EU Partners With UN to Counter Disinformation in the Pacific

EU Partners With UN to Counter Disinformation in the Pacific

The EU and UN have partnered to hold the first DISINFO PACIFIC Conference as we tackle the urgent challenge of foreign interference and misinformation in the Pacific.

The European Union is working with the United Nations Information Centre in the Pacific to address the growing issue of Foreign Interference and Misinformation (FIMI) in the region by hosting the first DISINFO PACIFIC Conference in Brisbane, Queensland, on 11-12 November.

The conference focuses on the evolving threats posed by disinformation and provides a platform for journalists, social media experts, educators, researchers, policy professionals, and UN representatives to discuss strategies for prevention, mitigation, and best practices to tackle this global challenge.

European Union Ambassador to Australia, Gabriele Visentin, who represented the EU Delegations from Australia, Pacific and Papua New Guinea, emphasised the EU's commitment to collaborating with partners in the Pacific and the UN to combat disinformation.

"Disinformation knows no borders. It is a profound threat, not only to national security and public well-being, but also to the very foundations of democracy and the trust that binds our societies together, both in the EU and in the Pacific," he said.

"In the face of disinformation, let us recommit to the values we share: truth, transparency, and trust. Through cooperation, through action, and through gatherings like this one, we can protect the functioning of democratic institutions, safeguard public trust, and ensure that our societies remain resilient and informed."

The UN Information Centre reports that the Pacific region is increasingly vulnerable to disinformation, which threatens democratic processes, social cohesion, climate action, and public health efforts.

Read more on what the EU is doing to counter Foreign Information Manipulation & Interference (FIMI) around the world:

• EEAS Stratcom's responses to foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) in 2023

• 2022 Report on EEAS Activities to Counter FIMI

• 2nd EEAS Report on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Threats

• 1st EEAS Report on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Threats