The Canadian government has decided to withdraw its support for a European disinformation conference due to concerns over certain panel discussions that portray the U.S. government as a potential foreign interference threat. Samantha Lafleur, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada (GAC), expressed reservations about the focus of some panels at the event organized by EU DisinfoLab, a non-profit based in Brussels. The conference includes sessions on the topic of the U.S. as a source of “foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI),” where foreign entities manipulate information to sow confusion and erode public trust in institutions.
Initially listed as sponsors of the conference, GAC, Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry, and the European External Action Service had their names covered up at the conference venue in Vilnius, Lithuania. The French government remains a sponsor at present. While GAC did not deny its concerns about labeling the U.S. as a foreign interference risk, Lafleur stated that the government opted to revise its participation in certain panel discussions following adjustments to the framing of the topics.
Furthermore, a GAC official withdrew from chairing a session on disinformation in the Arctic, which was scheduled for the following day. Presenter Ben Shultz from the American Sunlight Project highlighted the panel’s focus on Greenland and the belief that the U.S. has engaged in foreign interference activities in specific Arctic contexts. Shultz expressed surprise at the withdrawal of three governments and speculated whether external pressure influenced their decisions.
The European External Action Service explained that it requested the removal of its logo from conference materials due to concerns about the program’s content not aligning with the EU’s official positions. Neither Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry nor the conference organizers provided comments on the matter. Canada’s withdrawal coincides with reports of meetings between individuals advocating for Alberta independence and U.S. entities, including gatherings at U.S. State Department offices in Washington, D.C., as previously reported by CBC News.
The decision by GAC to step back from the conference occurs amid ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. Lafleur emphasized Canada’s commitment to combatting disinformation and misinformation and expressed eagerness to collaborate with partners and stakeholders on countering these challenges.
