The United States has expressed concerns over a European conference on disinformation, prompting Lithuania, Canada, and the European Union to withdraw their official support. The #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, scheduled for October 7 and 8, faced scrutiny after its program included a panel questioning whether the U.S. could be considered a source of foreign information manipulation and interference.
Following discussions between U.S. officials and international governments, Lithuania, Canada, and the EU removed their logos from the event’s list of supporters. Lithuania cited that certain parts of the conference did not align with its official stance, while Canada adjusted its participation due to changes in the framing of some panel discussions, although Canadian officials continued to attend. The EU withdrew its official backing but maintained financial support for the event, noting that some discussions did not match its official positions.
The controversy centered around a panel that examined the U.S. as a potential threat in foreign information manipulation. The discussion aimed to explore how European organizations could bolster their independent response to information threats. This has sparked a debate about the balance between countering disinformation and permitting open discussions about governmental actions.
Despite these withdrawals, France continued to support the conference, emphasizing the importance of engaging with civil society in shaping European disinformation policies. The situation underscores growing disagreements among Western nations on how to define foreign information threats and appropriately respond to criticism within international forums.
