“These days, the world’s leading experts on countering disinformation and information manipulation meet in Riga. It is noteworthy that the conference is taking place in Riga: Latvia has amassed considerable experience in the development of regulatory and technological solutions, as well as in strengthening societal resilience capabilities. We must be aware of, and reckon with information operations and interference in democratic processes remaining in Russia’s playbook, which it will deploy to divide our society and undermine support for Ukraine,” Foreign Minister Baiba Braže underlined at the opening of the conference.
Speaking at the panel on combatting information operations, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dace Melbārde, underlined that Latvia has succeeded in marginalizing the Russian propaganda channels by applying EU sanctions. The use of sanctions remains an important tool in addressing Russia’s propaganda, disinformation, information manipulation, and hybrid threat.
The session on challenges faced by the global majority in building resilience against disinformation, chaired by Special Envoy on Digital Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Viktors Makarovs, featured a lively discussion on safeguarding digital rights and addressing gender-based disinformation.
The #Disinfo2024 conference held on 9–10 October in Riga brought together 583 experts and professionals in the field, mainly from the EU Member States, and from various regions worldwide.
The conference gathered high-level experts, such as NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, Marie-Doha Besancenot, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Melissa Fleming, and Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, among others.
About EU DisinfoLab / conferences
- International #EU Disinfo conferences addressing the fight against disinformation are held annually and bring together activists, researchers and experts to share their experience and tools, chart strategic cooperation and stay up-to-date with latest trends in the field of disinformation.
- The present conference, organised by EU DisinfoLab, a Brussels-based non-governmental organisation, is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia. The project is co-financed under the public campaign of Latvia’s candidacy for an elected seat on the United Nations Security Council for the term of 2026–2027.
- See more: www.disinfo.eu
