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2 clusters · 10 sources · 2 days · First seen · Last updated

Disinfo 2026 conference diplomatic controversy

Overview

The Disinfo 2026 conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, organized by the NGO EU Disinfo Lab, faced significant diplomatic tension after the European Union, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support. This withdrawal followed reports of pressure from the United States regarding conference panels that characterized the U.S. government as a source of foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) and an entity that intimidates journalists and researchers.

The European External Action Service (EEAS), Global Affairs Canada, and the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs removed their logos from conference materials, stating the program did not align with their official positions. While government sponsors retracted their backing, the VPN provider Surfshark announced it would continue its sponsorship, asserting that “open debate must never be silenced.”

Entities

European External Action Service · EU Disinfo Lab · France · Surfshark · Lithuania

Timeline

  1. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Surfshark backs Disinfo 2026 after government sponsors withdraw

    Surfshark maintained its sponsorship of the Disinfo 2026 conference in Lithuania after the EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew support following political pressure regarding the US role in disinformation.

  2. [INTERNATIONAL] 8 sources
    EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdraw support for disinformation conference

    The EU, Canada, and Lithuania have withdrawn support for a major disinformation conference in Vilnius following reported US pressure over panels criticizing the US government's role in information interference.

Sources

aravot.am · de.euronews.com · factor.am · gript.ie · hetq.am · livenews.am · mezzogiornoitalia.it · paara.am · pcauthority.com.au · premiumtimesng.com