Moscow: The “Dialogue on Fake News 3.0” forum recently convened in Moscow, uniting experts from over 80 countries to address the global issue of disinformation.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the third iteration of this international forum attracted approximately 4,000 participants and was organized under UNESCO’s auspices. It was the only Russian event included in the official calendar of Global Media and Information Literacy Week, with sessions broadcast in Russian, English, and Spanish.

The forum gathered a diverse group of fact-checking experts, government representatives, international organizations, media professionals, and members of the scientific and technological communities. The primary focus was on developing strategies to combat disinformation on a global scale. Discussions covered the challenges posed by generative artificial intelligence and deepfakes, the spread of misinformation in science and education, media literacy development, and the verification of tools.

Vladimir Tabak, President of the Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN), emphasized the international nature of the disinformation problem in his opening speech. He highlighted the importance of inclusivity and linguistic diversity in addressing this issue, stating that the main mission of fact-checking is to ensure the right to truth rather than impose censorship.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, voiced concerns about the Western world’s role in generating fake news and suppressing dissent in the media. Other speakers included Wang Delu from China Media Corporation, who advocated for strengthened media cooperation, and Christopher Helali from the United States, who likened the impact of information to that of a nuclear explosion.

Freddy N¡nez and Johannyl Rodriguez from Venezuela discussed the commercialization of communication and the complexities of artificial intelligence. Guy Mettan from Switzerland expressed optimism about overcoming fake news, while Emmanuel Leroy from France called for the development of sovereign artificial intelligence to preserve cultural values.

The forum was organized by ANPO “Dialog Regions” with support from partners including TASS, the New Media Workshop, and the Global Fact-Checking Network.