site.btaDefence Information Director: Disinformation Reflects Our Failure

Director of the Ministry of Defence Information Centre Vladimir Milenski spoke of the challenges of misinformation at an international conference on foreign interference and manipulation of information in Sofia on Monday. "Disinformation reflects our failure", the director said. The event is hosted by the Center for the Study of Democracy and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Bulgaria.

Milenski explained that misinformation thrives when accurate information is absent. He highlighted that gaps in knowledge allow false information to spread. He emphasized the importance of being the first to provide reliable data in the competitive information landscape.

Milenski highlighted ongoing challenges in government transparency, tracing the issue back to practices from both the socialist and democratic eras. Historically, governments disclosed information only upon request, reinforced by limited technological capabilities, granting them a communication monopoly. Modern technological advancements dissolved this monopoly, enabling widespread information dissemination, often interspersed with manipulation. This shift has left governments struggling to keep the pace, resulting in a landscape where misinformation thrives unchecked, he added.

Milenski said that disinformation has surged, signaling a delayed response in combating it. Efforts to tackle it often come late, indicating a reactive rather than proactive approach.