Diplomats urge collective action against information manipulation

Diplomats and experts have emphasized the need for a collective approach to combat foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) and disinformation, particularly during elections.

At a conference organized by Hibrid.info and the French Embassy in Kosovo, David Marchesin stated that no single actor can tackle information manipulation alone. He argued that guaranteeing information integrity requires an ecosystem involving independent public institutions, professional media, fact-checkers, and academic research to improve media literacy.

Similarly, during an event organized by the Metamorphosis Foundation in collaboration with International IDEA and the Canadian Embassy, Canadian Ambassador Michelle Cameron noted that no democratic society is immune to FIMI. She highlighted that combating disinformation is not solely the responsibility of the government but also requires the involvement of civil society and the media to ensure accurate communication with citizens.

A draft policy and accountability roadmap was presented to strengthen resistance to election-related FIMI in North Macedonia. The recommendations include establishing inter-institutional protocols for responding to election incidents and ensuring the independence of the civil sector and fact-checkers.