: #undermines #democracy #foreign
