EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure

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1. 1h ago

   EU, Canada, Lithuania withdraw from disinformation conference amid US pressure

   The European Union, Canada, and Lithuania have pulled out of a disinformation conference in Europe after facing pressure from the United States. The conference featured panels critical of the US, labeling it a disinformation threat. The withdrawals have sparked criticism that the EU and other Western governments are bowing to US pressure and undermining efforts to combat disinformation.

   Why it matters

   The disinformation conference, known as #Disinfo2026, aimed to address the spread of false information globally. The US reportedly objected to panels that discussed US disinformation, leading to pressure on the EU, Canada, and Lithuania to withdraw their sponsorship. This incident has raised concerns about the influence of US politics on international efforts to combat disinformation and the potential impact on free speech and civil society.

   What is confirmed

   • The EU, Canada, and Lithuania pulled out of a disinformation conference after US pressure.
   • The conference featured panels that referred to the US as a disinformation threat.
   • The US pressure on the EU, Canada, and Lithuania to withdraw from the conference was reported by multiple sources.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The Trump administration was bothered by panels that referred to the U.S. as a disinformation threat.

   What to watch next

   • Further developments on the #Disinfo2026 conference and its impact on global disinformation efforts
   • Reactions from civil society organizations and MEPs on the EU's decision to withdraw sponsorship
   • Potential long-term effects on US-EU relations and international cooperation on disinformation
   Sources used for this update (16)

   1. european-union.europa.eu — Your gateway to the EU, News, Highlights | European Union
   2. en.wikipedia.org — European Union - Wikipedia
   3. The Guardian — EU drops sponsorship of disinformation conference at Trump officials’ request
   4. The Globe and Mail — Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor
   5. Tech Policy Press — Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics
   6. CBC — Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat
   7. Politico — EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure
   8. Reuters — US lobbies allies to cut ties to anti-disinformation conference over panel critical of Washington, sources say
   9. dw.com — EU pulls sponsorship from disinformation event in Lithuania
   10. www.theguardian.com — EU drops sponsorship of disinformation conference at Trump officials’ request | Trump administration
   11. www.archyde.com — EU, Canada and Lithuania drop sponsorship of disinformation conference – Archyde
   12. emptywheel.net — Sarah Rogers Censors Conference on Disinformation - emptywheel
   confidence 85%