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Canada and EU Withdraw Support from Disinformation Conference Amid U.S. Criticism

Canada and EU Withdraw Support from Disinformation Conference Amid U.S. Criticism

First seen 7 Oct 2026, 20:31 UTC • •
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ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •October 7, 2026 at 21:34 UTC
  • •Canada, Lithuania, and the EEAS withdrew sponsorship from the #Disinfo2026 conference.
  • •The conference includes discussions framing the U.S. as a foreign interference actor.
  • •Canadian officials will attend but not chair discussions due to discomfort with the content.

The #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius, focusing on foreign information manipulation, faced significant backlash as Canada, Lithuania, and the European External Action Service retracted their sponsorships. This decision was influenced by the conference's controversial programming, which included discussions framing the U.S. as a potential source of foreign interference. Canadian officials confirmed they would still attend but would not lead any sessions due to discomfort with the panel discussions. The EEAS also stated that its logo was removed because the program's content did not align with official EU positions. The conference organizers have not commented on the withdrawals, but the event continues with participation from various stakeholders in the disinformation sector.

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Timeline

2026-10-07
Disinfo2026 conference opens
The conference in Vilnius begins with significant government sponsors withdrawing support due to controversial programming.
Techpolicy.Press
2026-10-07
Canada confirms withdrawal of sponsorship
Global Affairs Canada announces it will not chair discussions at the conference, citing discomfort with panel framing.
Theglobeandmail

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Common questions

What led to the withdrawal of sponsorships?
Sponsorships were withdrawn due to discomfort with the framing of discussions that implicated the U.S. as a foreign interference actor.
Will Canada still participate in the conference?
Yes, Canadian officials will attend but will not lead any discussions.
What is the focus of the #Disinfo2026 conference?
The conference focuses on countering foreign information manipulation and interference, particularly in relation to the U.S.