At the conclusion of DisInfoHack 2026 at the GATE Institute of Sofia University on Monday, the university addressed the necessity of developing robust information literacy among younger generations. The rector, Prof. Georgi Valchev, emphasized that cultivating critical thinking skills is paramount for enabling individuals to accurately differentiate authentic information from misleading content.
According to Valchev, events like DisInfoHack are crucial mechanisms for bridging the gap between verifiable facts and manufactured disinformation within the contemporary information landscape. He stressed that the youth must be prepared for modern challenges and must actively contribute to fostering a sustainable information environment. Furthermore, he cautioned that even seemingly reliable sources can occasionally be co-opted for disinformation purposes.
DisInfoHack itself is an initiative operating under the framework of the three-year project, Countering Disinformation Environment (Ecosystem) in Bulgaria (CoDE). This project is designed to enhance information resilience through a rigorous scientific methodology. The implementation involves collaboration across several departments at Sofia University, including the GATE Institute, the European Studies Department of the Faculty of Philosophy, and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
These efforts are further supported by partnerships with the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the European Software Institute. The overarching goal remains the systematic strengthening of Bulgaria’s capacity to navigate complex and often manipulated digital narratives.
Topics: #university #rector #critical
At the close of DisInfoHack 2026 at the GATE Institute of Sofia University on Monday, Rector Prof. Georgi Valchev addressed the critical need to improve information literacy among younger generations,