The United States has influenced the withdrawal of support from several international partners for a European conference on disinformation over concerns about the event’s agenda, which includes a discussion on whether the U.S. itself could be a source of foreign information manipulation and interference. The #Disinfo2026 conference, scheduled for October 7-8 in Vilnius, Lithuania, aims to bring together experts to address disinformation challenges.
In the days leading up to the conference, the logos of Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry, Canada’s Global Affairs department, and the European External Action Service were removed from the list of official supporters. This decision followed interactions between U.S. officials and these governments regarding their participation in the event. Reports indicate that U.S. officials welcomed Lithuania’s decision to scale back its involvement.
Lithuania justified its withdrawal by stating that certain aspects of the conference did not align with its government’s official stance. Canada also adjusted its participation, citing changes in the framing of specific panel discussions. Despite this, Canadian officials still attended the conference. The European Union similarly withdrew its official endorsement, noting that some of the discussions did not match its official positions, though it continues to fund the event.
The central issue of contention is a panel discussion at the conference examining the United States as a potential threat in terms of foreign information manipulation. This discussion also explores how European organizations might bolster their independent responses to such threats. The situation underscores the existing tensions regarding the balance between combating disinformation and permitting critical debates about government actions.
While the U.S. has expressed concerns, France has maintained its support for the conference, emphasizing the importance of engagement with civil society in shaping European disinformation policies. This divergence highlights the growing differences among Western nations regarding the definition and response to foreign information threats.