The upcoming #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, has sparked significant debate following the withdrawal of support by Lithuania, Canada, and the European Union. The event, scheduled for October 7 and 8, brings together experts from various fields to tackle the issue of disinformation. However, the inclusion of a panel discussion questioning whether the United States could be a source of foreign information manipulation has led to diplomatic tensions.
The United States expressed concerns about the conference, prompting discussions with various governments over their involvement. Subsequently, the logos of Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry, Canada’s Global Affairs department, and the European External Action Service were removed from the list of supporters. U.S. officials reportedly viewed Lithuania’s decision to reduce its participation positively.
While Lithuania stated that certain parts of the conference did not align with its official stance, Canada cited changes to the framing of panel discussions as a reason for adjusting its participation. Despite withdrawing official support, Canadian officials attended the event. The EU also stepped back from officially supporting the conference, citing misalignments with its positions, though it continues to provide funding.
A central point of contention was the panel examining the potential of the United States as a foreign information threat and how European organizations could independently bolster their defenses. This has underscored the delicate balance between addressing disinformation and maintaining open discourse about governmental actions within international forums.
In contrast, France has maintained its support for the conference, emphasizing the importance of engaging with civil society to shape European policies on disinformation. The differing responses among Western governments highlight the complexity of defining and responding to foreign information threats.