● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 negative
EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdraw sponsorship from disinformation conference after US pressure
Key points
- EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew sponsorship from #Disinfo2026.
- US State Department pressured governments over conference support.
- Concerns focused on a panel about the US as a disinformation actor.
- Sponsorship withdrawals were made days before the conference began.
Sponsorship Withdrawals from Disinformation Conference
The European External Action Service (EEAS), Global Affairs Canada, and the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs withdrew their sponsorship from the #Disinfo2026 conference. This annual event, organized by EU Disinfo Lab, brings together researchers, journalists, technologists, and policymakers focused on counter-disinformation efforts in Europe. Logos of these organizations were removed from the conference website and materials shortly before the event.
US Pressure and Concerns
The withdrawals followed pressure from the US State Department, which contacted multiple governments regarding their support for the conference. Internal documents indicate the US expressed gratitude to Lithuania for taking its concerns seriously, particularly regarding a panel titled "USA as a FIMI threat: adapt, acknowledge, push back." FIMI refers to "foreign information manipulation and interference."
Panel on US as a Disinformation Actor
The controversial panel explored how Europe's disinformation community could build resilience without Washington and marked the first time the conference considered the US as a potential disinformation actor in Europe. The US State Department's focus was explicitly on this panel, which included three American speakers, one of whom was a former CIA officer.
Impact on Conference and International Relations
The withdrawal of major sponsors under US pressure highlights tensions surrounding the definition and sources of disinformation. This incident suggests a potential shift in how European entities approach discussions on foreign information manipulation, particularly when it involves major international partners. The rapid removal of sponsorship indicates the sensitivity and political implications of such discussions.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
The European Union's diplomatic service, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their sponsorship from the #Disinfo2026 conference following pressure from the Trump administration. This action occurred after the US State Department expressed concerns about a panel discussing the US as a foreign information threat.