EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdraw support for disinformation conference

The European Union, Canada, and Lithuania have withdrawn their support for the Disinfo 2026 conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, following reported pressure from the United States. The event, organized by the NGO EU Disinfo Lab, included panels that criticized the United States government, characterizing it as a source of foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) and an entity that intimidates researchers and journalists.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) removed its logo from conference materials, stating that the program did not align with EU positions. Critics and European lawmakers have characterized this withdrawal as a result of foreign interference, suggesting that European governments are being pressured to avoid topics that challenge Washington. The conference featured discussions on how the European disinformation community might build resilience without American cooperation.