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Full evidence — RUN_2026-10-08_2

Question: Why did the EU, Canada and Lithuania withdraw support for the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius?

Complete answers for every model, language and answer round in this run. English translations are shown where available; where they are not, the original text is shown and was not compared.

One answer round means asking the model once in every tested language.

Fact source evidence

Q001

Claude Sonnet 5.5

Repeated check: found in 1 of 3 answer rounds. The report shows answer round 1.

Evidence used for the finding

• French, English translation: “The EU (through its diplomatic service, the EEAS), Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their official sponsorship following pressure from the Trump administration.” Original passage: L'UE (par son service diplomatique, le SEAE), le Canada et la Lituanie ont retiré leur parrainage officiel après des pressions de l'administration Trump. Washington s'opposait à des sessions du programme qui présentaient les États-Unis comme une source de manipulation de l'information. **Ce qui a d…
• Lithuanian, English translation: “Why they withdrew is not entirely clear.” Approximate place in the original: …DisinfoLab“. „The Guardian“ praneša, kad programa buvo patvirtinta birželį, likus keliems mėnesiams iki dalies dalyvių pasitraukimo. Kodėl jie pasitraukė, nėra visiškai aišku. Oficialūs paaiškinimai ir žiniasklaidos pranešimai apie JAV spaudimą skiriasi. Valstybės departamentas detalių nekomentavo. (No number or name from the quote was found here. This may be a nearby sentence.)

English — answer round 1

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU, Canada and Lithuania drop sponsorship of disinformation conference - EU, Canada and Lithuania drop sponsorship of disinformation conference - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU, Canada and Lithuania drop sponsorship of disinformation conference - EU, Canada, and Lithuania Drop Official Sponsorship of #Disinfo2026 - Time News

English translation

They withdrew their official sponsorship after the US government objected to parts of the conference programme. Reports say the Trump administration pressured them. The governments say the programme didn't match their official positions.

What the US objected to - The programme included sessions examining the United States as an actor in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), which reportedly angered the Trump administration. - One session was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back." Another looked at how the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure, including entry bans on European figures. - According to Politico, the US State Department asked American embassies in several European countries and the EU to voice Washington's concerns. It also wanted to know whether participating governments agreed with calling the US a FIMI actor.

What the governments said - Lithuania: Its foreign ministry said it cancelled its participation because several parts of the conference programme differ from the government's official position. - Canada: Global Affairs Canada said it assesses sponsorship case by case and decided to revise its participation after changes to the framing of several panel discussions. Canadian officials are still taking part in the conference. - EU: An EU spokesperson said the EEAS pulled out because organizers chose a framing that didn't align with official Union positions on the US as a disinformation actor. The EU still provides financial funding for the event.

Disputed points - The programme had been in place since June, months before the withdrawals. - A participant disputed Canada's claim that the panels were "reframed". He said the panel descriptions are unchanged from a June 2026 version. - Some reports note the timing, which came shortly after Lithuania's prime minister asked a US envoy for a permanent US military base. That is context, not a stated reason.

The sponsors' logos were removed from the event website and covered with white stickers on printed materials. The organiser is the Brussels-based nonprofit EU DisinfoLab. The reports I found rely on Politico and The Guardian, and the "US pressure" explanation comes from them. The governments' own statements cite only disagreement with the programme.

Original text

They withdrew their official sponsorship after the US government objected to parts of the conference programme. Reports say the Trump administration pressured them. The governments say the programme didn't match their official positions.

What the US objected to - The programme included sessions examining the United States as an actor in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), which reportedly angered the Trump administration. - One session was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back." Another looked at how the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure, including entry bans on European figures. - According to Politico, the US State Department asked American embassies in several European countries and the EU to voice Washington's concerns. It also wanted to know whether participating governments agreed with calling the US a FIMI actor.

What the governments said - Lithuania: Its foreign ministry said it cancelled its participation because several parts of the conference programme differ from the government's official position. - Canada: Global Affairs Canada said it assesses sponsorship case by case and decided to revise its participation after changes to the framing of several panel discussions. Canadian officials are still taking part in the conference. - EU: An EU spokesperson said the EEAS pulled out because organizers chose a framing that didn't align with official Union positions on the US as a disinformation actor. The EU still provides financial funding for the event.

Disputed points - The programme had been in place since June, months before the withdrawals. - A participant disputed Canada's claim that the panels were "reframed". He said the panel descriptions are unchanged from a June 2026 version. - Some reports note the timing, which came shortly after Lithuania's prime minister asked a US envoy for a permanent US military base. That is context, not a stated reason.

The sponsors' logos were removed from the event website and covered with white stickers on printed materials. The organiser is the Brussels-based nonprofit EU DisinfoLab. The reports I found rely on Politico and The Guardian, and the "US pressure" explanation comes from them. The governments' own statements cite only disagreement with the programme.

English — answer round 2

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - EU withdraws conference support after US approaches governments - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics

English translation

The three withdrew after pressure from the Trump administration, according to reports from Politico, The Guardian and others. The pressure was over conference sessions that treated the United States as a source of disinformation.

What triggered it - The program included sessions on the United States as an actor in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), which reportedly angered the Trump administration. - One session was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back." Another asked lawyers to assess the threat posed by US government entry bans targeting European figures. - According to Politico, the US State Department asked American embassies in several European countries and the EU to raise Washington's concerns. It also wanted to know whether participating governments agreed with calling the US a FIMI actor. - Three sources told The Guardian that the State Department contacted several governments. Internal documents indicate US officials thanked Lithuania for taking their concerns seriously.

What the governments said - Lithuania: its foreign ministry said it cancelled its participation because several parts of the programme differ from the government's official position. - Canada: Global Affairs Canada cited changes to the framing of several panel discussions. Canadian officials are still participating. - EU: the European External Action Service withdrew its sponsorship, participants told The Globe and Mail.

Disputed explanation The stated reasons are contested. The program had been in place since June. One participant also disputed that the panels had been "reframed." He said the panel descriptions are unchanged from a June 2026 version.

Visible effects Just before the event, the logos of the three sponsors were covered with tape on banners and printed materials. The conference is organized by the Brussels-based nonprofit EU DisinfoLab.

Original text

The three withdrew after pressure from the Trump administration, according to reports from Politico, The Guardian and others. The pressure was over conference sessions that treated the United States as a source of disinformation.

What triggered it - The program included sessions on the United States as an actor in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), which reportedly angered the Trump administration. - One session was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back." Another asked lawyers to assess the threat posed by US government entry bans targeting European figures. - According to Politico, the US State Department asked American embassies in several European countries and the EU to raise Washington's concerns. It also wanted to know whether participating governments agreed with calling the US a FIMI actor. - Three sources told The Guardian that the State Department contacted several governments. Internal documents indicate US officials thanked Lithuania for taking their concerns seriously.

What the governments said - Lithuania: its foreign ministry said it cancelled its participation because several parts of the programme differ from the government's official position. - Canada: Global Affairs Canada cited changes to the framing of several panel discussions. Canadian officials are still participating. - EU: the European External Action Service withdrew its sponsorship, participants told The Globe and Mail.

Disputed explanation The stated reasons are contested. The program had been in place since June. One participant also disputed that the panels had been "reframed." He said the panel descriptions are unchanged from a June 2026 version.

Visible effects Just before the event, the logos of the three sponsors were covered with tape on banners and printed materials. The conference is organized by the Brussels-based nonprofit EU DisinfoLab.

English — answer round 3

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - EU withdraws conference support after US approaches governments - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics - Trump administration pressured countries to drop support for Vilnius disinformation conference

English translation

According to press reports, the three withdrew after the US government pressured them over sessions at the conference that examined the United States as a source of disinformation.

The pressure from Washington - The program included sessions on the United States as an actor in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), which reportedly angered the Trump administration. - Politico reported that the US State Department asked American embassies in several European countries and the EU to raise Washington's concerns. They were also to find out whether the governments involved agreed with calling the US a FIMI actor. - One session was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back." It featured two American researchers and a former CIA official. - Another session looked at how the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure, including US entry bans targeting European figures. - The Guardian cited three sources, including European officials, who confirmed the State Department contacted several governments. Internal department documents reportedly show US officials thanking Lithuania for taking US concerns seriously.

The official explanations - Lithuania: Its foreign ministry said it cancelled its participation because several parts of the programme differ from the government's official position. - Canada: Global Affairs Canada said that after changes to the framing of several panel discussions, it decided to revise its participation in those sessions. Canadian officials are still taking part in the conference. - EU (EEAS): Participants told The Globe and Mail that the EU's diplomatic service withdrew its sponsorship.

Disputed points - The program had been in place since June, months before the withdrawals. - One participant, Benjamin Shultz, disputed Canada's claim that the panels had been "reframed." He said the descriptions are unchanged from a June 2026 version.

Visible effects The three sponsors' logos were covered with tape on conference banners and printed materials. The conference is organized by the independent Brussels-based nonprofit EU DisinfoLab.

The US government hasn't confirmed these accounts, so the pressure is as reported by journalists and sources.

Original text

According to press reports, the three withdrew after the US government pressured them over sessions at the conference that examined the United States as a source of disinformation.

The pressure from Washington - The program included sessions on the United States as an actor in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), which reportedly angered the Trump administration. - Politico reported that the US State Department asked American embassies in several European countries and the EU to raise Washington's concerns. They were also to find out whether the governments involved agreed with calling the US a FIMI actor. - One session was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back." It featured two American researchers and a former CIA official. - Another session looked at how the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure, including US entry bans targeting European figures. - The Guardian cited three sources, including European officials, who confirmed the State Department contacted several governments. Internal department documents reportedly show US officials thanking Lithuania for taking US concerns seriously.

The official explanations - Lithuania: Its foreign ministry said it cancelled its participation because several parts of the programme differ from the government's official position. - Canada: Global Affairs Canada said that after changes to the framing of several panel discussions, it decided to revise its participation in those sessions. Canadian officials are still taking part in the conference. - EU (EEAS): Participants told The Globe and Mail that the EU's diplomatic service withdrew its sponsorship.

Disputed points - The program had been in place since June, months before the withdrawals. - One participant, Benjamin Shultz, disputed Canada's claim that the panels had been "reframed." He said the descriptions are unchanged from a June 2026 version.

Visible effects The three sponsors' logos were covered with tape on conference banners and printed materials. The conference is organized by the independent Brussels-based nonprofit EU DisinfoLab.

The US government hasn't confirmed these accounts, so the pressure is as reported by journalists and sources.

French — answer round 1

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU withdraws conference support after US approaches governments - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail

English translation

The EU (through its diplomatic service, the EEAS), Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their official sponsorship following pressure from the Trump administration. Washington objected to sessions in the program that presented the United States as a source of information manipulation.

What triggered the US pressure - The program included sessions that examined the United States as an actor in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), which reportedly angered the Trump administration. - According to Politico, the State Department asked US embassies in several European countries and at the EU to convey Washington's concerns. It also wanted to know whether participating governments approved of the idea of labeling the United States as a FIMI actor. - Among the targeted sessions, one was entitled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back." Another asked legal experts to assess the threat posed by entry bans targeting European figures.

The official justifications - Lithuania: its Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it had canceled its participation because several parts of the program differed from the government's official position. - Canada: Global Affairs Canada indicated that "following changes in the presentation of several panels," it had decided to review its participation in these sessions. Canadian officials are still participating in the conference. - EU: the EEAS withdrew its official support. The EU, Canada, and Lithuania all stated that the program did not align with their official position. However, this program had been in place since June, well before their withdrawal of support.

The visible consequences The logos of the three government sponsors were covered with duct tape on banners and printed materials. Canada and Lithuania had asked the organizers on Monday to remove their ministries' logos.

The conference is organized by the Brussels-based NGO EU DisinfoLab. The organizers declined to comment.

Original text

L'UE (par son service diplomatique, le SEAE), le Canada et la Lituanie ont retiré leur parrainage officiel après des pressions de l'administration Trump. Washington s'opposait à des sessions du programme qui présentaient les États-Unis comme une source de manipulation de l'information.

Ce qui a déclenché la pression américaine - Le programme comprenait des sessions qui examinaient les États-Unis comme acteur de la manipulation de l'information et de l'ingérence étrangères (FIMI), ce qui aurait irrité l'administration Trump. - Selon Politico, le Département d'État a demandé aux ambassades américaines de plusieurs pays européens et auprès de l'UE de faire part des préoccupations de Washington. Il voulait aussi savoir si les gouvernements participants approuvaient l'idée de qualifier les États-Unis d'acteur FIMI. - Parmi les sessions visées, l'une s'intitulait « USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back ». Une autre demandait à des juristes d'évaluer la menace que représentent les interdictions d'entrée visant des personnalités européennes.

Les justifications officielles - Lituanie : son ministère des Affaires étrangères a déclaré avoir annulé sa participation, car plusieurs parties du programme diffèrent de la position officielle du gouvernement. - Canada : Affaires mondiales Canada a indiqué que « suite à des changements dans la présentation de plusieurs panels », il avait décidé de revoir sa participation à ces sessions. Des responsables canadiens participent toujours à la conférence. - UE : le SEAE a retiré son soutien officiel. L'UE, le Canada et la Lituanie ont tous dit que le programme ne correspondait pas à leur position officielle. Or, ce programme était en place depuis juin, bien avant le retrait de leur soutien.

Les conséquences visibles Les logos des trois sponsors gouvernementaux ont été masqués avec du ruban adhésif sur les bannières et les documents imprimés. Le Canada et la Lituanie avaient demandé aux organisateurs, lundi, de retirer les logos de leurs ministères.

La conférence est organisée par l'ONG bruxelloise EU DisinfoLab. Les organisateurs ont refusé de commenter.

French — answer round 2

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics - EU, Canada and Lithuania drop sponsorship of disinformation conference - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail

English translation

The EU (via its diplomatic service, the EEAS), Canada, and Lithuania have withdrawn their official sponsorship following pressure from the Trump administration. This comes from several media outlets, including Politico, The Guardian, and The Globe and Mail.

What sparked the controversy - The program included sessions that examined the United States as an actor in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), which reportedly angered the Trump administration. - One of them was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back." It brought together two American researchers and a former CIA official. - Another session asked legal experts to assess the threat posed by entry bans targeting European figures.

American pressure - According to Politico, the State Department asked U.S. embassies in several European countries and at the EU to convey Washington's concerns. They were also to verify whether participating governments approved of the idea of presenting the United States as a FIMI actor.

Official justifications - Lithuania: its Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that several parts of the program differ from the official government position. - Canada: Global Affairs Canada says it evaluates each event on a case-by-case basis. Its spokesperson explained that the ministry had decided to review its participation in these sessions following changes in the presentation of several panels. Canadian officials are still participating in the conference. - EU: participants indicated to The Globe and Mail that the EEAS had withdrawn its sponsorship.

Points to note - The program had been published since June, well before the withdrawal of this support. - The logos of the EEAS, Canada, and Lithuania were covered with duct tape on banners and printed materials. - According to Archyde, Lithuania's withdrawal occurred shortly after its Prime Minister met with U.S. emissary John Coale and requested a permanent U.S. military base. This source does not establish this as a cause.

The three governments therefore cite a disagreement over the content. The media, for their part, link the withdrawal to pressure from Washington. The organizers, EU DisinfoLab, declined to comment in The Globe and Mail article.

Original text

L'UE (par son service diplomatique, le SEAE), le Canada et la Lituanie ont retiré leur parrainage officiel après des pressions de l'administration Trump. Cela vient de plusieurs médias, dont Politico, The Guardian et The Globe and Mail.

Ce qui a déclenché la polémique - Le programme comprenait des sessions qui examinaient les États-Unis comme acteur de manipulation de l'information et d'ingérence étrangères (FIMI), ce qui aurait irrité l'administration Trump. - L'une d'elles s'intitulait « USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back ». Elle réunissait deux chercheurs américains et un ancien responsable de la CIA. - Une autre session demandait à des juristes d'évaluer la menace que représentent les interdictions d'entrée visant des personnalités européennes.

Les pressions américaines - Selon Politico, le Département d'État a demandé aux ambassades américaines dans plusieurs pays européens et auprès de l'UE de faire part des préoccupations de Washington. Elles devaient aussi vérifier si les gouvernements participants approuvaient l'idée de présenter les États-Unis comme un acteur FIMI.

Les justifications officielles - Lituanie : son ministère des Affaires étrangères a déclaré que plusieurs parties du programme diffèrent de la position officielle du gouvernement. - Canada : Affaires mondiales Canada dit évaluer chaque événement au cas par cas. Sa porte-parole a expliqué que le ministère avait décidé de revoir sa participation à ces sessions après des changements dans la présentation de plusieurs panels. Des responsables canadiens participent toujours à la conférence. - UE : des participants ont indiqué au Globe and Mail que le SEAE avait retiré son parrainage.

Points à noter - Le programme était publié depuis juin, bien avant le retrait de ces soutiens. - Les logos du SEAE, du Canada et de la Lituanie ont été recouverts de ruban adhésif sur les bannières et les documents imprimés. - Selon Archyde, le retrait de la Lituanie est survenu peu après que son Premier ministre a rencontré l'émissaire américain John Coale et demandé une base militaire américaine permanente. Cette source ne l'établit pas comme une cause.

Les trois gouvernements invoquent donc un désaccord sur le contenu. Les médias, eux, lient le retrait aux pressions de Washington. Les organisateurs, EU DisinfoLab, ont refusé de commenter dans l'article du Globe and Mail.

French — answer round 3

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU, Canada, and Lithuania Drop Official Sponsorship of #Disinfo2026 - Time News - EU, Canada and Lithuania drop sponsorship of disinformation conference - EU, Canada, and Lithuania Drop Official Sponsorship of #Disinfo2026 - Time News

English translation

The EU (through its diplomatic service, the EEAS), Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their official sponsorship following pressure from the Trump administration. This pressure targeted program sessions that portrayed the United States as a source of disinformation.

What triggered the pressure - The programme included sessions examining the United States as an actor of foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), which reportedly angered the Trump administration. - One of them was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back." It brought together two American researchers and a former CIA official. - Another focused on how the counter-disinformation community handles pressure from the US government. Legal experts assessed the threat posed by entry bans targeting European figures.

The role of Washington According to Politico, the State Department asked US embassies in several European countries and at the EU to convey Washington's concerns. It also wanted to know whether participating governments approved of the idea of labeling the United States as a FIMI actor.

The official explanations - Lithuania: its Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that several parts of the programme differ from the government's official position. - Canada: a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada explained that the ministry decided to review its participation in these sessions following changes in the wording of several debates. Canadian officials are still participating in the conference. - EU: the EEAS withdrew its official support and its logo.

Elements that nuance these explanations - The programme had been in place since June, well before the withdrawal of this support. - Canada and Lithuania asked the organizers to remove their logos from the conference materials. Photos show white stickers placed over these logos. - One article notes that Lithuania's withdrawal occurred shortly after a meeting between the Lithuanian Prime Minister and US envoy John Coale, during which the latter was asked for a permanent US military base in the country. This article does not prove a cause-and-effect link.

The conference is organized by the Brussels-based NGO EU DisinfoLab. It brings together hundreds of researchers, journalists, technologists, and policymakers. The organizers declined to comment.

Original text

L'UE (par son service diplomatique, le SEAE), le Canada et la Lituanie ont retiré leur parrainage officiel après des pressions de l'administration Trump. Ces pressions visaient des sessions du programme qui présentaient les États-Unis comme une source de désinformation.

Ce qui a déclenché les pressions - Le programme comprenait des sessions qui examinaient les États-Unis comme acteur de manipulation de l'information et d'ingérence étrangères (FIMI), ce qui aurait irrité l'administration Trump. - L'une d'elles s'intitulait « USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back ». Elle réunissait deux chercheurs américains et un ancien responsable de la CIA. - Une autre portait sur la façon dont la communauté de la lutte contre la désinformation gère les pressions du gouvernement américain. Des juristes y évaluaient la menace que représentent les interdictions d'entrée visant des personnalités européennes.

Le rôle de Washington Selon Politico, le Département d'État a demandé aux ambassades américaines dans plusieurs pays européens et auprès de l'UE de faire part des préoccupations de Washington. Il voulait aussi savoir si les gouvernements participants approuvaient l'idée de qualifier les États-Unis d'acteur FIMI.

Les explications officielles - Lituanie : son ministère des Affaires étrangères a indiqué que plusieurs parties du programme diffèrent de la position officielle du gouvernement. - Canada : une porte-parole d'Affaires mondiales Canada a expliqué que le ministère a décidé de revoir sa participation à ces sessions après des changements dans la formulation de plusieurs débats. Des responsables canadiens participent toujours à la conférence. - UE : le SEAE a retiré son soutien officiel et son logo.

Des éléments qui nuancent ces explications - Le programme était en place depuis juin, soit bien avant le retrait de ces soutiens. - Le Canada et la Lituanie ont demandé aux organisateurs de retirer leurs logos du matériel de la conférence. Des photos montrent des autocollants blancs posés sur ces logos. - Un article note que le retrait de la Lituanie est survenu peu après une rencontre entre le Premier ministre lituanien et l'émissaire américain John Coale. Il lui a demandé une base militaire américaine permanente dans le pays. Cet article ne prouve pas de lien de cause à effet.

La conférence est organisée par l'ONG bruxelloise EU DisinfoLab. Elle réunit des centaines de chercheurs, journalistes, technologues et décideurs politiques. Les organisateurs ont refusé de commenter.

Lithuanian — answer round 1

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - „Politico“: dėl JAV spaudimo Lietuva, ES ir Kanada pasitraukė iš renginio apie dezinformaciją - JAV spaudimas Vilniuje sukėlė tarptautinį skandalą: Lietuva, Kanada ir ES pasitraukė iš konferencijos rėmėjų gretų - „Politico“: dėl JAV spaudimo Lietuva, ES ir Kanada pasitraukė iš renginio apie dezinformaciją - „Politico“: dėl JAV spaudimo Lietuva, ES ir Kanada pasitraukė iš renginio apie dezinformaciją - URM neatsako, ar iš dezinformacijos konferencijos pasitraukė dėl JAV spaudimo - URM: iš konferencijos apie dezinformaciją pasitraukta dėl nacionalinių interesų neatitinkančio turinio - Respublika.lt - Naujienų ir žinių portalas - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - „Politico“: dėl JAV spaudimo Lietuva, ES ir Kanada pasitraukė iš renginio apie dezinformaciją - Po žinios apie JAV spaudimą pasitraukti iš konferencijos Vilniuje - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics - Po žinios apie JAV spaudimą pasitraukti iš konferencijos Vilniuje

English translation

Trump administration pressure, and officially – the program's mismatch with positions

What happened. Politico reports that US President Donald Trump's administration pressured Lithuanian, EU, and Canadian diplomats to withdraw from a conference. The dispute was triggered by a panel discussion scheduled in the event's agenda regarding potential US informational influence in Europe. According to reports, this action was taken after organizers announced discussions warning about the threat posed by US officials and the country's influence.

US position. The State Department stated that it should not come as a surprise that countries are distancing themselves from the conference upon learning that it identifies the US as a "FIMI threat." Reuters sources stated that pressure on Lithuania and Canada was confirmed by three US officials, with two of them indicating that US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald participated in the calls.

Official explanations: - Lithuania. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) claims that certain parts of the event program did not align with the Government's positions and Lithuania's national interests. The MFA did not answer the question of whether this was determined by US pressure. - Canada. It stated that it was not satisfied with the wording of certain discussions. Canadian officials will still participate in the conference, but will not moderate the discussions. - EEAS. Like the Lithuanian MFA, it indicated that part of the conference program did not match its official position, though it did not specify which one.

Consequences. The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and Canada, as well as the EEAS, were among the main sponsors. Following their withdrawal, the French government remained the sole main sponsor. Just before the event, the logos of the three governmental sponsors – the EEAS, Canada, and Lithuania – on the conference stands and printed materials were covered with tape. The conference is organized by EU DisinfoLab, a Brussels-based non-governmental organization. The Guardian reports that the program was approved in June, several months before the withdrawal of some participants.

Why they withdrew is not entirely clear. Official explanations and media reports regarding US pressure differ. The State Department did not comment on details.

Original text

Trumpo administracijos spaudimas, o oficialiai – programos neatitikimas pozicijoms

Kas nutiko. „Politico“ skelbia, kad JAV prezidento Donaldo Trumpo administracija spaudė Lietuvos, ES ir Kanados diplomatus pasitraukti iš konferencijos. Ginčą sukėlė renginio dienotvarkėje numatyta diskusija apie galimą JAV informacinį poveikį Europai. Pasak pranešimų, to imtasi organizatoriams paskelbus diskusijas, kuriose įspėjama apie JAV pareigūnų keliamą grėsmę ir šalies įtaką.

JAV pozicija. Valstybės departamentas pareiškė, kad neturėtų stebinti, jog šalys atsiriboja nuo konferencijos, sužinojusios, kad joje JAV įvardijama kaip „FIMI grėsmė“. „Reuters“ šaltiniai teigė, kad spaudimą Lietuvai ir Kanadai patvirtino trys JAV pareigūnai, o du iš jų nurodė, kad raginimuose dalyvavo JAV ambasadorė Lietuvoje Kara McDonald.

Oficialūs paaiškinimai: - Lietuva. URM teigia, kad kai kurios renginio programos dalys neatitiko Vyriausybės pozicijų ir Lietuvos nacionalinių interesų. Į klausimą, ar tai nulėmė JAV spaudimas, URM neatsakė. - Kanada. Ji teigė, kad nebuvo patenkinta kai kurių diskusijų formuluotėmis. Kanados pareigūnai konferencijoje vis tiek dalyvaus, bet diskusijoms nevadovaus. - EIVT. Kaip ir Lietuvos URM, ji nurodė, kad dalis konferencijos programos neatitiko jos oficialios pozicijos, tačiau nepatikslino, kokios.

Pasekmės. Lietuvos ir Kanados užsienio reikalų ministerijos bei EIVT buvo tarp pagrindinių rėmėjų. Joms pasitraukus, vienintele pagrindine rėmėja liko Prancūzijos vyriausybė. Prieš pat renginį trijų vyriausybinių rėmėjų – EIVT, Kanados ir Lietuvos – logotipai ant konferencijos stendų ir spausdintos medžiagos buvo užklijuoti juosta. Konferenciją organizuoja Briuselyje veikianti nevyriausybinė organizacija „EU DisinfoLab“. „The Guardian“ praneša, kad programa buvo patvirtinta birželį, likus keliems mėnesiams iki dalies dalyvių pasitraukimo.

Kodėl jie pasitraukė, nėra visiškai aišku. Oficialūs paaiškinimai ir žiniasklaidos pranešimai apie JAV spaudimą skiriasi. Valstybės departamentas detalių nekomentavo.

Lithuanian — answer round 2

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - JAV spaudimas Vilniuje sukėlė tarptautinį skandalą: Lietuva, Kanada ir ES pasitraukė iš konferencijos rėmėjų gretų - URM neatsako, ar iš dezinformacijos konferencijos pasitraukė dėl JAV spaudimo - Po žinios apie JAV spaudimą pasitraukti iš konferencijos Vilniuje - „Politico“: dėl JAV spaudimo Lietuva, ES ir Kanada pasitraukė iš renginio apie dezinformaciją - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics - URM: iš konferencijos apie dezinformaciją pasitraukta dėl nacionalinių interesų neatitinkančio turinio - Respublika.lt - Naujienų ir žinių portalas - URM neatsako, ar iš dezinformacijos konferencijos pasitraukė dėl JAV spaudimo - Po žinios apie JAV spaudimą pasitraukti iš konferencijos Vilniuje - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics - Po žinios apie JAV spaudimą pasitraukti iš konferencijos Vilniuje

English translation

According to reports, the reason was US pressure. The Lithuanian MFA explains it differently.

US pressure. According to Reuters, US State Department officials contacted representatives of Lithuania, Canada, and France over several days, urging them to reconsider their support for the event. The pressure on Lithuania and Canada was confirmed by three US officials familiar with the situation. Two of them stated that the calls involved the US Ambassador to Lithuania, Kara McDonald. According to Politico, the State Department asked US embassies in several European countries and the EU to express Washington's concerns.

What Washington did not like. Such actions were taken after the organizers announced discussions warning about the threat posed by US officials and the country's influence in general. There was also discussion about whether the US itself had become a source of foreign information manipulation in Europe. This is a sensitive issue as the Trump administration increasingly criticizes Europe's approach to disinformation and freedom of speech.

The Lithuanian MFA's explanation. The ministry did not answer whether it withdrew due to US pressure. It claims that it withdrew and formally distanced itself from the content when it became clear that some parts of the program did not align with the Government's positions and Lithuania's national interests. The MFA also noted that it did not participate in drafting the program and the content was not coordinated with it. The Guardian notes that the program was approved in June, months before the withdrawal.

Consequences. - Right before the event, the logos of three sponsors (EEAS, Canada, and Lithuania) on the conference's promotional stands and printed materials were covered with tape. - Only the French government remained the main sponsor. - According to The Guardian, EU financial support was not completely cut off.

I emphasize that these are media reports based on anonymous officials. Officially, neither side has publicly acknowledged US pressure.

Original text

Pagal pranešimus, priežastis buvo JAV spaudimas. Lietuvos URM tai aiškina kitaip.

JAV spaudimas. Remiantis „Reuters“, JAV Valstybės departamento pareigūnai kelias dienas kreipėsi į Lietuvos, Kanados ir Prancūzijos atstovus ir ragino persvarstyti paramą renginiui. Spaudimą Lietuvai ir Kanadai patvirtino trys su situacija susipažinę JAV pareigūnai. Du iš jų teigė, kad raginimuose dalyvavo JAV ambasadorė Lietuvoje Kara McDonald. Pasak „Politico“, Valstybės departamentas paprašė JAV ambasadų keliose Europos šalyse ir ES išreikšti Vašingtono susirūpinimą.

Kas nepatiko Vašingtonui. Tokių veiksmų imtasi organizatoriams paskelbus apie diskusijas, kuriose įspėjama apie JAV pareigūnų keliamą grėsmę ir apskritai šalies įtaką. Buvo diskutuojama ir apie tai, ar pačios JAV tapo užsienio informacinių manipuliacijų šaltiniu Europoje. Tai jautrus klausimas, kai Trumpo administracija vis labiau kritikuoja Europos požiūrį į dezinformaciją ir žodžio laisvę.

Lietuvos URM paaiškinimas. Ministerija neatsakė, ar pasitraukė dėl JAV spaudimo. Ji teigia, kad pasitraukė ir formaliai atsiribojo nuo turinio, kai paaiškėjo, kad kai kurios programos dalys neatitinka Vyriausybės pozicijų ir Lietuvos nacionalinių interesų. URM taip pat pažymėjo, kad nedalyvavo rengiant programą ir su ja turinys nebuvo derinamas. „The Guardian“ pažymi, kad programa buvo patvirtinta birželį, likus keliems mėnesiams iki pasitraukimo.

Pasekmės. - Prieš pat renginį ant konferencijos reklaminių stendų ir spausdintų medžiagų trijų rėmėjų (EIVT, Kanados ir Lietuvos) logotipai buvo užklijuoti juosta. - Pagrindine rėmėja liko tik Prancūzijos vyriausybė. - Pasak „The Guardian“, ES finansinė parama nebuvo visiškai nutraukta.

Pabrėžiu, kad tai yra žiniasklaidos pranešimai, paremti anoniminiais pareigūnais. Oficialiai nė viena pusė JAV spaudimo viešai nepripažino.

Lithuanian — answer round 3

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - „Politico“: dėl JAV spaudimo Lietuva, ES ir Kanada pasitraukė iš renginio apie dezinformaciją - JAV spaudimas Vilniuje sukėlė tarptautinį skandalą: Lietuva, Kanada ir ES pasitraukė iš konferencijos rėmėjų gretų - „Politico“: dėl JAV spaudimo Lietuva, ES ir Kanada pasitraukė iš renginio apie dezinformaciją - URM neatsako, ar iš dezinformacijos konferencijos pasitraukė dėl JAV spaudimo - „Politico“: dėl JAV spaudimo Lietuva, ES ir Kanada pasitraukė iš renginio apie dezinformaciją - URM: iš konferencijos apie dezinformaciją pasitraukta dėl nacionalinių interesų neatitinkančio turinio - Respublika.lt - Naujienų ir žinių portalas - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - ES neigia nusileidusi JAV spaudimui dėl konferencijos Vilniuje - „Politico“: dėl JAV spaudimo Lietuva, ES ir Kanada pasitraukė iš renginio apie dezinformaciją - Po žinios apie JAV spaudimą pasitraukti iš konferencijos Vilniuje - Po žinios apie JAV spaudimą pasitraukti iš konferencijos Vilniuje

English translation

Officially, these countries and institutions stated one reason, while the media stated another.

Media reports: US pressure - Politico reports that the Trump administration exerted pressure on Lithuanian, EU, and Canadian diplomats to withdraw from the conference. - The dispute was triggered by a panel discussion scheduled on the event's agenda regarding potential United States information influence in Europe. - According to reports, the pressure emerged after the organizers announced discussions warning about the threat posed by US officials and the country's influence. - Three US officials familiar with the situation were cited by Reuters as confirming that Lithuania and Canada were urged to withdraw. Two of them stated that US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald was involved in the urges. - The US State Department did not comment on details. It only stated that it should not come as a surprise that countries are distancing themselves from the conference upon learning that the US is designated in it as a "FIMI threat."

Official explanations - Lithuania (MFA): some parts of the event program did not align with the Government's positions and Lithuania's national interests. The ministry did not answer whether it did this due to US pressure. - Canada: Ottawa was uncomfortable with the wording of certain discussions. Canadian officials will still participate in the conference, but will not lead the discussions. - EU: The EU rejected reports that it yielded to US pressure, stating that the decision was made due to the event program.

Other information - Canada and Lithuania already on Monday asked the organizers to remove their ministries' logos from the conference materials. On Tuesday, they were followed by the European External Action Service. - The Guardian reported that the program was approved in June, several months before some of the participants withdrew. - Following the withdrawal of these three, the French government remained the only main sponsor.

The fact of pressure was confirmed by US officials cited by the media. Lithuania, Canada, and the EU themselves cite the content of the program as the reason.

Original text

Oficialiai šios šalys ir institucijos nurodė vieną priežastį, o žiniasklaida – kitą.

Žiniasklaidos pranešimai: JAV spaudimas - „Politico“ skelbia, kad Trumpo administracija darė spaudimą Lietuvos, ES ir Kanados diplomatams pasitraukti iš konferencijos. - Ginčą sukėlė renginio dienotvarkėje numatyta diskusija apie galimą Jungtinių Valstijų informacinį poveikį Europai. - Pasak pranešimų, spaudimas atsirado po to, kai organizatoriai paskelbė diskusijas, įspėjančias apie JAV pareigūnų keliamą grėsmę ir šalies įtaką. - Tris su situacija susipažinusius JAV pareigūnus „Reuters“ citavo kaip patvirtinusius, kad Lietuva ir Kanada buvo raginamos pasitraukti. Du iš jų teigė, kad raginimuose dalyvavo JAV ambasadorė Lietuvoje Kara McDonald. - JAV Valstybės departamentas detalių nekomentavo. Jis tik pareiškė, kad neturėtų stebinti, jog šalys atsiriboja nuo konferencijos, sužinojusios, kad joje JAV įvardijamos kaip „FIMI grėsmė“.

Oficialūs paaiškinimai - Lietuva (URM): kai kurios renginio programos dalys neatitiko Vyriausybės pozicijų ir Lietuvos nacionalinių interesų. Ministerija neatsakė, ar tai padarė dėl JAV spaudimo. - Kanada: Ottawa buvo nepatogu dėl kai kurių diskusijų formuluočių. Kanados pareigūnai konferencijoje vis tiek dalyvaus, bet diskusijų nevadovaus. - ES: ES atmetė pranešimus, kad nusileido JAV spaudimui, ir pareiškė, kad sprendimas priimtas dėl renginio programos.

Kita informacija - Kanada ir Lietuva dar pirmadienį paprašė organizatorių pašalinti jų ministerijų logotipus iš konferencijos medžiagos. Antradienį jų pavyzdžiu pasekė Europos išorės veiksmų tarnyba. - „The Guardian“ pranešė, kad programa buvo patvirtinta birželį, keli mėnesiai prieš tai, kai dalis dalyvių atsitraukė. - Pasitraukus šioms trims, vienintele pagrindine rėmėja liko Prancūzijos vyriausybė.

Spaudimo faktą patvirtino JAV pareigūnai, kuriais remiasi žiniasklaida. Pačios Lietuva, Kanada ir ES kaip priežastį nurodo programos turinį.

Russian — answer round 1

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - US Lobbies Allies to Distance From EU Anti-Disinformation Conference - EU withdraws conference support after US approaches governments - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU withdraws conference support after US approaches governments - EU withdraws conference support after US approaches governments

English translation

In short: according to reports by Politico, The Guardian, and Reuters, this happened due to pressure from the Trump administration. Officially, the three parties attribute it to a divergence with the conference program.

What caused Washington's displeasure - The program featured sessions where the US was examined as a participant in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). This reportedly angered the Trump administration. - One session was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back." It featured two American researchers and a former CIA officer. They analyzed how the US has become a disinformation threat to Europe. - Another session, "Under attack," was dedicated to US government pressure on the counter-disinformation community. During it, lawyers were to assess the threat of US entry bans for European figures.

How the US acted - According to Politico, the State Department instructed US embassies in several European countries and at the EU to outline Washington's grievances. They needed to find out whether the participating governments agreed that the US was designated as a FIMI actor. - Reuters writes that the State Department sought the withdrawal of support because the program included a panel on Washington's role as a supposed information threat to Europe. This follows statements from three US officials and correspondence reviewed by the agency. - According to The Guardian, in internal department documents, American officials thanked Lithuania for taking US concerns seriously.

Official explanations from the parties - Lithuania: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that a number of parts of the program diverge from the official position of the government. - Canada: A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said that following a change in how several panel discussions were framed, the department decided to reassess its participation in those sessions. Canadian officials are still participating in the conference. - These explanations raise questions: the program was published back in June, several months before the withdrawal. Conference participant Benjamin Schultz also disputed Canada's words about "reformulating" topics. According to him, the panel descriptions have not changed since the June version.

What it looked like on the ground The conference organizer, the Brussels-based NGO EU DisinfoLab, declined to comment. A few days before the start, the logos of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, the European External Action Service, and Global Affairs Canada disappeared from the website. On the printed materials, they were covered with white stickers.

This is data from media outlets citing anonymous sources and fragments of an internal telegram. There are no official confirmations of pressure from the governments themselves in the materials found.

Original text

Коротко: по сообщениям Politico, The Guardian и Reuters, это произошло из-за давления администрации Трампа. Официально три стороны объясняют это расхождением с программой конференции.

Что вызвало недовольство Вашингтона - В программе были сессии, где США рассматривались как участник иностранной манипуляции информацией и вмешательства (FIMI). Это, как сообщается, разозлило администрацию Трампа. - Одна из сессий называлась «USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back». В ней участвовали двое американских исследователей и бывший сотрудник ЦРУ. Они разбирали, как США стали дезинформационной угрозой для Европы. - Другая сессия, «Under attack», была посвящена давлению правительства США на сообщество противодействия дезинформации. На ней юристы должны были оценить угрозу запретов на въезд в США для европейских деятелей.

Как действовали США - По данным Politico, Госдепартамент поручил американским посольствам в нескольких европейских странах и в ЕС изложить претензии Вашингтона. Нужно было выяснить, согласны ли участвующие правительства с тем, что США названы FIMI-актором. - Reuters пишет, что Госдепартамент добивался отказа от поддержки, потому что в программе была панель о роли Вашингтона как предполагаемой информационной угрозы для Европы. Это следует из слов трёх американских чиновников и переписки, с которой ознакомилось агентство. - По данным The Guardian, во внутренних документах ведомства американские чиновники благодарили Литву за то, что она серьёзно отнеслась к опасениям США.

Официальные объяснения сторон - Литва: МИД заявил, что ряд частей программы расходится с официальной позицией правительства. - Канада: представитель Global Affairs Canada сказал, что после изменения подачи нескольких панельных дискуссий ведомство решило пересмотреть своё участие в этих сессиях. Канадские чиновники по-прежнему участвуют в конференции. - Эти объяснения вызывают вопросы: программа была опубликована ещё в июне, то есть за несколько месяцев до отказа. Участник конференции Бенджамин Шульц также оспорил слова Канады о «переформулировке» тем. По его словам, описания панелей не менялись с июньской версии.

Как это выглядело на месте Организатор конференции, брюссельская НКО EU DisinfoLab, от комментариев отказался. За несколько дней до начала с сайта пропали логотипы МИД Литвы, Европейской службы внешних действий и Global Affairs Canada. На печатных материалах их закрыли белыми наклейками.

Это данные из СМИ, ссылающихся на анонимные источники и фрагменты внутренней телеграммы. Официальных подтверждений давления от самих правительств в найденных материалах нет.

Russian — answer round 2

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU, Canada, and Lithuania Drop Official Sponsorship of #Disinfo2026 - Time News - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU, Canada and Lithuania drop sponsorship of disinformation conference - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail

English translation

In brief: according to reports by Politico, The Guardian, and other media outlets, the EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support following pressure from the US administration. The reason was the conference program, which included sessions on the role of the US itself in disinformation.

What happened - The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Canada, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) withdrew their support for a disinformation conference in Vilnius. The pressure reportedly followed the organizers' announcement of sessions regarding the American role in spreading disinformation. - According to Politico, the US State Department asked embassies in several European countries and at the EU to convey Washington's concerns. It also wanted to find out whether participating governments agreed that the US is a FIMI actor (i.e., a source of foreign information manipulation and interference).

Which sessions caused displeasure - A session titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" featuring two American researchers and a former CIA employee. It examined how the US has become a source of disinformation threats to Europe. - A session on how the community of disinformation fighters is coping with pressure from the US authorities. Lawyers were scheduled to assess the threat of entry bans imposed by the US against European figures.

Official explanations - Lithuania: it canceled its participation because several parts of the program diverge from the government's official stance. - Canada: following changes in the framing of several panel discussions, Global Affairs Canada decided to reassess its participation in those sessions. Canadian officials are still continuing to participate in the conference. - EU: participants told The Globe and Mail that the EEAS withdrew its sponsorship.

Details and criticism - The logos of the EEAS, Canada, and Lithuania disappeared from the event's website, and on printed materials they were covered with white stickers. - There is also an inconsistency in the official explanations. The program was published back in June, months before the withdrawal of support. - A context of relations with the US is also possible. Shortly before this, the Prime Minister of Lithuania met with an American envoy and asked for a permanent US military base in the country. However, sources do not prove a direct connection.

The conference organizer is the Brussels-based NGO EU DisinfoLab. The organizers declined to comment.

Original text

Коротко: по сообщениям Politico, The Guardian и других СМИ, ЕС, Канада и Литва отозвали поддержку после давления администрации США. Поводом стала программа конференции: в ней были сессии о роли самих США в дезинформации.

Что произошло - МИД Литвы, Канада и Европейская служба внешних действий (ЕСВД) отозвали поддержку конференции по дезинформации в Вильнюсе. Давление, как сообщается, последовало после того, как организаторы объявили сессии об американской роли в распространении дезинформации. - По данным Politico, Госдепартамент США попросил посольства в нескольких европейских странах и при ЕС изложить обеспокоенность Вашингтона. Он также хотел выяснить, согласны ли участвующие правительства с тем, что США — это FIMI-актор (то есть источник иностранного манипулирования информацией и вмешательства).

Какие сессии вызвали недовольство - Сессия «USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back» с двумя американскими исследователями и бывшим сотрудником ЦРУ. Она разбирала, как США стали источником дезинформационной угрозы для Европы. - Сессия о том, как сообщество борцов с дезинформацией справляется с давлением властей США. Юристы должны были оценить угрозу запретов на въезд, которые США вводят против европейских фигур.

Официальные объяснения - Литва: она отменила участие, так как несколько частей программы расходятся с официальной позицией правительства. - Канада: после изменений в подаче нескольких панельных дискуссий Global Affairs Canada решило пересмотреть своё участие в этих сессиях. Канадские чиновники всё же продолжают участвовать в конференции. - ЕС: участники рассказали The Globe and Mail, что ЕСВД отозвала спонсорство.

Детали и критика - Логотипы ЕСВД, Канады и Литвы исчезли с сайта мероприятия, а на печатных материалах их закрыли белыми наклейками. - Есть и неувязка в официальных объяснениях. Программа была опубликована ещё в июне, то есть за месяцы до отзыва поддержки. - Возможен и контекст отношений с США. Незадолго до этого премьер-министр Литвы встречался с американским посланником и просил о постоянной американской военной базе в стране. Прямой связи источники при этом не доказывают.

Организатор конференции — брюссельская НКО EU DisinfoLab. Организаторы отказались от комментариев.

Russian — answer round 3

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU withdraws conference support after US approaches governments - EU withdraws conference support after US approaches governments - EU, Canada, and Lithuania Drop Official Sponsorship of #Disinfo2026 - Time News - EU, Lithuania, Canada withdraw from disinformation conference after US pressure - EU, Canada and Lithuania drop sponsorship of disinformation conference - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign-interference actor - The Globe and Mail

English translation

Short answer: according to reports by Politico, The Guardian, and other outlets, they did this following pressure from the US administration. The pretext was conference sessions where the US was viewed as a source of disinformation.

What happened - The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, Canada, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) withdrew their support for a disinformation conference in Vilnius. The pressure allegedly began after the organizers announced sessions on the US role in spreading disinformation. - According to Politico, the US State Department asked embassies in several European countries and the EU representation to convey Washington's concerns. It also wanted to find out whether participating governments agreed that the US is a FIMI actor (a source of foreign information manipulation and interference).

Which sessions caused displeasure - One was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back." It featured two American researchers and a former CIA employee. - Another was titled "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure." During this session, lawyers were to assess the threat of US entry bans for European figures.

Official explanations - Lithuania: The Foreign Ministry stated that it was canceling its participation because several parts of the program diverged from the government's official position. - Canada: A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said that following changes to how several panel discussions were framed, the department decided to reassess its participation in those sessions. Canadian officials nonetheless remained at the conference. - EU: The EEAS revoked its official support for the conference.

Details to consider - The logos of the three sponsors disappeared from the event's website, and on printed materials they were covered with white stickers. - The official explanations look questionable: the program had been known since June, months before the withdrawal of support. - Archyde notes that Lithuania's move coincided in time with its request to the US for a permanent military base. This is context, not a proven cause: the Prime Minister of Lithuania met with the US envoy and asked for such a base, and Trump said he would consider the proposal.

The organizers, EU DisinfoLab, declined to comment to The Globe and Mail. Information about US pressure relies on media publications citing sources. Officially, governments speak only of the program not aligning with their positions.

Original text

Короткий ответ: по сообщениям Politico, The Guardian и других изданий, они сделали это после давления администрации США. Поводом стали сессии программы, где США рассматривались как источник дезинформации.

Что произошло - МИД Литвы, Канада и Европейская служба внешних действий (ЕСВД) сняли поддержку конференции по дезинформации в Вильнюсе. Давление якобы началось после того, как организаторы объявили сессии об американской роли в распространении дезинформации. - По данным Politico, Госдепартамент США попросил посольства в нескольких европейских странах и представительство в ЕС изложить обеспокоенность Вашингтона. Он также хотел выяснить, согласны ли участвующие правительства с тем, что США — это FIMI-актор (источник иностранного манипулирования информацией и вмешательства).

Какие сессии вызвали недовольство - Одна называлась «USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back». В ней участвовали два американских исследователя и бывший сотрудник ЦРУ. - Другая называлась «Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure». На ней юристы должны были оценить угрозу запретов на въезд в США для европейских деятелей.

Официальные объяснения - Литва: МИД заявил, что отменяет участие, так как несколько частей программы расходятся с официальной позицией правительства. - Канада: представитель Global Affairs Canada сказал, что после изменения подачи нескольких панельных дискуссий ведомство решило пересмотреть участие в этих сессиях. Канадские официальные лица всё же остались на конференции. - ЕС: ЕСВД отозвала официальную поддержку конференции.

Детали, которые стоит учесть - Логотипы трёх спонсоров исчезли с сайта мероприятия, а на печатных материалах их закрыли белыми наклейками. - Официальные объяснения выглядят спорно: программа была известна с июня, то есть за месяцы до отзыва поддержки. - Archyde отмечает, что шаг Литвы совпал по времени с её просьбой к США о постоянной военной базе. Это контекст, а не доказанная причина: премьер-министр Литвы встретился с американским посланником и попросил такую базу, а Трамп сказал, что рассмотрит предложение.

Организаторы, EU DisinfoLab, отказались от комментариев The Globe and Mail. Сведения о давлении США опираются на публикации СМИ со ссылкой на источники. Официально правительства говорят лишь о несоответствии программы их позициям.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash

Repeated check: no difference in 2 answer rounds. The report shows answer round 1.

English — answer round 1

Web access: Used — OpenRouter search

Sources returned by search: - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation ... - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure - POLITICO - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - European Union/Lithuania/United States • Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 conference in Vilnius - US pressure strips sponsors from a disinformation conference - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure - POLITICO - US lobbies allies to cut ties to anti-disinformation conference over panel critical of Washington, sources say | International - US lobbies allies to cut ties to anti-disinformation conference over panel critical of Washington, sources say | National/World | centraloregondaily.com - US pressures European allies and Canada to withdraw support for Vilnius disinformation summit · Pollar

English translation

I'll look into this.## Short answer

They pulled their official sponsorship/branding from #Disinfo2026 — the annual counter-disinformation conference organized by the Brussels-based non-profit EU DisinfoLab, held in Vilnius on October 7–8, 2026 — after pressure from the Trump administration's State Department, which objected to conference panels that framed the United States itself as a "FIMI" actor (foreign information manipulation and interference).

What triggered it

The program (public since at least September 9) included sessions such as:

• "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" — described by organizers as covering "one of the most uncomfortable questions in the counter-disinformation field today: how did the United States become a FIMI threat for Europe?" It featured American researchers and a former CIA officer, and followed a scheduled address by an International Criminal Court judge who had been sanctioned by the U.S.
• "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure" — examining U.S. entry bans targeting European figures.
• An Arctic/Greenland panel on "growing evidence that the United States has, in specific Arctic contexts, operated as a FIMI actor."

The U.S. pressure campaign

• Per a State Department cable seen by POLITICO and reporting by Reuters and The Guardian, Washington instructed U.S. embassies in several European countries and to the EU to express concerns and "assess" whether host governments agreed with labeling the U.S. a FIMI actor.
• State Department officials spent several days lobbying counterparts in Lithuania, Canada and France; U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald was involved in the outreach to Vilnius, along with the office of the Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy.
• The U.S. argued that equating America with adversaries like Russia and China created a false equivalence that obscured the real scale of Russian and Chinese interference. The State Department said such language "undermines shared goals," and that it "should not be a surprise that countries would disaffiliate from this conference upon learning that it labeled the U.S. a 'FIMI threat.'"
• The episode was also preceded by hostile online attention, including an investigation by an influential MAGA-aligned blogger and coordinated social media attacks on the conference.

How each backer responded

Notable details

• On printed conference materials, staff placed white stickers over the Canadian, Lithuanian and EU logos; France was the only major sponsor left visible.
• The withdrawals were largely about branding and public association rather than a clean break: the EU reportedly continued funding the conference even after removing its logo, and Canadian officials kept attending (just not chairing panels). Lithuania went furthest, cancelling participation outright.
• Organizers (EU DisinfoLab) declined to comment; participants described the three governments' withdrawal as a "shock" and questioned whether they had been pressured.
• Notably, the panel descriptions had been unchanged since September 9 according to the Internet Archive, which undercuts the "changes to the framing" explanation offered by Canada and the EU.

In essence: the three backers distanced themselves because Washington objected to the conference treating the U.S. as a disinformation threat — a striking example of transatlantic friction over counter-disinformation work during the second Trump administration.

Original text

I'll look into this.## Short answer

They pulled their official sponsorship/branding from #Disinfo2026 — the annual counter-disinformation conference organized by the Brussels-based non-profit EU DisinfoLab, held in Vilnius on October 7–8, 2026 — after pressure from the Trump administration's State Department, which objected to conference panels that framed the United States itself as a "FIMI" actor (foreign information manipulation and interference).

What triggered it

The program (public since at least September 9) included sessions such as:

• "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" — described by organizers as covering "one of the most uncomfortable questions in the counter-disinformation field today: how did the United States become a FIMI threat for Europe?" It featured American researchers and a former CIA officer, and followed a scheduled address by an International Criminal Court judge who had been sanctioned by the U.S.
• "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure" — examining U.S. entry bans targeting European figures.
• An Arctic/Greenland panel on "growing evidence that the United States has, in specific Arctic contexts, operated as a FIMI actor."

The U.S. pressure campaign

• Per a State Department cable seen by POLITICO and reporting by Reuters and The Guardian, Washington instructed U.S. embassies in several European countries and to the EU to express concerns and "assess" whether host governments agreed with labeling the U.S. a FIMI actor.
• State Department officials spent several days lobbying counterparts in Lithuania, Canada and France; U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald was involved in the outreach to Vilnius, along with the office of the Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy.
• The U.S. argued that equating America with adversaries like Russia and China created a false equivalence that obscured the real scale of Russian and Chinese interference. The State Department said such language "undermines shared goals," and that it "should not be a surprise that countries would disaffiliate from this conference upon learning that it labeled the U.S. a 'FIMI threat.'"
• The episode was also preceded by hostile online attention, including an investigation by an influential MAGA-aligned blogger and coordinated social media attacks on the conference.

How each backer responded

Notable details

• On printed conference materials, staff placed white stickers over the Canadian, Lithuanian and EU logos; France was the only major sponsor left visible.
• The withdrawals were largely about branding and public association rather than a clean break: the EU reportedly continued funding the conference even after removing its logo, and Canadian officials kept attending (just not chairing panels). Lithuania went furthest, cancelling participation outright.
• Organizers (EU DisinfoLab) declined to comment; participants described the three governments' withdrawal as a "shock" and questioned whether they had been pressured.
• Notably, the panel descriptions had been unchanged since September 9 according to the Internet Archive, which undercuts the "changes to the framing" explanation offered by Canada and the EU.

In essence: the three backers distanced themselves because Washington objected to the conference treating the U.S. as a disinformation threat — a striking example of transatlantic friction over counter-disinformation work during the second Trump administration.

English — answer round 2

Web access: Used — OpenRouter search

Sources returned by search: - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation ... - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - US pressure strips sponsors from a disinformation conference - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure - POLITICO - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - European Union/Lithuania/United States • Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 conference in Vilnius - US pressure strips sponsors from a disinformation conference

English translation

I'll search for information on this.## Short answer

The three sponsors pulled out after the Trump administration objected to conference panels that cast the United States itself as a disinformation threat. Under US diplomatic pressure, Canada, Lithuania and the EU's diplomatic service asked organizers to remove their logos from #Disinfo2026 — an annual counter-disinformation conference organized by the Brussels-based non-profit EU DisinfoLab and held in Vilnius on 7–8 October 2026.

What triggered it

The program included sessions describing the US as a "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI) actor:

• "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" — featuring two American researchers and a former CIA official, examining how the US had become a disinformation threat to Europe.
• "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure" — asking lawyers to assess US government entry bans targeting European figures.
• A panel framing "growing evidence that the United States has, in specific Arctic contexts, operated as a FIMI actor."

According to excerpts of a State Department cable seen by POLITICO, the Trump administration was bothered by this framing. The State Department asked US embassies in several European countries and to the EU to convey Washington's concerns and to "assess" whether the participating governments agreed with characterizing the US as a FIMI actor.

How the withdrawals unfolded

• Canada and Lithuania asked organizers on Monday to remove their ministries' logos from conference materials; the European External Action Service (EEAS) followed on Tuesday.
• Photos from the event showed sponsor displays with the Canadian, Lithuanian and EU diplomatic-service logos covered by white stickers. France remained the only major sponsor still listed.
• The State Department declined to discuss diplomatic conversations but said it "should not be a surprise that countries would disaffiliate from this conference upon learning that it labeled the U.S. a 'FIMI threat'."

The official explanations — and the pushback

Each sponsor gave a version of "the program doesn't match our official position," without naming the US panels specifically:

• Lithuania's Foreign Ministry: "Lithuania has cancelled its participation in 'Disinfo 2026' as several parts of the conference programme differ from the official position of the Government." Lithuania went furthest — it cancelled participation entirely.
• EEAS/EU spokesperson: the logo was removed because organizers "chose to frame some of the discussions in a way which does not align with the official positions held by the EU." Notably, the EU reportedly continued funding the conference even after dropping its branding.
• Global Affairs Canada (Samantha Lafleur): "Following changes to the framing of several panel discussions, GAC decided to revise its participation in those sessions." Canadian officials still attended but a GAC official (Saliou Babou, of Canada's Rapid Response Mechanism) pulled out of chairing an Arctic disinformation session.

That "changed framing" justification has been questioned: the panel descriptions had reportedly been online since June, and the Wednesday panel's description appears unchanged since at least 9 September — months before the sponsors withdrew. Reporting also notes an investigation by an influential MAGA blogger and social-media attacks preceded the pullouts, and that two of the three withdrawing sponsors (EU and Canada) retained a working tie to the event.

In short: the withdrawals were driven by US government pressure over panels labeling the United States a "FIMI threat," with the sponsors publicly attributing their exits to a mismatch between the program's framing and their official positions.

Original text

I'll search for information on this.## Short answer

The three sponsors pulled out after the Trump administration objected to conference panels that cast the United States itself as a disinformation threat. Under US diplomatic pressure, Canada, Lithuania and the EU's diplomatic service asked organizers to remove their logos from #Disinfo2026 — an annual counter-disinformation conference organized by the Brussels-based non-profit EU DisinfoLab and held in Vilnius on 7–8 October 2026.

What triggered it

The program included sessions describing the US as a "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI) actor:

• "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" — featuring two American researchers and a former CIA official, examining how the US had become a disinformation threat to Europe.
• "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure" — asking lawyers to assess US government entry bans targeting European figures.
• A panel framing "growing evidence that the United States has, in specific Arctic contexts, operated as a FIMI actor."

According to excerpts of a State Department cable seen by POLITICO, the Trump administration was bothered by this framing. The State Department asked US embassies in several European countries and to the EU to convey Washington's concerns and to "assess" whether the participating governments agreed with characterizing the US as a FIMI actor.

How the withdrawals unfolded

• Canada and Lithuania asked organizers on Monday to remove their ministries' logos from conference materials; the European External Action Service (EEAS) followed on Tuesday.
• Photos from the event showed sponsor displays with the Canadian, Lithuanian and EU diplomatic-service logos covered by white stickers. France remained the only major sponsor still listed.
• The State Department declined to discuss diplomatic conversations but said it "should not be a surprise that countries would disaffiliate from this conference upon learning that it labeled the U.S. a 'FIMI threat'."

The official explanations — and the pushback

Each sponsor gave a version of "the program doesn't match our official position," without naming the US panels specifically:

• Lithuania's Foreign Ministry: "Lithuania has cancelled its participation in 'Disinfo 2026' as several parts of the conference programme differ from the official position of the Government." Lithuania went furthest — it cancelled participation entirely.
• EEAS/EU spokesperson: the logo was removed because organizers "chose to frame some of the discussions in a way which does not align with the official positions held by the EU." Notably, the EU reportedly continued funding the conference even after dropping its branding.
• Global Affairs Canada (Samantha Lafleur): "Following changes to the framing of several panel discussions, GAC decided to revise its participation in those sessions." Canadian officials still attended but a GAC official (Saliou Babou, of Canada's Rapid Response Mechanism) pulled out of chairing an Arctic disinformation session.

That "changed framing" justification has been questioned: the panel descriptions had reportedly been online since June, and the Wednesday panel's description appears unchanged since at least 9 September — months before the sponsors withdrew. Reporting also notes an investigation by an influential MAGA blogger and social-media attacks preceded the pullouts, and that two of the three withdrawing sponsors (EU and Canada) retained a working tie to the event.

In short: the withdrawals were driven by US government pressure over panels labeling the United States a "FIMI threat," with the sponsors publicly attributing their exits to a mismatch between the program's framing and their official positions.

French — answer round 1

Web access: Used — OpenRouter search

Sources returned by search: - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation ... - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 ... - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure - POLITICO - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that cites U.S. as ... - Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 ...

English translation

I will search for information on this topic.## What happened

The #Disinfo2026 conference is the 2026 edition of the annual conference held by EU DisinfoLab (a Brussels-based NGO), organized in Vilnius on October 7 and 8, 2026. Three institutional partners — the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Global Affairs Canada, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) — withdrew their support at the last minute, according to revelations by Politico (October 7, 2026), which were picked up by LRT, CBC, the Globe and Mail, and Intelligence Online.

The reason: American pressure

The trigger was the conference program, which featured several sessions presenting the United States as a "FIMI" actor (foreign information manipulation and interference), a term usually reserved for Russia, China, or Iran. Among the incriminated panels:

• "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back", featuring two American researchers and a former CIA officer, examining how the United States has become a disinformation threat to Europe;
• A session on evidence that the United States reportedly acted as a FIMI actor in the Arctic;
• A panel on how the anti-disinformation community handles pressure from the U.S. government, notably visa bans targeting European figures.

According to a State Department cable reviewed by Politico, the Trump administration had instructions sent to U.S. embassies in Europe and to the EU to express Washington's concerns and "assess" whether the governments participating in the conference endorsed this characterization of the United States as a FIMI actor.

The timeline of the withdrawal

1. Monday: Canada and Lithuania ask the organizers to remove their ministries' logos from the conference materials.
2. Tuesday: The EEAS (the EU's diplomatic service) does the same.
3. Visible result on-site: The logos of Canada, Lithuania, and the EU were covered with white stickers on the sponsor posters. France remained the only major sponsor displayed.

The official justifications

The three partners avoided explicitly mentioning American pressure:

• The EEAS and the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated they withdrew because certain parts of the program did not match their official positions, without specifying which ones.
• Global Affairs Canada, through its spokesperson Samantha Lafleur, cited discomfort with the "framing" of several panels: "Following changes in the framing of several roundtable discussions, Global Affairs decided to review its participation." Ottawa specified that it would remain present at the conference, but would no longer chair any sessions (notably the one on disinformation in the Arctic, which was to be moderated by Saliou Babou, director of the Rapid Response Mechanism).
• The State Department replied that it does not comment on diplomatic conversations, but that "it should not come as a surprise that countries are distancing themselves from this conference upon learning that it labeled the United States as a 'FIMI threat'."

Broader context

Intelligence Online adds that an investigation by an influential MAGA blogger and a campaign of attacks on social media against the conference preceded these withdrawals, suggesting a pressure campaign combining official diplomacy and media mobilization.

In summary: it is not a disagreement over the fight against disinformation itself, but the refusal to see the United States itself designated as a disinformation actor — under direct pressure from Washington — that led the EU, Canada, and Lithuania to withdraw their sponsorship.

Original text

Je vais rechercher des informations sur ce sujet.## Ce qui s'est passé

La conférence #Disinfo2026 est l'édition 2026 de la conférence annuelle d'EU DisinfoLab (ONG bruxelloise), organisée à Vilnius les 7 et 8 octobre 2026. Trois partenaires institutionnels — le ministère lituanien des Affaires étrangères, Affaires mondiales Canada et le Service européen pour l'action extérieure (SEAE) — ont retiré leur soutien à la dernière minute, selon les révélations de Politico (7 octobre 2026), reprises par LRT, CBC, le Globe and Mail et Intelligence Online.

La raison : la pression américaine

Le déclencheur est le programme de la conférence, qui comportait plusieurs sessions présentant les États-Unis comme un acteur de « FIMI » (foreign information manipulation and interference — manipulation et ingérence informationnelles étrangères), un terme habituellement réservé à la Russie, à la Chine ou à l'Iran. Parmi les panels incriminés :

• « USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back », avec deux chercheurs américains et un ancien officier de la CIA, examinant comment les États-Unis sont devenus une menace de désinformation pour l'Europe ;
• une session sur les preuves que les États-Unis auraient agi comme acteur FIMI dans l'Arctique ;
• un panel sur la manière dont la communauté anti-désinformation gère la pression du gouvernement américain, notamment les interdictions de visa visant des personnalités européennes.

Selon un câble du Département d'État consulté par Politico, l'administration Trump a fait envoyer aux ambassades américaines en Europe et auprès de l'UE des instructions pour exprimer les préoccupations de Washington et « évaluer » si les gouvernements participant à la conférence approuvaient cette caractérisation des États-Unis comme acteur FIMI.

La chronologie du retrait

1. Lundi : le Canada et la Lituanie demandent aux organisateurs de retirer les logos de leurs ministères des supports de la conférence.
2. Mardi : le SEAE (service diplomatique de l'UE) fait de même.
3. Résultat visible sur place : les logos du Canada, de la Lituanie et de l'UE ont été recouverts de stickers blancs sur les affiches des sponsors. La France est restée le seul grand sponsor affiché.

Les justifications officielles

Les trois partenaires ont évité de mentionner explicitement la pression américaine :

• Le SEAE et le ministère lituanien des Affaires étrangères ont déclaré s'être retirés parce que certaines parties du programme ne correspondaient pas à leurs positions officielles, sans préciser lesquelles.
• Affaires mondiales Canada a invoqué, par la voix de sa porte-parole Samantha Lafleur, un malaise face au « cadrage » de plusieurs panels : « À la suite de changements dans le cadrage de plusieurs tables rondes, Affaires mondiales a décidé de réviser sa participation. » Ottawa a précisé qu'il resterait présent à la conférence, mais ne présiderait plus aucune session (notamment celle sur la désinformation dans l'Arctique, qui devait être animée par Saliou Babou, directeur du Mécanisme de réponse rapide).
• Le Département d'État a répondu qu'il ne commentait pas les conversations diplomatiques, mais qu'« il ne devrait pas être surprenant que des pays se désolidarisent de cette conférence en apprenant qu'elle qualifiait les États-Unis de "menace FIMI" ».

Contexte plus large

Intelligence Online ajoute qu'une enquête d'un blogueur MAGA influent et une campagne d'attaques sur les réseaux sociaux contre la conférence ont précédé ces retraits, ce qui suggère une campagne de pression combinant diplomatie officielle et mobilisation médiatique.

En résumé : ce n'est pas un désaccord sur la lutte contre la désinformation en soi, mais le refus de voir les États-Unis eux-mêmes désignés comme acteur de désinformation — sous la pression directe de Washington — qui a conduit l'UE, le Canada et la Lituanie à se retirer du parrainage.

French — answer round 2

Web access: Used — OpenRouter search

Sources returned by search: - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation ... - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - European Union/Lithuania/United States • Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 conference in Vilnius - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure - POLITICO - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics - European Union/Lithuania/United States • Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 conference in Vilnius

English translation

What happened

The #Disinfo2026 conference, organized by the Brussels-based NGO EU DisinfoLab, was held in Vilnius on October 7 and 8, 2026. It brings together researchers, NGOs, think tanks, and public authorities working on disinformation and "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI).

Three major institutional supporters—the European External Action Service (EEAS), Canada (Global Affairs Canada), and the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs—withdrew their sponsorship at the last minute. Their logos were covered with white tape on the event's banners and printed materials. France remained the only major governmental sponsor.

The immediate cause: panels labeling the United States as a disinformation actor

The program included several sessions presenting Washington as a source of FIMI, notably: - a panel titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back", featuring two American researchers and a former CIA officer; - a session on "growing" evidence that the United States has, in certain Arctic contexts, acted as a FIMI actor.

The role of American pressure

According to a State Department cable seen by POLITICO, the Trump administration pressured EU, Canadian, and Lithuanian diplomats:

• the State Department asked U.S. embassies in several European countries and at the EU to express Washington's concerns and "assess" whether the governments in question subscribed to the characterization of the United States as a FIMI actor;
• Canada and Lithuania asked the organizers on Monday to remove their logos; the EEAS followed on Tuesday.

When questioned, the State Department stated that it does not comment on diplomatic conversations, but that "it should come as no surprise that countries would disassociate themselves from this conference upon learning that it labeled the United States a 'FIMI threat'."

Intelligence Online adds that an investigation by an influential MAGA blogger and attacks on social media preceded these withdrawals.

The official (more cautious) justifications

The three institutions did not publicly

Original text

Ce qui s'est passé

La conférence #Disinfo2026, organisée par l'ONG bruxelloise EU DisinfoLab, se tenait à Vilnius les 7 et 8 octobre 2026. Elle réunit chercheurs, ONG, think tanks et autorités publiques travaillant sur la désinformation et la « manipulation de l'information et ingérence étrangères » (FIMI).

Trois soutiens institutionnels majeurs — le Service européen pour l'action extérieure (SEAE), le Canada (Affaires mondiales Canada) et le ministère lituanien des Affaires étrangères — ont retiré leur parrainage à la dernière minute. Leurs logos ont été recouverts de bandes blanches sur les bannières et supports imprimés du événement. La France est restée le seul grand sponsor gouvernemental.

La cause immédiate : des panels désignant les États-Unis comme acteur de désinformation

Le programme comportait plusieurs sessions présentant Washington comme une source de FIMI, notamment : - un panel intitulé « USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back », avec deux chercheurs américains et un ancien officier de la CIA ; - une session sur les preuves « croissantes » que les États-Unis ont, dans certains contextes arctiques, agi comme acteur de FIMI.

Le rôle de la pression américaine

Selon un câble du Département d'État consulté par POLITICO, l'administration Trump a fait pression sur les diplomates de l'UE, du Canada et de la Lituanie :

• le Département d'État a demandé aux ambassades américaines dans plusieurs pays européens et auprès de l'UE d'exprimer les préoccupations de Washington et d'« évaluer » si les gouvernements concernés souscrivaient à la caractérisation des États-Unis comme acteur de FIMI ;
• le Canada et la Lituanie ont demandé lundi aux organisateurs de retirer leurs logos ; le SEAE a suivi mardi.

Interrogé, le Département d'État a déclaré qu'il ne commentait pas les conversations diplomatiques, mais qu'« il ne devrait pas être surprenant que des pays se désolidarisent de cette conférence en apprenant qu'elle qualifiait les États-Unis de "menace FIMI" ».

Intelligence Online ajoute qu'une enquête d'un blogueur MAGA influent et des attaques sur les réseaux sociaux ont précédé ces retraits.

Les justifications officielles (plus prudentes)

Les trois institutions n'ont pas invoqué publiquement la pression américaine, mais le cadrage du programme :

• SEAE : a demandé le retrait de son logo « au vu du contenu du programme », les organisateurs ayant cadré certaines discussions d'une manière qui « ne correspond pas aux positions officielles de l'UE » ;
• Affaires mondiales Canada : « à la suite de modifications du cadrage de plusieurs panels, AMC a décidé de réviser sa participation à ces sessions ». Des fonctionnaires canadiens sont restés présents, mais Saliou Babou, directeur de l'unité « Mécanisme de réponse rapide », a renoncé à présider une session sur la désinformation dans l'Arctique ;
• Lituanie : le ministère a indiqué que certaines parties du programme ne correspondaient pas à ses positions officielles, sans préciser lesquelles.

Points d'incertitude

• On ne sait pas si les trois partenaires ont retiré leur soutien financier ou se sont seulement distanciés publiquement : le SEAE a continué à présenter ses travaux lors de la conférence.
• Les organisateurs (EU DisinfoLab) n'ont pas commenté.
• La France, de son côté, a réaffirmé son soutien à la conférence et au rôle de la société civile dans la lutte contre la manipulation de l'information.

Sources : POLITICO (7 oct. 2026), CBC News, LRT (anglais), The Globe and Mail, Tech Policy Press, Intelligence Online.

Lithuanian — answer round 1

Web access: Used — OpenRouter search

Sources returned by search: - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation ... - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that cites U.S. as ... - European Union/Lithuania/United States • Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 conference in Vilnius - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Konferencijoje Vilniuje – ažiotažas dėl JAV spaudimo - Delfi - Po žinios apie JAV spaudimą pasitraukti iš konferencijos ... - Lietuvai ir ES – akibrokštas iš JAV: privertė pasitraukti iš konferencijos Vilniuje

English translation

Trump Administration Pressure Over the Portrayal of the US as a "FIMI" Actor

What Happened

At the annual conference of the Brussels-based NGO "EU DisinfoLab", #Disinfo2026, held in Vilnius on October 7–8, 2026, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Global Affairs Canada, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) withdrew their support and asked for their logos to be removed from the event materials. Photographs showed that the logos of the Canadian, Lithuanian, and EU diplomatic services on the conference stands had been covered with white labels. The French government remained the sole main sponsor.

The Direct Cause – The Conference Programme

The programme included sessions describing the US as a "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI) actor. One of them was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" (USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back), featuring two American researchers and a former CIA officer. Another session was dedicated to "growing evidence that the US acted as a FIMI actor in certain Arctic contexts."

US Pressure

According to a US State Department diplomatic cable seen by Politico, the Trump administration exerted pressure on EU, Canadian, and Lithuanian diplomats: - The State Department asked US embassies in several European countries and to the EU to convey Washington's concerns and "assess" whether governments participating in the conference endorsed the characterization of the US as a FIMI actor. - Senior State Department officials contacted Canadian officials directly. - According to Reuters sources, those involved in the persuasion included US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald. - According to Intelligence Online, the conference had previously been criticized by an influential MAGA blogger, and attacks had begun on social media.

Chronology: Canada and Lithuania asked to have their ministries' logos removed on Monday, and the EEAS did the same on Tuesday – just before the start of the conference.

Official Explanations

Publicly, the institutions cited the programme content rather than US pressure: - Lithuanian MFA: withdrew after it became clear that "some parts of the programme do not align with the Government's positions and Lithuania's national interests." Minister Kęstutis Budrys said that the organizers "went too far and made a huge mistake," emphasizing that it is undesirable for the fight against disinformation to be "distorted into an anti-American narrative that weakens ties with our allies." The MFA did not confirm whether the decision was related to US pressure. - Canada (Global Affairs): spokesperson Samantha Lafleur stated that following several changes to the framing of the discussions, the institution "decided to adjust its participation"; Canadian officials remained at the event but no longer chaired the sessions. GAC official Saliou Babou declined to chair the Arctic disinformation session. - EEAS: asked for the logo to be removed "in light of the programme content," as the organizers framed some discussions in a way that "does not align with official EU positions."

US Position

The State Department said it could not comment on the details of diplomatic conversations, but stated that "it should come as no surprise that countries are distancing themselves from this conference upon learning that it labeled the US a 'FIMI threat'."

Summary

Formally, Lithuania, Canada, and the EU stated they withdrew because parts of the conference programme did not align with their official positions – specifically regarding the portrayal of the US as a disinformation threat. However, journalistic investigations (Politico, Reuters, CBC, LRT) indicate that the decisive factor was diplomatic pressure exerted by the US administration to prevent allies from associating with an event criticizing the US.

Original text

Trumpo administracijos spaudimas dėl JAV vaizdavimo kaip „FIMI“ veikėjo

Kas nutiko

2026 m. spalio 7–8 d. Vilniuje vykusioje kasmetinėje Briuselio nevyriausybinės organizacijos „EU DisinfoLab“ konferencijoje #Disinfo2026 Lietuvos užsienio reikalų ministerija, Kanados „Global Affairs“ ir ES išorės veiksmų tarnyba (EIVT) atsiėmė savo paramą ir paprašė pašalinti jų logotipus iš renginio medžiagos. Nuotraukose matėsi, kad konferencijos stenduose Kanados, Lietuvos ir ES diplomatinių tarnybų logotipai buvo užklijuoti baltomis etiketėmis. Vienintele pagrindine rėmėja liko Prancūzijos vyriausybė.

Tiesioginė priežastis – konferencijos programa

Programoje buvo numatytos sesijos, kuriose JAV apibūdinama kaip „užsienio informacijos manipuliavimo ir kišimosi“ (FIMI) veikėjas. Viena jų vadinosi „USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back“ (JAV kaip FIMI grėsmė: pripažinti, prisitaikyti, atremti), joje kalbėjo du amerikiečių tyrėjai ir buvęs CŽV pareigūnas. Kita sesija buvo skirta „augantiems įrodymams, kad JAV tam tikruose Arkties kontekstuose veikė kaip FIMI veikėjas“.

JAV spaudimas

Pasak „Politico“ matyto JAV Valstybės departamento diplomatinio pranešimo (telegramos), Trumpo administracija darė spaudimą ES, Kanados ir Lietuvos diplomatams: - Valstybės departamentas paprašė JAV ambasadų keliose Europos šalyse ir prie ES pareikšti Vašingtono susirūpinimą ir „įvertinti“, ar konferencijoje dalyvaujančios vyriausybės pritaria JAV apibūdinimui kaip FIMI veikėjui. - Aukšto rango Valstybės departamento pareigūnai tiesiogiai susisiekė su Kanados pareigūnais. - Pasak „Reuters“ šaltinių, tarp įtikinėjusiųjų buvo ir JAV ambasadorė Lietuvoje Kara McDonald. - Pasak „Intelligence Online“, prieš tai konferenciją kritikavo įtakingas MAGA tinklaraštininkas ir socialiniuose tinkluose prasidėjo atakos.

Chronologija: Kanada ir Lietuva pirmadienį paprašė pašalinti jų ministerijų logotipus, EIVT tą patį padarė antradienį – prieš pat konferencijos pradžią.

Oficialūs paaiškinimai

Institucijos viešai nurodė ne JAV spaudimą, o programos turinį: - Lietuvos URM: pasitraukė, kai paaiškėjo, kad „kai kurios programos dalys neatitinka Vyriausybės pozicijų ir Lietuvos nacionalinių interesų“. Ministras Kęstutis Budrys sakė, kad organizatoriai „perlenkė lazdą ir padarė didžiulę klaidą“, ir pabrėžė, jog nepageidaujama, kad kovos su dezinformacija tema būtų „iškreipta į antiamerikietišką naratyvą, silpninantį ryšius su mūsų sąjungininkais“. URM nepatvirtino, ar sprendimas susijęs su JAV spaudimu. - Kanada (Global Affairs): atstovė Samantha Lafleur teigė, kad po kelių diskusijų rėminimo pakeitimų institucija „nusprendė pakoreguoti savo dalyvavimą“; Kanados pareigūnai renginyje liko, bet nebe pirmininkavo sesijoms. GAC pareigūnas Saliou Babou atsisakė pirmininkauti Arkties dezinformacijos sesijai. - EIVT: paprašė pašalinti logotipą „atsižvelgiant į programos turinį“, nes organizatoriai kai kurias diskusijas surezgė taip, kad jos „neatitinka oficialių ES pozicijų“.

JAV pozicija

Valstybės departamentas sakė negalintis komentuoti diplomatinių pokalbių detalių, bet teigė, kad „neturėtų stebinti, jog šalys atsiriboja nuo šios konferencijos sužinojusios, kad joje JAV pavadinta ‚FIMI grėsme‘“.

Apibendrinimas

Formaliai Lietuva, Kanada ir ES nurodė pasitraukusios dėl to, kad konferencijos programos dalys neatitiko jų oficialių pozicijų – konkrečiai dėl JAV vaizdavimo kaip dezinformacijos grėsmės. Tačiau žurnalistiniai tyrimai (Politico, Reuters, CBC, LRT) rodo, kad lemiamas veiksnys buvo JAV administracijos daromas diplomatinis spaudimas, siekiant, kad sąjungininkai neasocijuotųsi su renginiu, kuriame kritikuojama JAV.

Lithuanian — answer round 2

Web access: Used — OpenRouter search

Sources returned by search: - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure - POLITICO - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - European Union/Lithuania/United States • Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 conference in Vilnius - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Konferencijoje Vilniuje – ažiotažas dėl JAV spaudimo - Delfi - ES neigia atšaukusi paramą konferencijai dėl JAV spaudimo - Delfi - Lietuvai ir ES – akibrokštas iš JAV: privertė pasitraukti iš konferencijos Vilniuje

English translation

Trump Administration Pressure Regarding the Portrayal of the US as a "FIMI" Actor

According to reports by Politico, CBC, LRT, and other publications, the primary reason is pressure from the US State Department. The program for the "#Disinfo2026" conference (the annual EU DisinfoLab conference held in Vilnius on October 7–8) featured sessions describing the United States as a "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI) actor. One session was titled "The US as a FIMI Threat: Recognize, Adapt, Push Back," while another discussed "growing evidence that the US has acted as a FIMI actor in certain Arctic contexts."

The State Department sent a diplomatic cable to US embassies in several European countries and the EU, asking them to express Washington's concerns and "assess" whether governments participating in the conference endorsed such a characterization of the US. High-ranking State Department global public diplomacy officials also contacted Canadian officials directly.

Chronology

• On Monday, Canada and Lithuania asked the organizers to remove their ministries' logos from the conference materials.
• On Tuesday, the EU diplomatic service (EEAS) did the same.
• At the conference booths, the logos of Canada, Lithuania, and the EU were covered with white stickers; France remained the only major sponsor.

Official Explanations

Institutions officially pointed to the program's content rather than US pressure:

• Lithuanian MFA: withdrew after it became clear that "certain parts of the program do not align with the Government's positions and Lithuania's national interests." Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys said that the organizers "overstepped and made a huge mistake," emphasizing that in the future it is necessary to ensure that the topic of countering disinformation is not turned into an anti-American narrative that weakens ties with allies.
• Canada (Global Affairs): spokesperson Samantha Lafleur stated that after several discussion topics were reformulated, GAC "reassessed its participation"; Canadian officials remained at the conference but no longer moderated discussions (Saliou Babou declined to chair the Arctic disinformation session).
• EU / EEAS: spokesperson Christian Wigand denied that support was withdrawn due to US pressure – the logo was removed because "the organizers decided to present some discussions in a way that does not correspond to official EU positions." He declined to comment on whether US officials had been spoken to on this matter.

Context

Intelligence Online reported that prior to these withdrawals, there was an investigation by an influential MAGA camp blogger and social media attacks against the conference. For its part, the State Department stated that "it should come as no surprise that countries are distancing themselves from the conference upon learning that the US was called a 'FIMI threat' there."

In summary: publicly, Lithuania, Canada, and the EU cited the program's content as the reason for withdrawal, but journalistic investigations (a diplomatic cable obtained by Politico) indicate that pressure from the US administration regarding the portrayal of the US as a source of disinformation played a decisive role.

Original text

Trumpo administracijos spaudimas dėl JAV vaizdavimo kaip „FIMI“ veikėjo

Remiantis „Politico“, CBC, LRT ir kitų leidinių pranešimais, pagrindinė priežastis – JAV Valstybės departamento spaudimas. Konferencijos „#Disinfo2026“ (kasmetinė „EU DisinfoLab“ konferencija, vykusi Vilniuje spalio 7–8 d.) programoje buvo sesijų, kuriose Jungtinės Valstijos apibūdinamos kaip „užsienio informacijos manipuliavimo ir kišimosi“ (FIMI) veikėjas. Viena sesija vadinosi „JAV kaip FIMI grėsmė: pripažinti, prisitaikyti, duoti atkirtį“, kitoje buvo kalbama apie „augančius įrodymus, kad JAV tam tikruose Arkties kontekstuose veikė kaip FIMI veikėjas“.

Valstybės departamentas išsiuntė diplomatinę telegramą JAV ambasadoms keliose Europos šalyse ir ES, prašydamas išreikšti Vašingtono susirūpinimą ir „įvertinti“, ar konferencijoje dalyvaujančios vyriausybės pritaria tokiam JAV apibūdinimui. Aukšto rango Valstybės departamento pasaulinės viešosios diplomatijos pareigūnai tiesiogiai susisiekė ir su Kanados pareigūnais.

Chronologija

• Pirmadienį Kanada ir Lietuva paprašė organizatorių pašalinti jų ministerijų logotipus iš konferencijos medžiagos.
• Antradienį tą patį padarė ES diplomatinė tarnyba (EIVT).
• Konferencijos stenduose Kanados, Lietuvos ir ES logotipai buvo užklijuoti baltomis etiketėmis; vieninteliu dideliu rėmėju liko Prancūzija.

Oficialūs paaiškinimai

Institucijos oficialiai nurodė programos turinį, o ne JAV spaudimą:

• Lietuvos URM: pasitraukė, kai paaiškėjo, kad „tam tikros programos dalys neatitinka Vyriausybės pozicijų ir Lietuvos nacionalinių interesų“. Užsienio reikalų ministras Kęstutis Budrys sakė, kad organizatoriai „persistengė ir padarė didžiulę klaidą“, ir pabrėžė, jog ateityje reikia užtikrinti, kad kovos su dezinformacija tema nebūtų paversta antiamerikietišku naratyvu, silpninančiu ryšius su sąjungininkais.
• Kanada (Global Affairs): atstovė Samantha Lafleur teigė, kad po kelių diskusijų temų performulavimo GAC „peržiūrėjo savo dalyvavimą“; Kanados pareigūnai konferencijoje liko, bet nebevedė diskusijų (Saliou Babou atsisakė pirmininkauti Arkties dezinformacijos sesijai).
• ES / EIVT: atstovas Christian Wigand neigė, kad parama atsiimta dėl JAV spaudimo – logotipas pašalintas, nes „organizatoriai nusprendė kai kurias diskusijas pristatyti taip, kad tai neatitinka oficialių ES pozicijų“. Jis atsisakė komentuoti, ar šiuo klausimu buvo kalbėtasi su JAV pareigūnais.

Kontekstas

„Intelligence Online“ pranešė, kad prieš šiuos pasitraukimus vyko įtakingo MAGA stovyklos tinklaraštininko tyrimas ir socialinių tinklų atakos prieš konferenciją. Valstybės departamentas savo ruožtu pareiškė, kad „neturėtų stebinti, jog šalys atsiriboja nuo konferencijos, sužinojusios, kad joje JAV pavadinta ‚FIMI grėsme‘“.

Apibendrinant: viešai Lietuva, Kanada ir ES nurodė programos turinį kaip pasitraukimo priežastį, tačiau žurnalistiniai tyrimai („Politico“ gauta diplomatinė telegrama) rodo, kad lemiamą vaidmenį suvaidino JAV administracijos spaudimas dėl JAV vaizdavimo kaip dezinformacijos šaltinio.

Russian — answer round 1

Web access: Used — OpenRouter search

Sources returned by search: - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - „Politico“: dėl JAV spaudimo Lietuva, ES ir Kanada nerems dezinformacijos konferencijos - LRT - ЄС, Канада та Литва відмовилися від участі в конференції з дезінформації під тиском США | Європейська правда - European Union/Lithuania/United States • Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 conference in Vilnius - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation ... - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 ...

English translation

In short

Formally, the EU, Canada, and Lithuania explained their withdrawal of support by stating that the wording of part of the program did not align with their official positions. However, according to Politico data (cited by LRT, CBC, The Globe and Mail), the decisive factor was pressure from the Trump administration: the conference program described the US as a subject of "Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference" (FIMI) — alongside Russia and China.

What happened

The conference. #Disinfo2026 is an annual conference by EU DisinfoLab (a Brussels-based NGO), held on October 7–8, 2026, in Vilnius. The sessions included, in particular: - "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" — about how the US has become a disinformation threat to Europe; - "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure" — about pressure from US authorities, including entry bans for European experts; - A panel on how the US "acted as a FIMI actor in certain Arctic contexts."

Washington's reaction. The State Department sent a cable to US embassies in several European countries and to the EU, asking them to express Washington's concern and to "assess" whether the participating governments agreed with characterizing the US as a FIMI actor. The cable called this a "false equivalence" that "obscures the scale and nature of Russian and Chinese interference."

Withdrawal of support. Canada and Lithuania asked the organizers on Monday to remove their ministries' logos from conference materials, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) did so on Tuesday. On the stands, the logos of Canada, Lithuania, and the EU were covered with white stickers; France remained the only major sponsor.

Official explanations from the parties

• EEAS: The logo was removed because "the organizers decided to present certain discussions in a way that does not correspond to the official positions of the EU."
• Lithuanian MFA: "Certain parts of the program did not correspond to the positions of the government and the national interests of Lithuania"; Minister Kęstutis Budrys said that the organizers "went too far and made a huge mistake," and that he is "surprised and shocked" by putting the US in the same category as Russia and China.
• Global Affairs Canada: "Following changes in the presentation of several panel discussions," the department reviewed its participation; Canadian official Saliu Babu refused to chair the Arctic session. At the same time, Canada stated that it respects the organizers' right to define the framework of discussions themselves.
• State Department: "It should come as no surprise that countries distanced themselves from the conference upon learning that the US was called a 'FIMI threat' at it."

Context

According to Intelligence Online, the withdrawal of support was preceded by an investigation by an influential MAGA blogger and social media attacks on the conference. The organizers declined to comment. Participants (for example, American Sunlight Project researcher Ben Schultz) called the simultaneous exit of the three sponsors a "shock" and wondered if it was the result of pressure.

Bottom line: Publicly, all three parties cited the inconsistency of the program with their positions, but journalistic investigations indicate that the key reason was a US pressure campaign against characterizing Washington as a source of disinformation.

Original text

Коротко

Формально ЕС, Канада и Литва объяснили отзыв поддержки тем, что формулировки части программы не совпадали с их официальными позициями. Но, по данным Politico (на которые ссылаются LRT, CBC, The Globe and Mail), решающим фактором было давление администрации Трампа: в программе конференции США описывались как субъект «иностранной манипуляции информацией и вмешательства» (FIMI) — наравне с Россией и Китаем.

Что произошло

Конференция. #Disinfo2026 — ежегодная конференция EU DisinfoLab (брюссельская НКО), проходила 7–8 октября 2026 года в Вильнюсе. Среди сессий были, в частности: - «USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back» — о том, как США стали угрозой дезинформации для Европы; - «Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure» — о давлении американских властей, включая запреты на въезд для европейских экспертов; - панель о том, что США «в отдельных арктических контекстах действовали как FIMI-актор».

Реакция Вашингтона. Госдепартамент разослал телеграмму в посольства США в ряде европейских стран и в ЕС с просьбой выразить обеспокоенность Вашингтона и «оценить», согласны ли правительства-участники с характеристикой США как FIMI-актора. В телеграмме это называлось «ложной эквивалентностью», которая «затуманивает масштаб и характер российского и китайского вмешательства».

Отзыв поддержки. Канада и Литва в понедельник попросили организаторов убрать логотипы своих министерств из материалов конференции, Европейская служба внешних действий (EEAS) — во вторник. На стендах логотипы Канады, Литвы и ЕС были заклеены белыми стикерами; единственным крупным спонсором осталась Франция.

Официальные объяснения сторон

• EEAS: логотип убран, поскольку «организаторы решили подать некоторые дискуссии так, как это не соответствует официальным позициям ЕС».
• МИД Литвы: «отдельные части программы не соответствовали позициям правительства и национальным интересам Литвы»; министр Кястутис Будрис сказал, что организаторы «хватили через край и совершили огромную ошибку», и что он «удивлён и шокирован» постановкой США в одну категорию с Россией и Китаем.
• Global Affairs Canada: «после изменений в подаче нескольких панельных дискуссий» ведомство пересмотрело участие; канадский чиновник Салю Бабу отказался председательствовать на сессии по Арктике. Канада при этом заявила, что уважает право организаторов самим определять рамки дискуссий.
• Госдепартамент: «не должно быть сюрпризом, что страны дистанцировались от конференции, узнав, что на ней США названы "FIMI-угрозой"».

Контекст

По данным Intelligence Online, отзыву поддержки предшествовали расследование влиятельного MAGA-блогера и атаки в соцсетях на конференцию. Организаторы от комментариев отказались. Участники (например, исследователь American Sunlight Project Бен Шульц) называли одновременный выход трёх спонсоров «шоком» и задавались вопросом, не было ли это результатом давления.

Итог: публично все три стороны сослались на несоответствие программы их позициям, однако журналистские расследования указывают, что ключевой причиной была кампания давления США против характеристики Вашингтона как источника дезинформации.

Russian — answer round 2

Web access: Used — OpenRouter search

Sources returned by search: - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - „Politico“: dėl JAV spaudimo Lietuva, ES ir Kanada nerems dezinformacijos konferencijos - LRT - ЄС, Канада та Литва відмовилися від участі в конференції з дезінформації під тиском США | Європейська правда - Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 ... - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation ... - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 ...

English translation

In short

Formally — because the organizers included panels in the program where the US was described as a subject of "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI), meaning it was put on the same level as Russia and China. In fact, according to Politico, this happened following pressure from the Trump administration.

What kind of conference

Disinfo2026 is an annual conference on countering disinformation, organized by the Brussels-based NGO EU DisinfoLab, held on October 7–8, 2026, in Vilnius. Initially, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, Global Affairs Canada, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) were listed among the sponsors/supporters.

What caused the problem

The program featured sessions treating the US as a source of threat: - "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" — featuring two American researchers and a former CIA officer; - a panel on how the counter-disinformation community is responding to pressure from the US government (including entry bans for European figures); - a session on the "growing evidence" that the US acted as a FIMI actor in certain Arctic contexts.

The role of the US

According to Politico (based on a State Department cable): - The State Department sent a directive to US embassies in a number of European countries and to the EU to express Washington's concern and to "assess" whether participating governments agree with characterizing the US as a FIMI actor. - The cable called placing the US alongside "foreign adversaries such as Russia and China" a "false equivalence." - The State Department stated: "it should come as no surprise that countries are distancing themselves from this conference upon learning that it named the US a 'FIMI threat'."

Chronology of withdrawals

• Monday: Canada and Lithuania asked the organizers to remove the logos of their agencies from the conference materials.
• Tuesday: The EEAS did the same.
• On the conference display stands, the logos of Canada, Lithuania, and the EU were covered with white stickers; France remained the only major sponsor.

Official explanations from the parties

• EEAS and the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry: "parts of the program do not align with our official positions" — they did not specify which ones.
• Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys: the organizers "went too far and made a huge mistake"; he was "surprised and shocked" that the US was put in the same category as Russia and China. At the same time, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry did not confirm that the reason was US pressure, citing the program's inconsistency with national interests.
• Global Affairs Canada: "following changes in how several panel discussions were framed," the agency decided to reconsider participation in those sessions; a Canadian official (Saliou Babou, head of the Rapid Response Mechanism) declined to chair the session on the Arctic. Canada stated that it remains committed to combating disinformation and respects the organizers' right to shape the program.

Additional context

According to Intelligence Online, the withdrawal was preceded by an investigation by an influential MAGA blogger and social media attacks on the conference. The organizers (EU DisinfoLab) declined to comment.

Bottom line: three key partners withdrew from being supporters at the last moment — under US pressure, but publicly explaining it as disagreement with the program's wording.

Original text

Коротко

Формально — потому что организаторы включили в программу панели, где США описывались как субъект «иностранного информационного манипулирования и вмешательства» (FIMI), то есть ставились в один ряд с Россией и Китаем. Фактически, по данным Politico, это произошло после давления со стороны администрации Трампа.

Что за конференция

Disinfo2026 — ежегодная конференция по борьбе с дезинформацией, организованная брюссельской НКО EU DisinfoLab, проходила 7–8 октября 2026 года в Вильнюсе. Изначально в числе спонсоров/поддерживающих значились МИД Литвы, Global Affairs Canada и Европейская служба внешних действий (EEAS).

Что вызвало проблему

В программе были сессии, трактовавшие США как источник угрозы: - «USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back» — с участием двух американских исследователей и бывшего сотрудника ЦРУ; - панель о том, как сообщество по борьбе с дезинформацией реагирует на давление американского правительства (в т.ч. на запреты на въезд для европейских фигур); - сессия о «растущих свидетельствах», что США в отдельных арктических контекстах действовали как FIMI-актор.

Роль США

По данным Politico (на основе телеграммы Госдепа): - Госдепартамент разослал американским посольствам в ряде европейских стран и в ЕС указание выразить обеспокоенность Вашингтона и «оценить», согласны ли правительства-участники с характеристикой США как FIMI-актора. - В телеграмме постановка США рядом с «иностранными противниками, такими как Россия и Китай», называлась «ложной эквивалентностью». - Госдеп заявил: «не должно быть сюрпризом, что страны дистанцируются от этой конференции, узнав, что на ней США назвали "FIMI-угрозой"».

Хронология отказов

• Понедельник: Канада и Литва попросили организаторов убрать логотипы своих ведомств из материалов конференции.
• Вторник: то же сделала EEAS.
• На стендах конференции логотипы Канады, Литвы и ЕС были заклеены белыми стикерами; единственным крупным спонсором осталась Франция.

Официальные объяснения сторон

• EEAS и МИД Литвы: «части программы не соответствуют нашим официальным позициям» — какие именно, не уточнили.
• Глава МИД Литвы Кястутис Будрис: организаторы «хватили через край и совершили огромную ошибку»; он был «удивлён и шокирован» тем, что США поставили в одну категорию с Россией и Китаем. МИД Литвы при этом не подтвердил, что причиной было давление США, сославшись на несоответствие программы национальным интересам.
• Global Affairs Canada: «после изменений в подаче нескольких панельных дискуссий» ведомство решило пересмотреть участие в этих сессиях; канадский чиновник (Saliou Babou, глава Rapid Response Mechanism) отказался председательствовать на сессии по Арктике. Канада заявила, что остаётся привержена борьбе с дезинформацией и уважает право организаторов формировать программу.

Дополнительный контекст

По данным Intelligence Online, отказу предшествовали расследование влиятельного MAGA-блогера и атаки в соцсетях на конференцию. Организаторы (EU DisinfoLab) от комментариев отказались.

Итог: три ключевых партнёра вышли из числа поддерживающих на последний момент — под давлением США, но публично объясняя это несогласием с формулировками программы.

Gemini 3.8 Flash

Repeated check: one answer round only. The report shows answer round 1.

English — answer round 1

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - ua.news - theguardian.com - democrata.es - suaragarut.id - techpolicy.press - cbc.ca

English translation

The European Union (via the European External Action Service, or EEAS), Canada (Global Affairs Canada), and Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs withdrew their official sponsorship and branding from the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, due to diplomatic pressure from the United States over conference sessions that framed the U.S. as a disinformation threat.

Key Reasons for the Withdrawal

1. Panels Framing the U.S. as a Foreign Interference Threat * The controversy was sparked by sessions on the conference agenda, notably a panel titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" (FIMI meaning Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference). The panel examined how Europe could build resilience against information manipulation independently of Washington. * Another session raised questions about the U.S. operating as an interference actor in specific contexts, such as the Arctic.

2. Diplomatic Pushback from Washington * The U.S. State Department under the Trump administration contacted several allied governments—including Lithuania, Canada, France, and the EU—to express strong displeasure. * Internal U.S. documents and reporting revealed that Washington objected to an ally-hosted conference equating the U.S. with adversarial state actors (such as Russia or China) and actively urged sponsors to drop their association.

3. Inconsistency with Official Allied Foreign Policy * The EU (EEAS): An EU spokesperson stated that EEAS withdrew its official support because organizers had framed discussions in ways that did not align with official EU foreign policy. In its official FIMI reports, the EU focuses on hostile foreign actors like Russia and China and does not designate the United States as a threat actor. (Despite removing its branding, the EU did not revoke underlying grant funding, and EU staff still presented research). * Lithuania: The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it had cancelled its participation because parts of the agenda conflicted with the Lithuanian government's official stance. Vilnius has placed a high priority on maintaining close security ties with the U.S., including pursuing a permanent U.S. military troop presence. * Canada: Global Affairs Canada (GAC) stated that following changes to the framing of several panels, it chose to withdraw its sponsorship and revise its participation in those specific sessions, though Canadian representatives still attended other parts of the conference.

Visible Impact at the Event Days before the conference opened, logos for Lithuania's MFA, the EEAS, and Global Affairs Canada were scrubbed from the EU DisinfoLab event website. On printed conference materials and banners at the venue in Vilnius, organizers had to place white adhesive tape over the logos of the three former government sponsors. By contrast, other partners—such as France's foreign ministry—declined to pull their support, citing the importance of backing independent civil society discussions.

Original text

The European Union (via the European External Action Service, or EEAS), Canada (Global Affairs Canada), and Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs withdrew their official sponsorship and branding from the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, due to diplomatic pressure from the United States over conference sessions that framed the U.S. as a disinformation threat.

Key Reasons for the Withdrawal

1. Panels Framing the U.S. as a Foreign Interference Threat * The controversy was sparked by sessions on the conference agenda, notably a panel titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" (FIMI meaning Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference). The panel examined how Europe could build resilience against information manipulation independently of Washington. * Another session raised questions about the U.S. operating as an interference actor in specific contexts, such as the Arctic.

2. Diplomatic Pushback from Washington * The U.S. State Department under the Trump administration contacted several allied governments—including Lithuania, Canada, France, and the EU—to express strong displeasure. * Internal U.S. documents and reporting revealed that Washington objected to an ally-hosted conference equating the U.S. with adversarial state actors (such as Russia or China) and actively urged sponsors to drop their association.

3. Inconsistency with Official Allied Foreign Policy * The EU (EEAS): An EU spokesperson stated that EEAS withdrew its official support because organizers had framed discussions in ways that did not align with official EU foreign policy. In its official FIMI reports, the EU focuses on hostile foreign actors like Russia and China and does not designate the United States as a threat actor. (Despite removing its branding, the EU did not revoke underlying grant funding, and EU staff still presented research). * Lithuania: The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it had cancelled its participation because parts of the agenda conflicted with the Lithuanian government's official stance. Vilnius has placed a high priority on maintaining close security ties with the U.S., including pursuing a permanent U.S. military troop presence. * Canada: Global Affairs Canada (GAC) stated that following changes to the framing of several panels, it chose to withdraw its sponsorship and revise its participation in those specific sessions, though Canadian representatives still attended other parts of the conference.

Visible Impact at the Event Days before the conference opened, logos for Lithuania's MFA, the EEAS, and Global Affairs Canada were scrubbed from the EU DisinfoLab event website. On printed conference materials and banners at the venue in Vilnius, organizers had to place white adhesive tape over the logos of the three former government sponsors. By contrast, other partners—such as France's foreign ministry—declined to pull their support, citing the importance of backing independent civil society discussions.

French — answer round 1

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - theguardian.com - ua.news - investing.com - suaragarut.id - almayadeen.net - techpolicy.press - cbc.ca

English translation

The withdrawal of official sponsorship by the European Union (via the European External Action Service — EEAS), Canada (Global Affairs Canada), and Lithuania from the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius (October 7–8, 2026) is explained by intense diplomatic pressure exerted by the United States, which was unhappy to see its country described as an informational threat on the event's program.

The main elements of this controversy:

1. The programming targeting the role of the United States The annual conference, organized by the Brussels-based NGO EU DisinfoLab, included sessions in its agenda dealing with the United States from the perspective of FIMI (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference). One panel in particular crystallized tensions: * "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back", which addressed how Europe could strengthen its informational resilience without Washington. Other sessions also touched upon American action in regional contexts such as the Arctic.

2. American diplomatic pressure The US State Department (under the Trump administration) contacted allied capitals and the representation to the EU to express its outrage. Washington deemed it "unacceptable" for the United States to be portrayed as a malicious interference actor, denouncing a false equivalence with operations conducted by strategic adversaries such as Russia or China. US diplomats therefore formally urged their partners to distance themselves from the event.

3. Official justifications from countries and institutions Faced with these reprimands, the three entities withdrew their public sponsorship at the last minute, citing divergences over the editorial line of the program: * Lithuania: The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs cancelled its participation and withdrew its support, stating that several elements of the program did not correspond to the official government position (Lithuania attaching major strategic importance to its military partnership with Washington). * Canada: Global Affairs Canada specified that it had reassessed and withdrawn its official sponsorship after noting the framing given to these sessions on foreign interference, while maintaining the presence of some of its officials in an individual capacity. * The European Union: The EEAS requested the removal of its logo, explaining that the way the organizers presented certain debates was not aligned with the EU's official positions regarding the United States. The EU nevertheless maintained the funding committed for the event despite the withdrawal of its branding.

4. A decision visible in haste This disengagement materialized very visibly on-site in Vilnius: a few days before the opening of the conference, the logos of the three partners were removed from the website and hastily covered with adhesive tape or white stickers on the event's brochures and posters.

Conversely, other partners such as France chose to maintain their official support for the conference, defending the independence of civil society and research on disinformation.

Original text

Le retrait du parrainage officiel de l'Union européenne (par le biais du Service européen pour l'action extérieure — SEAE), du Canada (Affaires mondiales Canada) et de la Lituanie lors de la conférence #Disinfo2026 à Vilnius (7–8 octobre 2026) s'explique par de vives pressions diplomatiques exercées par les États-Unis, mécontents de voir leur pays qualifié de menace informationnelle au programme de l'événement.

Les principaux éléments de cette controverse :

1. La programmation ciblant le rôle des États-Unis La conférence annuelle, organisée par l'ONG bruxelloise EU DisinfoLab, a inclus dans son agenda des sessions traitant des États-Unis sous l'angle des FIMI (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference — manipulations de l'information et ingérences étrangères). Une table ronde en particulier a cristallisé les tensions : * « USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back » (« Les États-Unis comme menace FIMI : reconnaître, s'adapter, riposter »), qui abordait la façon dont l'Europe pouvait renforcer sa résilience informationnelle sans Washington. D'autres sessions évoquaient également l'action américaine dans des contextes régionaux comme l'Arctique.

2. La pression diplomatique américaine Le département d'État américain (sous l'administration Trump) a contacté les capitales alliées et la représentation auprès de l'UE pour exprimer son indignation. Washington a jugé « inacceptable » que les États-Unis soient dépeints comme un acteur d'ingérence malveillante, dénonçant une fausse équivalence avec les opérations menées par des adversaires stratégiques comme la Russie ou la Chine. Les diplomates américains ont donc formellement incité leurs partenaires à prendre leurs distances avec l'événement.

3. Les justifications officielles des pays et institutions Face à ces remontrances, les trois entités ont retiré leur parrainage public à la dernière minute, invoquant des divergences sur la ligne éditoriale du programme : * La Lituanie : Le ministère lituanien des Affaires étrangères a annulé sa participation et retiré son soutien, déclarant que plusieurs éléments du programme ne correspondaient pas à la position officielle du gouvernement (la Lituanie accordant une importance stratégique majeure à son partenariat militaire avec Washington). * Le Canada : Affaires mondiales Canada a précisé avoir réévalué et retiré son parrainage officiel après avoir constaté le cadrage donné à ces sessions sur l'ingérence étrangère, tout en maintenant la présence de certains de ses fonctionnaires à titre individuel. * L'Union européenne : Le SEAE a demandé le retrait de son logo, expliquant que la façon dont les organisateurs présentaient certains débats n'était pas alignée avec les positions officielles de l'UE vis-à-vis des États-Unis. L'UE a toutefois maintenu les financements engagés pour l'événement malgré le retrait de son image de marque.

4. Une décision visible dans l'urgence Ce désengagement s'est matérialisé de façon très visible sur place à Vilnius : quelques jours avant l'ouverture de la conférence, les logos des trois partenaires ont été supprimés du site web et recouverts à la hâte par des bandes d'adhésif ou des autocollants blancs sur les brochures et affiches de l'événement.

À l'inverse, d'autres partenaires comme la France ont choisi de maintenir leur soutien officiel à la conférence, défendant l'indépendance de la société civile et de la recherche sur la désinformation.

Lithuanian — answer round 1

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - suaragarut.id - theguardian.com - ua.news - globalbankingandfinance.com - techpolicy.press

English translation

The European External Action Service (EEAS), Canada, and Lithuania have withdrawn their official support and logos from the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius, organized by the non-governmental organization "EU DisinfoLab," due to pressure and dissatisfaction from the United States (US) regarding the conference agenda.

The main reasons and circumstances behind this decision:

1. Naming the US as an information threat (FIMI): * The greatest outrage from the US State Department and Donald Trump's administration was provoked by one of the conference panel discussions titled "USA as a FIMI threat: adapt, acknowledge, push back". The term FIMI stands for Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference. * The discussion raised the question of whether the US can become / is becoming a source of disinformation and information manipulation for Europe.

2. US diplomatic pressure: * The US State Department and diplomats approached the governments of the conference partners (Lithuania, Canada, France, and EU institutions), expressing sharp dissatisfaction with such event content.

3. Official positions of states and institutions: * Lithuania: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Lithuania stated that it withdrew its official participation and support for the event because "several parts of the conference program do not align with the official position of the Government" (the US is a strategic security partner of Lithuania). * European Union (EEAS): The EU diplomatic service explained that the phrasing of the discussions did not coincide with the official EU position. Official EU reports designate countries such as Russia or China as FIMI threats, but not the US. * Canada: The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it had reviewed its participation due to the changed nature of the discussions, although individual Canadian officials remained at the conference.

As a result, a few days before the event, the logos of these sponsors were removed from the event's website, and they were hastily covered up in the printed conference materials and stands in Vilnius. France was the only major sponsor that refused to yield to the pressure and maintained its official support for the conference.

Original text

Europos Sąjungos išorės veiksmų tarnyba (EIVT), Kanada ir Lietuva atsiėmė oficialų palaikymą bei logotipus iš nevyriausybinės organizacijos „EU DisinfoLab“ organizuotos konferencijos #Disinfo2026 Vilniuje dėl Jungtinių Amerikos Valstijų (JAV) spaudimo ir nepasitenkinimo konferencijos programa.

Pagrindinės šio sprendimo priežastys ir aplinkybės:

1. JAV įvardijimas informacine grėsme (FIMI): * Didžiausią JAV Valstybės departamento ir Donaldo Trumpo administracijos pasipiktinimą sukėlė viena iš konferencijos diskusijų, pavadinta „USA as a FIMI threat: adapt, acknowledge, push back“ (JAV kaip FIMI grėsmė: pripažinti, prisitaikyti, atremti). Terminas FIMI reiškia užsienio šalių vykdomą manipuliavimą informacija ir kišimąsi (angl. Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference). * Diskusijoje buvo keliamas klausimas, ar JAV gali tapti / tampa dezinformacijos ir informacinio manipuliavimo šaltiniu Europai.

2. JAV diplomatinis spaudimas: * JAV Valstybės departamentas ir diplomatai kreipėsi į konferencijos partnerių vyriausybes (Lietuvą, Kanadą, Prancūziją ir ES institucijas), išreikšdami aštrų nepasitenkinimą tokiu renginio turiniu.

3. Valstybių ir institucijų oficialios pozicijos: * Lietuva: Lietuvos užsienio reikalų ministerija (URM) nurodė, kad atšaukė oficialų dalyvavimą ir paramą renginiui, nes „kelios konferencijos programos dalys neatitinka oficialios Vyriausybės pozicijos“ (JAV yra strateginė Lietuvos saugumo partnerė). * Europos Sąjunga (EIVT): ES diplomatinė tarnyba paaiškino, kad diskusijų formuluotės nesutapo su oficialia ES pozicija. ES oficialiose ataskaitose kaip FIMI grėsmės įvardijamos tokios šalys kaip Rusija ar Kinija, bet ne JAV. * Kanada: Kanados užsienio reikalų ministerija pareiškė peržiūrėjusi savo dalyvavimą dėl pasikeitusio diskusijų pobūdžio, nors atskiri Kanados pareigūnai konferencijoje pasiliko.

Dėl to likus kelioms dienoms iki renginio šių rėmėjų logotipai buvo pašalinti iš renginio interneto svetainės, o spausdintoje konferencijos medžiagoje bei stenduose Vilniuje jie buvo skubiai užklijuoti. Vienintelė Prancūzija iš pagrindinių rėmėjų atsisakė nusileisti spaudimui ir paliko savo oficialų palaikymą konferencijai.

Russian — answer round 1

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - ua.news - theguardian.com - eurointegration.com.ua - democrata.es - theupdatedesk.com - theins.ru - obzor.lt - suaragarut.id - cbc.ca - techpolicy.press

English translation

The refusal of the European Union (the European External Action Service / EEAS), Canada, and Lithuania to officially support and sponsor the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius was prompted by diplomatic pressure from the U.S. administration due to the content of the event's program.

Main reasons and circumstances:

1. Panels on the U.S. as a source of disinformation: The forum's organizer—the Brussels-based non-profit organization EU DisinfoLab—included sessions in the agenda that examined the United States as an actor in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI — Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference). In particular, sharp dissatisfaction was caused by a panel titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back", which discussed how Europe should respond to disinformation risks emanating from the U.S. without relying on Washington.

2. Pressure from the U.S. Department of State: The U.S. administration and the American diplomatic corps (including U.S. embassies in Lithuania and a number of other countries) signaled to allies their categorical disagreement with such an agenda. Washington stated that placing the U.S. on the same footing as authoritarian adversaries of the West (such as Russia and China) is a "false equivalency" that blurs real threats, and urged allied governments to reconsider their support for the forum.

3. Official position of Lithuania, the EU, and Canada: * The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry stated that it canceled its official participation because certain points in the program diverge from the government's official foreign policy stance and national interests. * Canada (Global Affairs Canada) reported that it had reviewed its participation and sponsorship due to a shift in emphasis in a number of the announced discussions. * The EU (EEAS) also distanced itself from the role of official sponsor, citing a discrepancy between the topics and the official course.

As a result, right before the opening of the conference, the logos of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, the EU diplomatic service, and the Canadian agency were removed from the website, and on already printed programs and forum stands, they were covered with white stickers. At the same time, individual officials and experts still attended the event as participants, and France remained the only major Western state sponsor that did not withdraw its support.

Original text

Отказ Европейского союза (Европейской службы внешних действий / EEAS), Канады и Литвы от официальной поддержки и спонсорства конференции #Disinfo2026 в Вильнюсе был вызван дипломатическим давлением со стороны администрации США из-за содержания программы мероприятия.

Основные причины и обстоятельства:

1. Панели о США как источнике дезинформации: Организатор форума — брюссельская некоммерческая организация EU DisinfoLab — включил в повестку сессии, в которых Соединённые Штаты рассматривались как субъект иностранного манипулирования информацией и вмешательства (FIMI — Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference). В частности, резкое недовольство вызвала панель под названием «США как угроза FIMI: признать, адаптироваться, дать отпор» («USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back»), где обсуждалось, как Европе реагировать на риски дезинформации, исходящие из США, без опоры на Вашингтон.

2. Давление Госдепартамента США: Администрация США и американский дипломатический корпус (включая посольства США в Литве и ряде других стран) направили союзникам сигналы о категорическом несогласии с такой повесткой. В Вашингтоне заявили, что постановка США в один ряд с авторитарными противниками Запада (такими как Россия и Китай) является «ложным сравнением», размывающим реальные угрозы, и призвали союзные правительства пересмотреть поддержку форума.

3. Официальная позиция Литвы, ЕС и Канады: * МИД Литвы заявил, что отменил официальное участие, так как некоторые пункты программы расходятся с официальной внешнеполитической позицией правительства и государственными интересами. * Канада (Global Affairs Canada) сообщила, что пересмотрела своё участие и спонсорство из-за изменения акцентов в ряде заявленных дискуссий. * ЕС (EEAS) также дистанцировался от роли официального спонсора, сославшись на несоответствие тем официальному курсу.

В результате перед самым открытием конференции логотипы МИД Литвы, дипслужбы ЕС и канадского ведомства были убраны с сайта, а на уже напечатанных программках и стендах форума их закрыли белыми наклейками. При этом отдельные чиновники и эксперты всё же присутствовали на мероприятии в качестве участников, а единственным крупным западным государственным спонсором, не отозвавшим поддержку, осталась Франция.

Mistral Large 4

Repeated check: found in 1 of 3 answer rounds. The report shows answer round 1.

Evidence used for the finding

• Lithuanian, English translation: “Main reason – Characterization of the US as a disinformation threat” Approximate place in the original: …niuje, organizavo Briuselyje įsikūrusi nevyriausybinė organizacija „EU DisinfoLab") dėl šių priežasčių: ## Pagrindinė priežastis – JAV apibūdinimas kaip dezinformacijos grėsmė Konferencijos programoje buvo numatytos diskusijos, kuriose JAV buvo įvardijamos kaip „užsienio vykdomo manipuliavimo in… (No number or name from the quote was found here. This may be a nearby sentence.)
• Russian, English translation: “The main reason was that the program featured panels framing the US as a source of disinformation” Approximate place in the original: …, по нескольким взаимосвязанным причинам: ## 1. Программа конференции, «обвиняющая» США Главная причина — в программе были заявлены панели, в которых США рассматривались как источник дезинформации и актор «иностранного информационного манипулирования и вмешательства» (FIMI — термин ЕС для обозначе… (No number or name from the quote was found here. This may be a nearby sentence.)
• French, English translation: “the Trump administration lobbied for several days” Original passage: …e » [2][4][5]. Selon des extraits d'un câble du Département d'État américain vus par Politico et des informations de Reuters, l'administration Trump a fait pression pendant plusieurs jours sur les diplomates de l'UE, du Canada et de la Lituanie pour qu'ils se désolidarisent de l'événement [1]…
• English, English translation: “after pressure from the Trump administration” Original passage: … EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius (held October 7–8, 2026) after pressure from the Trump administration, which objected to conference panels that characterized the **United States as a "FIMI" (Foreign Information Manipulation and Int…

English — answer round 1

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English translation

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius (held October 7–8, 2026) after pressure from the Trump administration, which objected to conference panels that characterized the United States as a "FIMI" (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference) threat Politico, LRT, EUobserver.

What triggered the controversy

The conference, organized by the Brussels-based nonprofit EU DisinfoLab, included panels examining the U.S. as a disinformation actor, including:

• "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" — featuring American researchers and a former CIA official, exploring "how the United States became a FIMI threat for Europe" LRT, Bytes Europe
• A session on "growing evidence that the United States has, in specific Arctic contexts, operated as a FIMI actor" (discussing Greenland) The Globe and Mail, CBC
• "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure" LRT

US pressure campaign

According to a State Department cable seen by Politico, the Trump administration pressured diplomatic officials from the EU, Canada, and Lithuania to pull out. The State Department:

• Asked American embassies to express Washington's concerns and "assess" whether participating governments agreed with characterizing the U.S. as a FIMI actor Politico
• US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald was personally involved in outreach to Vilnius Global Banking and Finance/Reuters
• Contacted counterparts in Lithuania, Canada, and France over several days EUobserver

The State Department later stated: "It should not be a surprise that countries would disaffiliate from this conference upon learning that it labeled the U.S. a 'FIMI threat'" LRT, Global Banking and Finance.

Official reasons given by the withdrawing governments

Notably, the EU's official position (from a March 2026 report) named Russia and China as FIMI threat actors — not the United States The Clarity.

Aftermath

• Logos of Canada, Lithuania, and the EU were covered with white stickers on conference materials The Globe and Mail, LRT
• France remained the only major sponsor LRT, Global Banking and Finance
• The EU reportedly continued funding the conference despite withdrawing its branding The Clarity

In short, the withdrawals were the result of direct US diplomatic pressure on allies to distance themselves from a conference that dared to examine American disinformation activities — a move critics described as the US government using its power to suppress criticism of itself The Clarity.

Original text

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius (held October 7–8, 2026) after pressure from the Trump administration, which objected to conference panels that characterized the United States as a "FIMI" (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference) threat Politico, LRT, EUobserver.

What triggered the controversy

The conference, organized by the Brussels-based nonprofit EU DisinfoLab, included panels examining the U.S. as a disinformation actor, including:

• "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" — featuring American researchers and a former CIA official, exploring "how the United States became a FIMI threat for Europe" LRT, Bytes Europe
• A session on "growing evidence that the United States has, in specific Arctic contexts, operated as a FIMI actor" (discussing Greenland) The Globe and Mail, CBC
• "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure" LRT

US pressure campaign

According to a State Department cable seen by Politico, the Trump administration pressured diplomatic officials from the EU, Canada, and Lithuania to pull out. The State Department:

• Asked American embassies to express Washington's concerns and "assess" whether participating governments agreed with characterizing the U.S. as a FIMI actor Politico
• US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald was personally involved in outreach to Vilnius Global Banking and Finance/Reuters
• Contacted counterparts in Lithuania, Canada, and France over several days EUobserver

The State Department later stated: "It should not be a surprise that countries would disaffiliate from this conference upon learning that it labeled the U.S. a 'FIMI threat'" LRT, Global Banking and Finance.

Official reasons given by the withdrawing governments

Notably, the EU's official position (from a March 2026 report) named Russia and China as FIMI threat actors — not the United States The Clarity.

Aftermath

• Logos of Canada, Lithuania, and the EU were covered with white stickers on conference materials The Globe and Mail, LRT
• France remained the only major sponsor LRT, Global Banking and Finance
• The EU reportedly continued funding the conference despite withdrawing its branding The Clarity

In short, the withdrawals were the result of direct US diplomatic pressure on allies to distance themselves from a conference that dared to examine American disinformation activities — a move critics described as the US government using its power to suppress criticism of itself The Clarity.

English — answer round 2

Web access: Used — OpenRouter search

Sources returned by search: - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation ... - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 ... - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure - POLITICO - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - EU disowns Vilnius event that warned of US political ...

English translation

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius (held October 7–8, 2026) because the conference program included panels that characterized the United States as a "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI) actor — a framing that angered the Trump administration and prompted U.S. diplomatic pressure.

Key details:

The controversial content: - One session was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back", featuring American researchers and a former CIA official examining how the U.S. had become a disinformation threat to Europe - Another panel, "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure", addressed U.S. government entry bans targeting European figures - A session discussed "growing evidence that the United States has, in specific Arctic contexts, operated as a FIMI actor"

U.S. pressure: According to a State Department cable seen by POLITICO, the Trump administration pressured diplomatic officials from the EU, Canada, and Lithuania to pull out. The State Department asked U.S. embassies to express Washington's concerns and "assess" whether participating governments agreed with characterizing the U.S. as a FIMI actor.

Official explanations: - Canada (Global Affairs Canada) stated it "wasn't comfortable with the framing of some of the panels" and revised its participation - Lithuania and the EU's European External Action Service (EEAS) said they withdrew because parts of the conference program "did not correspond with their official positions" - The U.S. State Department said it "should not be a surprise that countries would disaffiliate from this conference upon learning that it labeled the U.S. a 'FIMI threat'"

Aftermath: Canada and Lithuania asked organizers to remove their ministries' logos from conference materials, and the EEAS was removed from the official program. Photographs showed sponsor displays with white stickers covering the logos of Canada, Lithuania, and the EU. France remained the only major government sponsor.

Original text

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius (held October 7–8, 2026) because the conference program included panels that characterized the United States as a "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI) actor — a framing that angered the Trump administration and prompted U.S. diplomatic pressure.

Key details:

The controversial content: - One session was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back", featuring American researchers and a former CIA official examining how the U.S. had become a disinformation threat to Europe - Another panel, "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure", addressed U.S. government entry bans targeting European figures - A session discussed "growing evidence that the United States has, in specific Arctic contexts, operated as a FIMI actor"

U.S. pressure: According to a State Department cable seen by POLITICO, the Trump administration pressured diplomatic officials from the EU, Canada, and Lithuania to pull out. The State Department asked U.S. embassies to express Washington's concerns and "assess" whether participating governments agreed with characterizing the U.S. as a FIMI actor.

Official explanations: - Canada (Global Affairs Canada) stated it "wasn't comfortable with the framing of some of the panels" and revised its participation - Lithuania and the EU's European External Action Service (EEAS) said they withdrew because parts of the conference program "did not correspond with their official positions" - The U.S. State Department said it "should not be a surprise that countries would disaffiliate from this conference upon learning that it labeled the U.S. a 'FIMI threat'"

Aftermath: Canada and Lithuania asked organizers to remove their ministries' logos from conference materials, and the EEAS was removed from the official program. Photographs showed sponsor displays with white stickers covering the logos of Canada, Lithuania, and the EU. France remained the only major government sponsor.

English — answer round 3

Web access: Used — OpenRouter search

Sources returned by search: - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure - POLITICO - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure - POLITICO - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics

English translation

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius (October 7–8, 2026) because the conference program included panels that characterized the United States as a "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI) actor — essentially labeling the U.S. as a disinformation threat.

Key details:

The controversial programming included sessions such as: - "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" - "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure" - A panel on "growing evidence that the United States has, in specific Arctic contexts, operated as a FIMI actor"

US pressure: According to a State Department cable seen by POLITICO, the Trump administration pressured diplomatic officials from the EU, Canada, and Lithuania to pull out after learning about these panels. The State Department asked U.S. embassies to express Washington's concerns and determine whether participating governments agreed with characterizing the U.S. as a FIMI actor.

Official reasons given for withdrawal: - EU (EEAS): Stated the program content "do[es] not align with the official positions held by the EU" - Canada: Said it "wasn't comfortable with the framing of some of the panels" - Lithuania: Said parts of the program "did not correspond with their official positions"

The result: Canada and Lithuania asked organizers to remove their logos from conference materials, and the EEAS followed suit. Photographs showed the logos of all three covered with tape on conference banners, leaving France as the only major government sponsor listed.

The U.S. State Department defended the pressure, stating it "should not be a surprise that countries would disaffiliate from this conference upon learning that it labeled the U.S. a 'FIMI threat.'"

Original text

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius (October 7–8, 2026) because the conference program included panels that characterized the United States as a "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI) actor — essentially labeling the U.S. as a disinformation threat.

Key details:

The controversial programming included sessions such as: - "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" - "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure" - A panel on "growing evidence that the United States has, in specific Arctic contexts, operated as a FIMI actor"

US pressure: According to a State Department cable seen by POLITICO, the Trump administration pressured diplomatic officials from the EU, Canada, and Lithuania to pull out after learning about these panels. The State Department asked U.S. embassies to express Washington's concerns and determine whether participating governments agreed with characterizing the U.S. as a FIMI actor.

Official reasons given for withdrawal: - EU (EEAS): Stated the program content "do[es] not align with the official positions held by the EU" - Canada: Said it "wasn't comfortable with the framing of some of the panels" - Lithuania: Said parts of the program "did not correspond with their official positions"

The result: Canada and Lithuania asked organizers to remove their logos from conference materials, and the EEAS followed suit. Photographs showed the logos of all three covered with tape on conference banners, leaving France as the only major government sponsor listed.

The U.S. State Department defended the pressure, stating it "should not be a surprise that countries would disaffiliate from this conference upon learning that it labeled the U.S. a 'FIMI threat.'"

French — answer round 1

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English translation

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania have withdrawn their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference (organized by EU DisinfoLab on October 7–8, 2026, in Vilnius) due to diplomatic pressure exerted by the Trump administration, after the conference program included panels labeling the United States as a "FIMI threat" (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference) [1][2][3].

The Facts

The conference program notably included a panel discussion entitled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back", which was set to examine "how the United States has become a FIMI threat to Europe" [2][4][5].

According to excerpts from a U.S. State Department cable seen by Politico and information from Reuters, the Trump administration lobbied for several days to press EU, Canadian, and Lithuanian diplomats to disassociate themselves from the event [1][2][3][6]. Specifically, the State Department instructed U.S. embassies to express concerns and assess whether participating governments endorsed the characterization of the United States as a FIMI actor [1][2].

Official Reactions

• Lithuania: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs withdrew its support on Monday, citing a program that "does not correspond to the official positions of the government" and national interests. Minister Kęstutis Budrys stated that he was "surprised and shocked" that the United States was placed "in the same category as Russia or China," considering that this did not align with their views and would weaken ties with their allies [2][7].

• Canada: Global Affairs Canada (GAC) withdrew its sponsorship, citing "changes in the wording" of several panels. Canadian officials were originally scheduled to chair sessions, but withdrew [3][5][8].

• EU (EEAS): The European External Action Service removed its logo from conference materials "in light of the content of the program," indicating that the organizers had formulated certain discussions "in a manner that does not correspond to the official positions of the EU" [3][5].

Consequence

The logos of Canada, Lithuania, and the EU were covered with white stickers on the conference materials [2][8]. France remained the only major sponsor to maintain its support [4][6][9].

The U.S. State Department justified the pressure by stating that it "should come as no surprise that countries are disassociating themselves from this conference after learning that it labeled the United States a 'FIMI threat,'" adding that such language "undermines shared objectives" [2][4][6].

Sources: [1] Politico – "EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure" (October 7, 2026) [2] LRT – "Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure" [3] CBC News – "Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat" [4] EUobserver – "EU disowns Vilnius event that warned of US political interference, but France maintains support" [5] Reuters (via various media) – "US lobbies allies to cut ties to anti-disinformation conference over panel critical of Washington" [6] Zonebourse/Reuters – "Les États-Unis font pression sur leurs alliés..." [7] LRT – Statements by Minister Budrys to LRT RADIO [8] The Globe and Mail – "Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor" [9] Intelligence Online – "Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 conference in Vilnius"

Original text

L'UE, le Canada et la Lituanie ont retiré leur soutien à la conférence #Disinfo2026 (organisée par EU DisinfoLab les 7-8 octobre 2026 à Vilnius) en raison d'une pression diplomatique exercée par l'administration Trump, après que le programme de la conférence eut prévu des panels qualifiant les États-Unis de « menace FIMI » (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference — manipulation et ingérence de l'information étrangères) [1][2][3].

Les faits

Le programme de la conférence incluait notamment une table ronde intitulée « USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back » (« Les États-Unis comme menace FIMI : reconnaître, s'adapter, riposter »), qui devait examiner « comment les États-Unis sont devenus une menace FIMI pour l'Europe » [2][4][5].

Selon des extraits d'un câble du Département d'État américain vus par Politico et des informations de Reuters, l'administration Trump a fait pression pendant plusieurs jours sur les diplomates de l'UE, du Canada et de la Lituanie pour qu'ils se désolidarisent de l'événement [1][2][3][6]. Le Département d'État a notamment demandé aux ambassades américaines d'exprimer leurs préoccupations et d'évaluer si les gouvernements participants approuvaient la caractérisation des États-Unis comme acteur FIMI [1][2].

Les réactions officielles

• Lituanie : Le ministère des Affaires étrangères a retiré son soutien lundi, invoquant un programme « ne correspondant pas aux positions officielles du gouvernement » et aux intérêts nationaux. Le ministre Kęstutis Budrys a déclaré avoir été « surpris et choqué » que les États-Unis soient placés « dans la même catégorie que la Russie ou la Chine », estimant que cela ne correspondait pas à leurs vues et affaiblirait les liens avec leurs alliés [2][7].

• Canada : Affaires mondiales Canada (GAC) a retiré son parrainage, citant des « changements dans la formulation » de plusieurs panels. Des fonctionnaires canadiens devaient initialement présider des sessions, mais se sont désistés [3][5][8].

• UE (SEAE) : Le Service européen pour l'action extérieure a retiré son logo des supports de conférence « au vu du contenu du programme », indiquant que les organisateurs avaient formulé certaines discussions « d'une manière qui ne correspond pas aux positions officielles de l'UE » [3][5].

Conséquence

Les logos du Canada, de la Lituanie et de l'UE ont été masqués par des autocollants blancs sur les supports de la conférence [2][8]. La France est restée le seul grand sponsor à maintenir son soutien [4][6][9].

Le Département d'État américain a justifié cette pression en déclarant qu'il « ne devrait pas être surprenant que des pays se désolidarisent de cette conférence après avoir appris qu'elle qualifiait les États-Unis de 'menace FIMI' », ajoutant qu'un tel langage « compromet les objectifs communs » [2][4][6].

Sources : [1] Politico – « EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure » (7 octobre 2026) [2] LRT – « Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure » [3] CBC News – « Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat » [4] EUobserver – « EU disowns Vilnius event that warned of US political interference, but France maintains support » [5] Reuters (via divers médias) – « US lobbies allies to cut ties to anti-disinformation conference over panel critical of Washington » [6] Zonebourse/Reuters – « Les États-Unis font pression sur leurs alliés... » [7] LRT – Déclarations du ministre Budrys à LRT RADIO [8] The Globe and Mail – « Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor » [9] Intelligence Online – « Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 conference in Vilnius »

French — answer round 2

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English translation

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania have withdrawn their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference (organized by the NGO EU DisinfoLab on October 7–8, 2026, in Vilnius) following US diplomatic pressure and due to the content of the conference program.

Reasons for withdrawal

1. A controversial panel on the United States The conference program featured several sessions describing the United States as an actor of "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI)—an EU term normally reserved for adversaries like Russia or China. Among the incriminated panels:

• "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back"
• A session on "how the United States has become a FIMI threat to Europe"
• A panel entitled "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure"

2. Pressure from the Trump administration According to US State Department diplomatic cables revealed by Politico and Reuters:

• The Trump administration pressured EU, Canadian, and Lithuanian diplomats to withdraw
• The State Department instructed US embassies to convey "Washington's concerns" and assess whether the governments concerned accepted that the United States be classified as a FIMI actor
• The US Ambassador to Lithuania, Kara McDonald, was involved in this effort

3. Official statements from the countries concerned

4. US reaction The State Department stated: > "It should come as no surprise that countries are disaffiliating from this conference after learning that it categorized the United States as a 'FIMI threat.' Labeling the US a 'FIMI threat' — a term normally reserved for adversary influence operations — undermines shared objectives and should raise red flags for stakeholders."

Visible consequences - The logos of Canada, Lithuania, and the EU were covered up on conference materials and banners - France remained the sole official "main supporter" of the event - Participants also reported receiving "intimidating emails" as part of a pressure campaign

This episode illustrates transatlantic tensions surrounding disinformation, in a context where the Trump administration vigorously contests the EU's enforcement of its online content rules (DSA) and denounces what it considers to be "censorship" on the part of Europeans.

Original text

L'UE, le Canada et la Lituanie ont retiré leur soutien à la conférence #Disinfo2026 (organisée par l'ONG EU DisinfoLab les 7-8 octobre 2026 à Vilnius) à la suite de pressions diplomatiques américaines et en raison du contenu du programme de la conférence.

Les raisons du retrait

1. Un panel controversé sur les États-Unis Le programme de la conférence comportait plusieurs sessions décrivant les États-Unis comme un acteur de « manipulation et d'ingérence de l'information étrangères » (FIMI) — un terme de l'UE normalement réservé aux adversaires comme la Russie ou la Chine. Parmi les panels incriminés :

• « USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back » (« Les USA comme menace FIMI : reconnaître, s'adapter, riposter »)
• Une session sur « la façon dont les États-Unis sont devenus une menace FIMI pour l'Europe »
• Un panel intitulé « Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure »

2. Pression de l'administration Trump Selon des câbles diplomatiques du Département d'État américain révélés par Politico et Reuters :

• L'administration Trump a fait pression sur les diplomates de l'UE, du Canada et de la Lituanie pour qu'ils se retirent
• Le Département d'État a demandé aux ambassades américaines d'exprimer les « inquiétudes de Washington » et d'évaluer si les gouvernements concernés acceptaient que les États-Unis soient qualifiés d'acteur FIMI
• L'ambassadrice américaine en Lituanie, Kara McDonald, a été impliquée dans cette démarche

3. Déclarations officielles des pays concernés

4. Réaction américaine Le Département d'État a déclaré : > « Il ne devrait pas être surprenant que des pays se désaffilient de cette conférence après avoir appris qu'elle classait les États-Unis comme une "menace FIMI". Qualifier les États-Unis de "menace FIMI" — un terme normalement réservé aux opérations d'influence des adversaires — mine les objectifs partagés et devrait alerter les parties prenantes. »

Conséquences visibles - Les logos du Canada, de la Lituanie et de l'UE ont été recouverts sur les supports et panneaux de la conférence - La France est restée le seul « soutien principal » officiel de l'événement - Des participants ont également signalé avoir reçu des « e-mails intimidants » dans le cadre d'une campagne de pression

Cet épisode illustre les tensions transatlantiques autour de la désinformation, dans un contexte où l'administration Trump conteste vigoureusement l'application par l'UE de ses règles sur les contenus en ligne (DSA) et dénonce ce qu'elle considère comme de la « censure » de la part des Européens.

French — answer round 3

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English translation

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania have withdrawn their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference (organized by the Brussels-based NGO EU DisinfoLab on October 7-8, 2026, in Vilnius) for two main reasons: American diplomatic pressure and a disagreement with the program's content.

1. The Trigger: Panels labeling the United States as a FIMI threat

The conference program featured several controversial sessions, notably: - "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" - A roundtable on disinformation in the Arctic mentioning "growing evidence that the United States has, in specific Arctic contexts, operated as a FIMI actor"

FIMI (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference) is an EU term designating information manipulation by foreign actors — a concept usually reserved for adversaries like Russia or China.

2. Pressure from the Trump administration

According to Politico and Reuters, which broke the story on October 7, 2026:

• The U.S. Department of State asked U.S. embassies in Europe, Canada, and to the EU to express "Washington's concerns"
• American diplomats were to "assess" whether participating governments agreed with labeling the United States as a FIMI actor
• A U.S. diplomatic cable denounced a "false equivalence" between the United States and "foreign adversaries like Russia and China," which "obscures the scale and nature of Russian and Chinese interference"
• The U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania, Kara McDonald, participated in the demarches with Vilnius

The State Department stated that it should "come as no surprise that countries are disassociating themselves from this conference after learning that it branded the United States as a FIMI threat."

3. Official reactions

4. The Lithuanian minister's striking statement

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys was particularly harsh, telling LRT radio:

> "I was surprised and shocked that the United States was put in the same category as Russia or China. This does not correspond to our views and principles. The organizers went too far and made a huge mistake."

He added that Lithuania would ensure that the fight against disinformation is not "hijacked into an anti-American narrative that weakens our ties with our allies."

5. Visible consequences

• The logos of Canada, Lithuania, and the EEAS were covered with white stickers on conference materials
• A Canadian official scheduled to chair a session on the Arctic pulled out
• France remained the sole main supporter of the conference

In summary: the withdrawal stems from a combination of American diplomatic pressure (with the Trump administration unwilling to tolerate the United States being presented as a disinformation threat on par with Russia) and a fundamental disagreement by the governments involved with the anti-American framing of certain sessions, perceived as a dangerous "false equivalence" for transatlantic cohesion.

Original text

L'UE, le Canada et la Lituanie ont retiré leur soutien à la conférence #Disinfo2026 (organisée par l'ONG bruxelloise EU DisinfoLab les 7-8 octobre 2026 à Vilnius) pour deux raisons principales : des pressions diplomatiques américaines et un désaccord avec le contenu du programme.

1. Le déclencheur : des panels qualifiant les États-Unis de menace FIMI

Le programme de la conférence comportait plusieurs sessions controversées, notamment : - « USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back » (« Les États-Unis comme menace FIMI : reconnaître, s'adapter, riposter ») - Une table ronde sur la désinformation dans l'Arctique évoquant « des preuves croissantes que les États-Unis ont, dans des contextes arctiques spécifiques, opéré comme un acteur FIMI »

FIMI (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference) est un terme de l'UE désignant la manipulation de l'information par des acteurs étrangers — un concept habituellement réservé à des adversaires comme la Russie ou la Chine.

2. Les pressions de l'administration Trump

Selon Politico et Reuters, qui ont révélé l'affaire le 7 octobre 2026 :

• Le département d'État américain a demandé aux ambassades américaines en Europe, au Canada et auprès de l'UE d'exprimer les « inquiétudes de Washington »
• Les diplomates américains devaient « évaluer » si les gouvernements participants acceptaient de qualifier les États-Unis d'acteur FIMI
• Un câble diplomatique américain dénonçait une « fausse équivalence » entre les États-Unis et « des adversaires étrangers comme la Russie et la Chine », qui « obscurcit l'ampleur et la nature de l'ingérence russe et chinoise »
• L'ambassadrice américaine en Lituanie, Kara McDonald, a participé aux démarches auprès de Vilnius

Le département d'État a déclaré qu'il ne devrait « pas être surprenant que des pays se désolidarisent de cette conférence après avoir appris qu'elle qualifiait les États-Unis de menace FIMI ».

3. Les réactions officielles

4. La déclaration choc du ministre lituanien

Le ministre lituanien des Affaires étrangères Kęstutis Budrys a été particulièrement virulent, déclarant à la radio LRT :

> « J'ai été surpris et choqué que les États-Unis soient mis dans la même catégorie que la Russie ou la Chine. Cela ne correspond pas à nos vues et principes. Les organisateurs sont allés trop loin et ont commis une énorme erreur. »

Il a ajouté que la Lituanie veillerait à ce que la lutte contre la désinformation ne soit pas « détournée en un récit anti-américain qui affaiblit nos liens avec nos alliés ».

5. Conséquences visibles

• Les logos du Canada, de la Lituanie et du SEAE ont été recouverts de stickers blancs sur les supports de conférence
• Un responsable canadien prévu pour présider une session sur l'Arctique s'est désisté
• La France est restée le seul soutien principal de la conférence

En résumé : le retrait résulte d'une combinaison de pressions diplomatiques américaines (l'administration Trump ne tolérant pas que les États-Unis soient présentés comme une menace de désinformation au même titre que la Russie) et d'un désaccord fondamental des gouvernements concernés avec la framing anti-américaine de certaines sessions, perçue comme une « fausse équivalence » dangereuse pour la cohésion transatlantique.

Lithuanian — answer round 1

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English translation

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference (which took place on October 7–8 in Vilnius and was organized by the Brussels-based NGO "EU DisinfoLab") for the following reasons:

Main reason – Characterization of the US as a disinformation threat

The conference program included discussions in which the US was identified as an actor of "Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference" (FIMI) – in other words, the US was equated with countries such as Russia or China as a source of disinformation.

Specific sessions that caused outrage: - "The US as a FIMI Threat: Recognize, Adapt, Counter" – examined how the US has become a disinformation threat to Europe (attended by two American researchers and a former CIA official); - "Under Attack: How the Counter-Disinformation Community Deals with US Government Pressure"; - A discussion on the US as a FIMI actor in the Arctic context.

US administration pressure

According to Politico and Reuters, the Donald Trump administration exerted pressure on Lithuanian, Canadian, and EU diplomats to withdraw from the conference:

• The US State Department instructed its embassies in several European countries and to the EU to express Washington's concerns;
• Governments participating in the conference were asked to "assess" whether they agree with the characterization of the US as a FIMI actor;
• High-ranking State Department officials directly contacted Canadian officials;
• Following talks with the US Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys stated that the discussions about the US do not reflect the position of the Lithuanian Government.

Explanations from official institutions

The Lithuanian MFA stated it withdrew because "some parts of the program do not align with the Government's positions and Lithuania's national interests." Minister Kęstutis Budrys told LRT radio that he was "surprised and shocked" that the US was put in the same category as Russia or China, emphasizing that this "does not correspond to our approach and principles," and therefore Lithuania does not want the fight against disinformation to be "turned into an anti-American narrative that weakens ties with allies."

Canada's Global Affairs Canada spokesperson stated that Canada "reviewed its participation" after the framing of several discussions was changed.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) stated that it requested the removal of its logo "in light of the program's content," because the organizers framed some discussions in a way that "does not align with official EU positions."

Outcome

• The logos of the Canadian and Lithuanian ministries were removed from conference materials as early as Monday, and the EEAS logo on Tuesday;
• Their representatives did not participate in the discussions and were not mentioned in the program;
• Photographs show that on stands with supporter logos, the Canadian, Lithuanian, and EU signs were covered with white stickers;
• France remained the only main supporter.

The US State Department commented that "it should not surprise that countries are distancing themselves from this conference upon learning that it identifies the US as a 'FIMI threat'."

Original text

ES, Kanada ir Lietuva atsiėmė paramą konferencijai #Disinfo2026 (kuri vyko spalio 7–8 d. Vilniuje, organizavo Briuselyje įsikūrusi nevyriausybinė organizacija „EU DisinfoLab") dėl šių priežasčių:

Pagrindinė priežastis – JAV apibūdinimas kaip dezinformacijos grėsmė

Konferencijos programoje buvo numatytos diskusijos, kuriose JAV buvo įvardijamos kaip „užsienio vykdomo manipuliavimo informacija ir kišimosi" (FIMI – Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference) veikėjas – kitaip tariant, JAV buvo prilyginamos prie tokių šalių kaip Rusija ar Kinija kaip dezinformacijos šaltinis.

Konkrečios sesijos, sukėlusios pasipiktinimą: - „JAV kaip FIMI grėsmė: pripažinti, prisitaikyti, atremti" – nagrinėjo, kaip JAV tapo dezinformacijos grėsme Europai (dalyvavo du amerikiečių tyrėjai ir buvęs CŽA pareigūnas); - „Puolami: kaip kovos su dezinformacija bendruomenė tvarkosi su JAV vyriausybės spaudimu"; - Diskusija apie JAV kaip FIMI veikėją Arkties kontekste.

JAV administracijos spaudimas

Pasak „Politico" ir „Reuters", Donaldo Trumpo administracija darė spaudimą Lietuvos, Kanados ir ES diplomatams, kad šie pasitrauktų iš konferencijos:

• JAV Valstybės departamentas nurodė savo ambasadoms keliose Europos šalyse ir prie ES išreikšti Vašingtono susirūpinimą;
• Buvo prašoma „įvertinti", ar konferencijoje dalyvaujančios vyriausybės pritaria tam, kad JAV būtų apibūdinamos kaip FIMI veikėjas;
• Aukšto rango Valstybės departamento pareigūnai tiesiogiai susisiekė su Kanados pareigūnais;
• Po pokalbių su JAV ambasada Vilniuje, Lietuvos užsienio reikalų ministras Kęstutis Budrys pareiškė, kad diskusijos apie JAV neatspindi Lietuvos Vyriausybės pozicijos.

Oficialių institucijų paaiškinimai

Lietuvos URM teigė pasitraukusi, nes „kai kurios programos dalys neatitinka Vyriausybės pozicijų ir Lietuvos nacionalinių interesų". Ministras Kęstutis Budrys LRT radijui sakė buvęs „nustebintas ir priblokštas", kad JAV dedama į vieną kategoriją su Rusija ar Kinija, ir pabrėžė, kad tai „neatitinka mūsų požiūrio ir principų", todėl Lietuva nenori, kad kova su dezinformacija būtų „paversta antiamerikietišku naratyvu, silpninančiu ryšius su sąjungininkais".

Kanados Global Affairs Canada atstovė teigė, kad Kanada „peržiūrėjo savo dalyvavimą" po to, kai buvo pakeistas kelių diskusijų formulavimas (framing).

ES išorės veiksmų tarnyba (EIVT) pareiškė, kad paprašė pašalinti savo logotipą „atsižvelgiant į programos turinį", nes organizatoriai kai kurias diskusijas suformulavo taip, kaip „neatitinka oficialių ES pozicijų".

Rezultatas

• Kanados ir Lietuvos ministerijų logotipai buvo pašalinti iš konferencijos medžiagos dar pirmadienį, EIVT – antradienį;
• Jų atstovai nedalyvavo diskusijose ir nebuvo minimi programoje;
• Nuotraukose matyti, kad stenduose su rėmėjų logotipais Kanados, Lietuvos ir ES ženklai buvo užklijuoti baltais lipdukais;
• Prancūzija liko vienintelė pagrindinė rėmėja.

JAV Valstybės departamentas pakomentavo, kad „neturėtų stebinti, kad šalys atsiriboja nuo šios konferencijos, sužinojusios, jog joje JAV įvardijama kaip „FIMI grėsmė".

Lithuanian — answer round 2

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Sources returned by search: - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - URM paaiškino, kodėl pasitraukė iš konferencijos - Delfi - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lietuvai ir ES – akibrokštas iš JAV: privertė pasitraukti iš konferencijos Vilniuje - Trumpas spaudė Lietuvą ir Europą: paaiškėjo, kodėl Vilniuje kilo diplomatinis skandalas – Laisvadienis - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure - POLITICO - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that cites U.S. as ... - Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 ...

English translation

Based on media reports (LRT, Politico, Delfi, CBC, Lrytas), the EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference (held on October 8–9 in Vilnius) due to the following reasons:

Main Reason – US Pressure

The conference program, organized by the Brussels-based non-profit organization EU DisinfoLab, included discussions that characterized the US as a "FIMI" (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference) actor – in other words, as a foreign entity engaging in information manipulation and interference.

This caused outrage from the Donald Trump administration. The US State Department instructed its embassies in several European countries and to the EU to express Washington's concern and to "assess" whether the participating governments endorse equating the US with FIMI actors.

Specific Program Elements That Caused Discontent

• A session titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back", in which American researchers and a former CIA official discussed how the US has become a disinformation threat to Europe
• A discussion titled "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure"
• A panel on the alleged actions of the US as a FIMI actor in the Arctic context (regarding Greenland)

How the Withdrawal of Support Occurred

• On Monday, Canada and Lithuania asked the organizers to remove their ministry logos from the conference materials
• On Tuesday, they were joined by the European External Action Service (EEAS) – the EU's diplomatic service
• At the conference venue, the logos of Canada, Lithuania, and the EU were covered with white stickers
• France remained the only major supporter

Official Explanations

The Lithuanian MFA stated that it withdrew because "some parts of the program do not align with the Government's positions and Lithuania's national interests." Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys told LRT radio that he was "surprised and shocked" that the US was equated with Russia or China, and stated that the organizers "crossed all lines and made a huge mistake." He emphasized that Lithuania does not want the fight against disinformation to be "twisted into an anti-American narrative that weakens ties with allies."

Canada’s Department of Global Affairs stated that it disliked the "framing of some panels" regarding the characterization of the US as a foreign interference threat.

The European External Action Service stated that the logo was removed "in light of the program's content," as the organizers "chose to formulate some discussions in a way that does not reflect official EU positions."

The US State Department stated that "it should come as no surprise" that countries distanced themselves from the conference after learning that it labeled the US as a "FIMI threat."

Original text

Remiantis žiniasklaidos pranešimais (LRT, „Politico“, „Delfi“, „CBC“, „Lrytas“), ES, Kanada ir Lietuva atsiėmė paramą konferencijai #Disinfo2026 (vykusiai spalio 8–9 d. Vilniuje) dėl šių priežasčių:

Pagrindinė priežastis – JAV spaudimas

Konferencijos, kurią organizavo Briuselyje įsikūrusi ne pelno organizacija EU DisinfoLab, programoje buvo numatytos diskusijos, kuriose JAV buvo apibūdinamos kaip „FIMI“ (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference) veikėja – kitaip tariant, kaip užsienio subjektas, vykdantis manipuliavimą informacija ir kišimąsi.

Tai sukėlė Donaldo Trumpo administracijos pasipiktinimą. JAV Valstybės departamentas nurodė savo ambasadoms keliose Europos šalyse ir prie ES išreikšti Vašingtono susirūpinimą bei „įvertinti“, ar dalyvaujančių šalių vyriausybės pritaria JAV prilyginimui prie FIMI veikėjų.

Konkretūs programos elementai, sukėlę nepasitenkinimą

• Sesija pavadinimu „USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back“ („JAV kaip FIMI grėsmė: pripažinti, prisitaikyti, pasipriešinti“), kurioje amerikiečių mokslininkai ir buvęs CŽV pareigūnas svarstė, kaip JAV tapo dezinformacijos grėsme Europai
• Diskusija „Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure“ („Puolami: kaip kovos su dezinformacija bendruomenė reaguoja į JAV vyriausybės spaudimą“)
• Panelė apie tariamą JAV veikimą kaip FIMI aktoriaus Arkties kontekste (dėl Grenlandijos)

Kaip vyko paramos atsiėmimas

• Pirmadienį Kanada ir Lietuva paprašė organizatorių pašalinti jų ministerijų logotipus iš konferencijos medžiagos
• Antradienį prie jų prisijungė Europos išorės veiksmų tarnyba (EIVT) – ES diplomatinė tarnyba
• Konferencijos vietoje Kanados, Lietuvos ir ES logotipai buvo užklijuoti baltais lipdukais
• Prancūzija liko vienintelė didžioji rėmėja

Oficialūs paaiškinimai

Lietuvos URM teigė, kad pasitraukė, nes „kai kurios programos dalys neatitinka Vyriausybės pozicijų ir Lietuvos nacionalinių interesų“. Užsienio reikalų ministras Kęstutis Budrys LRT radijui sakė esąs „nustebintas ir šokiruotas“, kad JAV buvo prilyginta Rusijai ar Kinijai, ir teigė, kad organizatoriai „peržengė visas ribas ir padarė didžiulę klaidą“. Jis pabrėžė, kad Lietuva nenori, jog kova su dezinformacija būtų „susukta į antiamerikietišką naratyvą, silpninantį ryšius su sąjungininkais“.

Kanados Globalių reikalų ministerija pareiškė, kad jai nepatiko „kai kurių panelių formuluotė“ (framing), susijusi su JAV apibūdinimu kaip užsienio kišimosi grėsme.

ES išorės veiksmų tarnyba nurodė, kad logotipas pašalintas „atsižvelgiant į programos turinį“, nes organizatoriai „pasirinko suformuluoti kai kurias diskusijas taip, kaip neatitinka oficialių ES pozicijų“.

JAV Valstybės departamentas pareiškė, kad „nereikėtų stebėtis“, jog šalys atsiribojo nuo konferencijos sužinojusios, jog ji JAV įvardijo kaip „FIMI grėsmę“.

Lithuanian — answer round 3

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English translation

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference (which took place on October 7–8 in Vilnius) for the following reasons:

Main reason: Characterization of the US as a disinformation threat

The program of the conference, organized by the Brussels-based non-governmental organization EU DisinfoLab, included discussions in which the US was identified as a "Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference" (FIMI) actor.

One of the sessions was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back". In it, two American researchers and a former CIA officer examined how the US has become a disinformation threat to Europe.

Pressure from the US administration

According to Politico and Reuters, the Donald Trump administration exerted pressure on Lithuanian, Canadian, and EU diplomats, demanding their withdrawal from the conference:

• The US State Department instructed its embassies in several European countries and the EU to express Washington's concerns
• It was requested to assess whether the governments participating in the conference agree with classifying the US as a FIMI actor
• US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald was involved
• Following talks with US officials, Canada and Lithuania withdrew their support on Monday, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) followed on Tuesday

Official motives for withdrawal

The countries officially stated that they withdrew because part of the conference program did not align with their governments' positions and national interests:

• The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it withdrew when it became clear that some parts of the program did not align with the Government's positions and Lithuania's national interests. The ministry emphasized that it did not participate in drafting the program.
• Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys told LRT radio that he was "surprised and shocked" that the US was equated with Russia or China. He stated that the organizers "went way overboard and made a huge blunder", and that such rhetoric "weakens our ties with allies".
• Canada (Global Affairs Canada) stated that it "reviewed its participation" due to "altered wording of certain discussions".
• The European External Action Service asked to remove its logo "in light of the program's content."

Consequences

• The logos of the Canadian, Lithuanian, and EU diplomatic services were covered up on the conference stands
• These institutions were removed from the official program and the list of sponsors
• France remained the sole major sponsor

When asked to comment, the US State Department stated: "While we cannot comment on the details of diplomatic conversations, it should not come as a surprise that countries are distancing themselves from this conference upon learning that it identifies the US as a 'FIMI threat'."

Original text

ES, Kanada ir Lietuva atsiėmė paramą konferencijai #Disinfo2026 (kuri vyko spalio 7–8 d. Vilniuje) dėl šių priežasčių:

Pagrindinė priežastis: JAV apibūdinimas kaip dezinformacijos grėsmė

Konferencijos, kurią organizavo Briuselyje įsikūrusi nevyriausybinė organizacija EU DisinfoLab, programoje buvo numatytos diskusijos, kuriose JAV buvo įvardijamos kaip „užsienio vykdomo manipuliavimo informacija ir kišimosi" (FIMI – Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference) veikėjas.

Viena iš sesijų buvo pavadinta „JAV kaip FIMI grėsmė: pripažinti, prisitaikyti, atremti" („USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back"). Joje du amerikiečių tyrėjai ir buvęs CŽA pareigūnas nagrinėjo, kaip JAV tapo dezinformacijos grėsme Europai.

JAV administracijos spaudimas

Pasak „Politico" ir „Reuters", Donaldo Trumpo administracija darė spaudimą Lietuvos, Kanados ir ES diplomatams, reikalaudama pasitraukti iš konferencijos:

• JAV Valstybės departamentas nurodė savo ambasadoms keliose Europos šalyse ir ES išreikšti Vašingtono susirūpinimą
• Buvo prašoma įvertinti, ar konferencijoje dalyvaujančios vyriausybės pritaria tam, kad JAV būtų priskiriamos prie FIMI veikėjų
• Dalyvavo JAV ambasadorė Lietuvoje Kara McDonald
• Po pokalbių su JAV pareigūnais Kanada ir Lietuva pirmadienį atšaukė paramą, antradienį – ES išorės veiksmų tarnyba (EIVT)

Oficialūs pasitraukimo motyvai

Šalys oficialiai teigė pasitraukusios dėl to, kad dalis konferencijos programos neatitiko jų vyriausybių pozicijų ir nacionalinių interesų:

• Lietuvos URM pareiškė, kad pasitraukė, kai paaiškėjo, jog kai kurios programos dalys neatitinka Vyriausybės pozicijų ir Lietuvos nacionalinių interesų. Ministerija pabrėžė nedalyvavusi rengiant programą.
• Lietuvos užsienio reikalų ministras Kęstutis Budrys LRT radijui sakė buvęs „nustebintas ir šokiruotas", kad JAV buvo prilyginta Rusijai ar Kinijai. Jis teigė, kad organizatoriai „peržengė visas ribas ir padarė didžiulę klaidą" („went way overboard and made a huge blunder"), o tokia retorika „susilpnina mūsų ryšius su sąjungininkais".
• Kanada (Global Affairs Canada) pareiškė, kad „peržiūrėjo savo dalyvavimą" dėl „pakeisto kai kurių diskusijų formulavimo".
• ES išorės veiksmų tarnyba paprašė pašalinti jos logotipą „atsižvelgiant į programos turinį".

Pasekmės

• Kanados, Lietuvos ir ES diplomatinių tarnybų logotipai buvo uždengti konferencijos stenduose
• Šios institucijos buvo pašalintos iš oficialios programos ir rėmėjų sąrašo
• Prancūzija liko vienintele pagrindine rėmėja

JAV Valstybės departamentas, paklaustas pakomentuoti, pareiškė: „Nors negalime komentuoti diplomatinių pokalbių detalių, neturėtų stebinti, kad šalys atsiriboja nuo šios konferencijos, sužinojusios, jog joje JAV įvardijama kaip „FIMI grėsmė".

Russian — answer round 1

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English translation

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support for the annual #Disinfo2026 conference (organized by the NGO EU DisinfoLab), which took place on October 7–8, 2026, in Vilnius, due to several interrelated reasons:

1. The Conference Program "Accusing" the US

The main reason was that the program featured panels framing the US as a source of disinformation and an actor of "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI — the EU term for hostile information operations):

• "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" — a panel featuring two American researchers and a former CIA officer, discussing "how the US became a disinformation threat to Europe."
• "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure" — a panel about US government pressure, including visa bans for European experts.
• A panel on the Arctic, which claimed there is "growing evidence" that the US acted as a FIMI actor in the context of Greenland.

2. Pressure from the Trump Administration

According to reports by Politico, Reuters, and The Guardian, the US State Department sent diplomatic cables to US embassies in European countries, Canada, and Lithuania demanding to: - express Washington's concerns; - "assess" whether participating governments agree with characterizing the US as a FIMI actor; - reconsider participation in the conference.

US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald personally participated in negotiations with the Lithuanian side. Internal State Department documents showed that the US was "grateful" to Lithuania for "taking American concerns seriously."

3. Media and Social Media Campaign

The conference came under attack from MAGA bloggers and conservative activists. In particular, journalist Michael Shellenberger sent "intimidating emails" to participants questioning their involvement, funding, and stance on the US as a source of FIMI. This created additional pressure on the organizers and sponsors.

4. Official Statements from Those Who Withdrew Support

All three parties cited the fact that the program "did not align with the official position":

• Lithuania: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that "parts of the program do not correspond to the official position and national interests of Lithuania." Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said in an interview with LRT Radio that the organizers "went too far and made a huge mistake" and that he was "surprised and shocked" that the US was put on the same level as Russia or China: “This does not reflect our views and principles... the fight against disinformation should not turn into an anti-American narrative that weakens our ties with allies.”

• Canada (Global Affairs Canada): stated that it "reconsidered its participation" after "changes in the phrasing of several panels." Spokesperson Samantha Lafleur confirmed that the government was "uncomfortable" with the wording of certain panels. At the same time, Canadian officials continued to participate in the conference, but dropped out of chairing the Arctic session.

• The EU (European External Action Service, EEAS): stated that it asked to have its logo removed because the organizers "framed some discussions in a way that does not align with the EU's official positions." The EU did not agree with the characterization of the US as a disinformation actor, though it continued funding the conference.

Conclusion

At the conference, the logos of Canada, Lithuania, and ЕС were covered with white stickers on banners and materials. The only remaining major state sponsor was the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which reaffirmed its support for the conference and the role of civil society in countering disinformation.

Thus, the withdrawal of support was the result of a combination of direct US diplomatic pressure and the inconsistency between the conference content and the official positions of the three governments, which were not ready to be associated with a narrative equating the US with hostile disinformation actors like Russia or China.

Original text

ЕС, Канада и Литва отозвали поддержку ежегодной конференции #Disinfo2026 (организатор — НКО EU DisinfoLab), проходившей 7–8 октября 2026 года в Вильнюсе, по нескольким взаимосвязанным причинам:

1. Программа конференции, «обвиняющая» США

Главная причина — в программе были заявлены панели, в которых США рассматривались как источник дезинформации и актор «иностранного информационного манипулирования и вмешательства» (FIMI — термин ЕС для обозначения враждебных информационных операций):

• «USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back» («США как угроза FIMI: признать, адаптироваться, дать отпор») — панель с участием двух американских исследователей и бывшего сотрудника ЦРУ, где обсуждалось, «как США стали угрозой дезинформации для Европы».
• «Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure» — панель о давлении правительства США, включая визовые запреты для европейских экспертов.
• Панель об Арктике, где утверждалось о «растущих доказательствах» того, что США действовали как FIMI-актор в контексте Гренландии.

2. Давление администрации Трампа

Согласно материалам Politico, Reuters и The Guardian, Госдепартамент США разослал дипломатические телеграммы американским посольствам в европейских странах, Канаде и Литве с требованием: - выразить обеспокоенность Вашингтона; - «оценить», согласны ли правительства-участники с характеристикой США как FIMI-актора; - пересмотреть участие в конференции.

Посол США в Литве Кара Макдональд лично участвовала в переговорах с литовской стороной. Внутренние документы Госдепа показывали, что США «благодарны» Литве за то, что она «серьёзно отнеслась к американским обеспокоенностям».

3. Кампания в СМИ и соцсетях

Конференция подверглась атакам со стороны MAGA-блогеров и консервативных активистов. В частности, журналист Майкл Шелленбергер (Michael Shellenberger) рассылал участникам «запугивающие письма» с расспросами об их участии, финансировании и позиции по поводу США как источника FIMI. Это создало дополнительное давление на организаторов и спонсоров.

4. Официальные заявления отозвавших поддержку

Все три стороны сослались на то, что программа «не соответствует официальной позиции»:

• Литва: МИД заявил, что «части программы не соответствуют официальной позиции правительства и национальным интересам Литвы». Глава МИД Кестутис Будрис в интервью LRT Radio сказал, что организаторы «перестарались и совершили огромную ошибку» и что он «удивлён и шокирован» тем, что США поставили в один ряд с Россией или Китаем: «Это не соответствует нашим взглядам и принципам... тема борьбы с дезинформацией не должна превращаться в антиамериканский нарратив, ослабляющий наши связи с союзниками».

• Канада (Global Affairs Canada): заявила, что «пересмотрела своё участие» после «изменений в формулировках нескольких панелей». Представительница Саманта Лафлёр подтвердила, что правительству «неудобна» формулировка некоторых панелей. При этом канадские чиновники продолжили участие в конференции, но отказались от кресла председателя сессии по Арктике.

• ЕС (Европейская служба внешних действий, EEAS): заявила, что попросила убрать свой логотип, поскольку организаторы «сформулировали некоторые дискуссии так, что это не соответствует официальным позициям ЕС». ЕС не согласился с характеристикой США как дезинформационного актора, хотя продолжил финансирование конференции.

Итог

На конференции логотипы Канады, Литвы и ЕС были заклеены белыми стicker’ами на баннерах и материалах. Единственным крупным государственным спонсором осталось Министерство иностранных дел Франции, которое подтвердило поддержку конференции и роли гражданского общества в борьбе с дезинформацией.

Таким образом, отзыв поддержки стал результатом сочетания прямого дипломатического давления США и несоответствия содержания конференции официальным позициям трёх правительств, которые не готовы были ассоциироваться с нарративом, приравнивающим США к враждебным дезинформационным акторам вроде России или Китая.

Russian — answer round 2

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English translation

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference (organized by the Brussels-based NGO EU DisinfoLab), which took place on October 7–8, 2026, in Vilnius, due to several interrelated reasons:

1. The conference program put the US on par with hostile regimes

The main reason was that the program featured panels that directly treated the US as a source of "Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference" (FIMI). Specifically, one session was titled:

> "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back"

The program also included a panel titled "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure", where lawyers were to assess the threat of US entry bans for European figures.

2. Pressure from the Trump administration

According to reports by Politico, Reuters, and The Guardian, the US State Department sent a diplomatic cable instructing US embassies in Europe, Canada, and at the EU to express Washington's concern and "assess" whether governments agreed with the characterization of the US as a FIMI actor.

US diplomats (including US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald) spent several days "working over" the governments of Lithuania, Canada, and France. As a result, Canada and Lithuania asked the organizers to remove their logos from conference materials on Monday, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) did so on Tuesday.

3. Official statements from the countries

All three parties cited the fact that the program did not align with their official position:

• Lithuania: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it "canceled its participation because several parts of the program differ from the official government position." Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys, in an interview with LRT Radio, called the organizers' actions "going too far and a big mistake," stating that he was "surprised and shocked" that the US was put on the same level as Russia or China. According to him, the fight against disinformation must not turn into "an anti-American narrative that weakens ties with allies."

• Canada: Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Samantha Lafleur stated that the government was "not comfortable with the wording of some panels," and Canada had "reconsidered its participation" in these sessions. At the same time, Canadian officials continued to participate in the conference, but without sponsor status and without chairing discussions.

• EU (EEAS): A spokesperson stated that the service asked to remove its logo "due to the content of the program," as the organizers "chose the wording of some discussions in a way that does not correspond to the official positions of the EU."

4. What happened in practice

• The logos of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Global Affairs Canada, and the EEAS were covered with white stickers on stands and conference materials.
• France remained the only major sponsor.
• Despite the withdrawal of support, the EU continues to fund the conference, and Canada maintains the participation of its representatives (though not as organizers).

Summary

The countries withdrew their support not because of the topic of countering disinformation itself, but because of the specific wording of the program, which, in their view, unreasonably equated the US with hostile states (Russia, China) in the sphere of information influence. This occurred under direct diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration, for which such a characterization was unacceptable.

Original text

ЕС, Канада и Литва отозвали поддержку конференции #Disinfo2026 (организованной Brussels-based НКО EU DisinfoLab), которая проходила 7–8 октября 2026 года в Вильнюсе, по нескольким взаимосвязанным причинам:

1. Программа конференции ставила США в один ряд с враждебными режимами

Главная причина — в программе были заявлены панели, которые прямо рассматривали США как источник «иностранного информационного манипулирования и вмешательства» (FIMI). В частности, сессия называлась:

> «USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back» («США как угроза FIMI: признать, адаптироваться, дать отпор»)

В программе также значилась панель «Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure» («Под атакой: как сообщество по борьбе с дезинформацией справляется с давлением правительства США»), где юристы должны были оценить угрозу запретов на въезд в США для европейских деятелей.

2. Давление администрации Трампа

Согласно материалам Politico, Reuters и The Guardian, Госдепартамент США направил дипломатическую депешу, в которой американские посольства в Европе, Канаде и при ЕС должны были выразить обеспокоенность Вашингтона и «оценить», согласны ли правительства с характеристикой США как FIMI-актора.

Американские дипломаты (включая посла США в Литве Кару Макдональд) несколько дней «обрабатывали» правительства Литвы, Канады и Франции. В результате Канада и Литва попросили организаторов убрать их логотипы с материалов конференции в понедельник, а Европейская служба внешних связей (EEAS) — во вторник.

3. Официальные заявления стран

Все три стороны сослались на то, что программа не соответствует их официальной позиции:

• Литва: МИД заявил, что «отменил участие, поскольку несколько частей программы отличаются от официальной позиции правительства». Министр иностранных дел Кестутис Будрис в интервью LRT Radio назвал действия организаторов «перебором и большой ошибкой», заявив, что он «удивлён и шокирован» тем, что США поставлены в один ряд с Россией или Китаем. По его словам, борьба с дезинформацией не должна превращаться в «антиамериканский нарратив, ослабляющий связи с союзниками».

• Канада: Представитель Global Affairs Canada Саманта Лафлер заявила, что правительство «не устраивает формулировка некоторых панелей», и Kanada «пересмотрела своё участие» в этих сессиях. При этом канадские чиновники продолжили участвовать в конференции, но без статуса спонсора и без председательства в дискуссиях.

• ЕС (EEAS): Пресс-секретарь заявил, что служба попросила убрать её логотип «в связи с содержанием программы», поскольку организаторы «выбрали формулировку некоторых дискуссий так, что она не соответствует официальным позициям ЕС».

4. Что произошло на практике

• Логотипы МИД Литвы, Global Affairs Canada и EEAS были заклеены белыми стикерами на стендах и материалах конференции.
• Франция осталась единственным крупным спонсором.
• Несмотря на отзыв поддержки, ЕС продолжает финансировать конференцию, а Канада сохраняет участие своих представителей (но не в качестве организаторов).

Итог

Страны отозвали поддержку не из-за самой темы борьбы с дезинформацией, а из-за конкретной формулировки программы, которая, по их мнению, необоснованно приравнивала США к враждебным государствам (России, Китаю) в сфере информационного влияния. Это произошло под прямым дипломатическим давлением администрации Трампа, для которой такая характеристика была неприемлема.

Russian — answer round 3

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Sources returned by search: - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation ... - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 ... - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure - POLITICO - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - EU drops sponsorship of disinformation conference at Trump officials’ request | Trump administration – CONVEN.ORG | HOME - МИД Литвы не комментирует выход из конференции по ...

English translation

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania have withdrawn their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius (October 7–8, 2026) for several interrelated reasons:

1. Content of the Conference Program The organizers (EU DisinfoLab) included sessions in the program where the United States was treated as a source of disinformation and an actor of "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI). In particular, the following panels caused resonance: - "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" - "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure" - A discussion on the role of the United States in spreading disinformation in the Arctic context

2. Pressure from the United States According to investigations by Politico and The Guardian, the Trump administration exerted direct diplomatic pressure on the EU, Canada, and Lithuania. The U.S. State Department sent cables to embassies asking them to express Washington's concerns and "assess" whether governments agreed with characterizing the U.S. as a FIMI actor.

3. Official Statements from the Countries Although the authorities deny directly submitting to U.S. pressure, they cite the inconsistency of the program with their positions:

• Lithuania: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that "parts of the program do not correspond to the government's positions and national interests." Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said he was "surprised and shocked" that the U.S. was put on the same level as Russia or China, and that such a framing "weakens ties with allies."

• Canada: Global Affairs Canada stated that it "reconsidered its participation" following changes to the panel formulations. Department spokeswoman Samantha Lafleur noted that Canada "is not comfortable" with such a presentation of the topic.

• EU (European External Action Service — EEAS): Stated that the organizers formulated the discussions "in a way that does not align with the EU's official positions."

4. Practical Consequences - Canada and Lithuania demanded the removal of their ministries' logos from the conference materials (the logos were covered with white stickers). - The EEAS followed their example and was removed from the official program. - France remained the only major sponsor. - Some Canadian officials continued to participate in the conference, but without sponsor status.

Thus, the withdrawal of support occurred due to a combination of U.S. diplomatic pressure and governments' disagreement with the presentation of the topic (which they perceived as anti-American), where the U.S. was equated with hostile states in the context of disinformation.

Original text

ЕС, Канада и Литва отозвали поддержку конференции #Disinfo2026 в Вильнюсе (7–8 октября 2026 года) по нескольким взаимосвязанным причинам:

1. Содержание программы конференции Организаторы (EU DisinfoLab) включили в программу сессии, где США рассматривались как источник дезинформации и актор «иностранного информационного манипулирования и вмешательства» (FIMI). В частности, вызвали резонанс панели: - «USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back» («США как угроза FIMI: признать, адаптироваться, дать отпор») - «Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure» («Под атакой: как сообщество по борьбе с дезинформацией справляется с давлением правительства США») - Обсуждение роли США в распространении дезинформации в арктическом контексте

2. Давление со стороны США Согласно расследованию Politico и The Guardian, администрация президента Трампа оказывала прямое дипломатическое давление на ЕС, Канаду и Литву. Госдепартамент США направил телеграммы посольствам с просьбой выразить обеспокоенность Вашингтона и «оценить», согласны ли правительства с характеристикой США как FIMI-актора.

3. Официальные заявления стран Хотя власти отрицают прямое подчинение давлению США, они ссылаются на несоответствие программы своим позициям:

• Литва: МИД заявил, что «части программы не соответствуют позициям правительства и национальным интересам». Министр иностранных дел Кястутис Будрис сказал, что был «удивлён и шокирован» тем, что США ставят в один ряд с Россией или Китаем, и что такая подача «ослабляет связи с союзниками».

• Канада: Министерство глобальных дел Канады заявило, что «пересмотрело участие» после изменений в формулировке панелей. Представительница ведомства Саманта Лафлер отметила, что Канада «не комфортно себя чувствует» с такой подачей темы.

• ЕС (Европейская служба внешних связей — EEAS): Заявила, что организаторы сформулировали дискуссии «таким образом, который не соответствует официальным позициям ЕС».

4. Практические последствия - Канада и Литва потребовали убрать логотипы своих министерств из материалов конференции (логотипы были заклеены белыми стикерами). - EEAS последовал их примеру и был исключён из официальной программы. - Единственным крупным спонсором осталась Франция. - Некоторые канадские чиновники продолжили участие в конференции, но без статуса спонсоров.

Таким образом, отзыв поддержки произошёл из-за сочетания дипломатического давления США и несогласия правительств с антисемитской (в их понимании) подачей темы, где США приравнивались к враждебным государствам в контексте дезинформации.

GPT-6.1 Sol

Repeated check: one answer round only. The report shows answer round 1.

English — answer round 1

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - US lobbies allies to cut ties to anti-disinformation conference over panel critical of Washington, sources say By Reuters - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics | TechPolicy.Press

English translation

The immediate issue was a conference panel treating the United States as a potential disinformation threat to Europe. Officially, the EU, Canada and Lithuania objected to that framing; reporting also points to pressure from the Trump administration. Reuters reported that U.S. diplomats persuaded Canada and Lithuania to distance themselves from the event. (investing.com)

What prompted the dispute? The October 7–8, 2026 conference included a panel titled “USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back.” FIMI means foreign information manipulation and interference. The session examined the United States as a possible information threat and how Europe could respond. The U.S. State Department said that labeling the U.S. this way undermined shared goals. (investing.com)

Their stated reasons - EU: The European External Action Service—the EU’s diplomatic service—said it requested removal of its logo because some discussions were framed in ways inconsistent with official EU positions. (techpolicy.press) - Canada: Global Affairs Canada cited changes to the framing of several panels and revised its participation in those sessions. Canadian officials nevertheless continued attending the conference. (investing.com) - Lithuania: Its foreign ministry said it canceled participation because parts of the programme differed from the government’s official position. (investing.com)

What “withdrawal” actually meant It was not a uniform, complete cutoff. EU and Canadian representatives remained involved, and the EU reportedly continued funding the conference despite removing its official-supporter branding. (techpolicy.press)

So the best-supported explanation is a disagreement over describing an ally as an information threat, reinforced by U.S. diplomatic lobbying. That lobbying is documented for Canada and Lithuania; Reuters could not establish whether Washington directly contacted the EU’s diplomatic service. (investing.com)

Original text

The immediate issue was a conference panel treating the United States as a potential disinformation threat to Europe. Officially, the EU, Canada and Lithuania objected to that framing; reporting also points to pressure from the Trump administration. Reuters reported that U.S. diplomats persuaded Canada and Lithuania to distance themselves from the event. (investing.com)

What prompted the dispute? The October 7–8, 2026 conference included a panel titled “USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back.” FIMI means foreign information manipulation and interference. The session examined the United States as a possible information threat and how Europe could respond. The U.S. State Department said that labeling the U.S. this way undermined shared goals. (investing.com)

Their stated reasons - EU: The European External Action Service—the EU’s diplomatic service—said it requested removal of its logo because some discussions were framed in ways inconsistent with official EU positions. (techpolicy.press) - Canada: Global Affairs Canada cited changes to the framing of several panels and revised its participation in those sessions. Canadian officials nevertheless continued attending the conference. (investing.com) - Lithuania: Its foreign ministry said it canceled participation because parts of the programme differed from the government’s official position. (investing.com)

What “withdrawal” actually meant It was not a uniform, complete cutoff. EU and Canadian representatives remained involved, and the EU reportedly continued funding the conference despite removing its official-supporter branding. (techpolicy.press)

So the best-supported explanation is a disagreement over describing an ally as an information threat, reinforced by U.S. diplomatic lobbying. That lobbying is documented for Canada and Lithuania; Reuters could not establish whether Washington directly contacted the EU’s diplomatic service. (investing.com)

French — answer round 1

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Sources returned by search: - US lobbies allies to cut ties to anti-disinformation conference over panel critical of Washington, sources say By Reuters - #Disinfo2026 - EU DisinfoLab - EU drops sponsorship of disinformation conference at Trump officials’ request | Trump administration | The Guardian - Les États-Unis font pression sur leurs alliés pour qu’ils se retirent d’une conférence sur la lutte contre la désinformation après une table ronde critique envers Washington, selon des sources | Zonebourse

English translation

The trigger was a panel discussion presenting the United States as a disinformation threat to Europe, followed by American diplomatic pressure. However, a distinction must be made between this pressure and the reasons officially invoked for the withdrawals. (investing.com)

The #Disinfo2026 conference, organized by the independent association EU DisinfoLab, is being held in Vilnius on October 7 and 8, 2026. (disinfo.eu)

What sparked the controversy One session examined the United States as an actor of "foreign information manipulation and interference" — FIMI. Washington considered that this presentation compromised the common objectives of its allies. According to Reuters, citing three U.S. officials and correspondence, the State Department asked several governments to distance themselves from the event. (investing.com)

The reasons put forward by each party - Lithuania: its Ministry of Foreign Affairs canceled its participation, stating that certain parts of the program diverged from the official government position. Reuters reports that the U.S. démarche convinced Vilnius to disassociate itself. (investing.com) - Canada: Global Affairs Canada cited changes in the presentation of several debates in order to review its participation. Canadian officials nevertheless still participate in the conference. Reuters also links this distancing to the U.S. démarches. (investing.com) - EU: the EEAS cites a disagreement with official European positions, but maintains funding, according to The Guardian. (theguardian.com)

The important caveat: Reuters confirms the pressure on Canada and Lithuania, but was unable to establish whether Washington had directly contacted the European diplomatic service. France, which was also approached, maintained its support. This is therefore not a general abandonment of the fight against disinformation, but a controversy over how to characterize the role of the United States. (zonebourse.com)

Original text

Le déclencheur a été une table ronde présentant les États-Unis comme une menace de désinformation pour l’Europe, suivie de pressions diplomatiques américaines. Il faut toutefois distinguer ces pressions des raisons officiellement invoquées pour les retraits. (investing.com)

La conférence #Disinfo2026, organisée par l’association indépendante EU DisinfoLab, se tient à Vilnius les 7 et 8 octobre 2026. (disinfo.eu)

Ce qui a provoqué la controverse Une session examinait les États-Unis comme acteur de « manipulation et d’ingérence de l’information étrangères » — FIMI. Washington a estimé que cette présentation compromettait les objectifs communs de ses alliés. Selon Reuters, qui s’appuie sur trois responsables américains et des correspondances, le département d’État a sollicité plusieurs gouvernements pour qu’ils prennent leurs distances avec l’événement. (investing.com)

Les raisons avancées par chacun - Lituanie : son ministère des Affaires étrangères a annulé sa participation, indiquant que certaines parties du programme divergeaient de la position officielle du gouvernement. Reuters rapporte que les démarches américaines ont convaincu Vilnius de se désolidariser. (investing.com) - Canada : Affaires mondiales Canada a invoqué des changements dans la présentation de plusieurs débats pour revoir sa participation. Des responsables canadiens participent néanmoins toujours à la conférence. Reuters relie également cette prise de distance aux démarches américaines. (investing.com) - UE : le SEAE invoque un désaccord avec les positions officielles européennes, mais maintient le financement, selon le Guardian. (theguardian.com)

La réserve importante : Reuters confirme les pressions sur le Canada et la Lituanie, mais n’a pas pu établir si Washington avait directement contacté le service diplomatique européen. La France, également sollicitée, a maintenu son soutien. Il ne s’agit donc pas d’un abandon général de la lutte contre la désinformation, mais d’une controverse sur la manière de qualifier le rôle des États-Unis. (zonebourse.com)

Lithuanian — answer round 1

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Sources returned by search: - „Politico“: dėl JAV spaudimo Lietuva, ES ir Kanada nerems dezinformacijos konferencijos - LRT - US lobbies allies to cut ties to anti-disinformation conference over panel critical of Washington, sources say By Reuters

English translation

In short: officially – due to disagreement with the formulations of part of the conference program; according to information gathered by journalists – following diplomatic pressure from the US administration. At the center of the dispute were discussions examining the US as a potential threat of disinformation and information interference to Europe. (archyvai.lrt.lt)

What caused the conflict?

The program of the conference taking place in Vilnius on October 7–8, 2026, included a session titled "The US as a FIMI Threat: Recognize, Adapt, Counter". FIMI stands for foreign information manipulation and interference. Another discussion was dedicated to the US government pressure on the anti-disinformation community. Washington objected to such framing of the US, arguing that it undermines common goals. (archyvai.lrt.lt)

How did the institutions explain the withdrawal?

• The Lithuanian MFA indicated that several parts of the program do not align with the official position of the Government.
• The European External Action Service (EEAS) – specifically this EU diplomatic institution, rather than "the entire EU" – provided a similar explanation.
• The Canadian foreign affairs institution stated that it changed its participation in some sessions due to the formulations of their presentation. Reuters clarified that Canadian officials nevertheless participated in the conference. (archyvai.lrt.lt)

How well-founded is the claim about US pressure?

Reuters relied on three US officials and reviewed correspondence: according to their data, US diplomats persuaded Lithuania and Canada to distance themselves. Pressure was also reported by Politico, whose information was published by LRT. However, Reuters could not determine whether the US also directly approached the EEAS. (investing.com)

Thus, this was a dispute over a program criticizing the US and the official association of institutions with it. The removal of logos and official supporter status has been confirmed, but public statements do not explain whether specific funding was canceled or reclaimed. France remained the main supporter. (archyvai.lrt.lt)

Original text

Trumpai: oficialiai – dėl nesutikimo su dalies konferencijos programos formuluotėmis; pagal žurnalistų surinktą informaciją – po JAV administracijos diplomatinio spaudimo. Ginčo centre buvo diskusijos, kuriose JAV nagrinėjamos kaip galima dezinformacijos ir informacinio kišimosi grėsmė Europai. (archyvai.lrt.lt)

Kas sukėlė konfliktą?

2026 m. spalio 7–8 d. Vilniuje vykstančios konferencijos programoje buvo sesija „JAV kaip FIMI grėsmė: pripažinti, prisitaikyti, atremti“. FIMI reiškia užsienio vykdomą manipuliavimą informacija ir kišimąsi. Kita diskusija buvo skirta JAV vyriausybės spaudimui kovos su dezinformacija bendruomenei. Vašingtonas prieštaravo tokiam JAV įvardijimui, teigdamas, kad tai kenkia bendriems tikslams. (archyvai.lrt.lt)

Kaip pasitraukimą paaiškino institucijos?

• Lietuvos URM nurodė, kad kelios programos dalys neatitinka oficialios Vyriausybės pozicijos.
• Europos išorės veiksmų tarnyba (EIVT) – būtent ši ES diplomatinė institucija, o ne „visa ES“ – pateikė panašų paaiškinimą.
• Kanados užsienio reikalų institucija teigė pakeitusi dalyvavimą kai kuriose sesijose dėl jų pateikimo formuluočių. „Reuters“ patikslino, kad Kanados pareigūnai konferencijoje vis dėlto dalyvavo. (archyvai.lrt.lt)

Kiek pagrįstas teiginys apie JAV spaudimą?

„Reuters“ rėmėsi trimis JAV pareigūnais ir peržiūrėtu susirašinėjimu: jų duomenimis, JAV diplomatai įtikino Lietuvą ir Kanadą atsiriboti. Apie spaudimą pranešė ir „Politico“, kurio informaciją paskelbė LRT. Tačiau „Reuters“ negalėjo nustatyti, ar JAV tiesiogiai kreipėsi ir į EIVT. (investing.com)

Taigi tai buvo ginčas dėl JAV kritikuojančios programos ir oficialaus institucijų susiejimo su ja. Patvirtintas logotipų bei oficialaus rėmėjų statuso pašalinimas, bet vieši pranešimai nepaaiškina, ar buvo atšauktas arba susigrąžintas konkretus finansavimas. Prancūzija liko pagrindine rėmėja. (archyvai.lrt.lt)

Russian — answer round 1

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - US lobbies allies to cut ties to anti-disinformation conference over panel critical of Washington, sources say By Reuters - „Politico“: dėl JAV spaudimo Lietuva, ES ir Kanada nerems dezinformacijos konferencijos - LRT - ЕС, Канада и Литва отозвали поддержку конференции по дезинформации под давлением США | Европейская правда - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics | TechPolicy.Press - EU drops sponsorship of disinformation conference at Trump officials’ request | Trump administration | The Guardian

English translation

In short: officially — due to disagreement with the program's wording; according to media reports — following diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration, which was outraged by the discussion of the US as a source of disinformation and interference in Europe. Reuters confirmed pressure on Canada and Литва [Lithuania] based on three US sources and reviewed correspondence; other publications also reported on pressure exerted on the EU diplomatic service. (investing.com)

What caused the conflict

The program of the conference in Vilnius on October 7–8, 2026, included discussions: - on the US as a threat of FIMI — foreign information manipulation and interference; - on countering pressure from the US government against the community of disinformation researchers, including the threat of visa bans. (archyvai.lrt.lt)

Washington considered this framing of the issue unacceptable. According to a diplomatic cable described by Politico, the State Department objected to the US effectively being put on a par with Russia and China. US embassies were instructed to convey these grievances to the governments of partner countries. The State Department itself, without disclosing the content of the negotiations, stated that designating the US as an information threat undermines common goals. (eurointegration.com.ua)

How the participants themselves explained the decision

• Lithuania: certain parts of the program diverge from the government's official position; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs canceled its participation. (investing.com)
• Canada: changed its participation in some panels due to changes in their wording, but its officials continued to attend the conference. (investing.com)
• The EU — more precisely, the European External Action Service (EEAS): demanded that its logo be removed, since the presentation of a number of discussions does not align with the EU's official positions. At the same time, representatives of the service remained involved in the event. (techpolicy.press)

Therefore, "withdrew support" does not mean a complete boycott or the termination of all funding. According to The Guardian, the EU continued to fund the conference despite the removal of its branding. France maintained its support. (theguardian.com)

In other words, the dispute was not about the necessity of combating disinformation in general, but about whether it is permissible to discuss the American ally itself as a source of information threat. The official explanation is disagreement with the program; journalistic investigations point to Washington's pressure as the direct factor behind the decisions. (techpolicy.press)

Original text

Коротко: официально — из-за несогласия с формулировками программы; по сообщениям СМИ — после дипломатического давления администрации Трампа, возмущённой обсуждением США как источника дезинформации и вмешательства в Европе. Reuters подтвердило давление на Канаду и Литву по трём американским источникам и изученной переписке; о давлении также на дипломатическую службу ЕС сообщали другие издания. (investing.com)

Что вызвало конфликт

В программу конференции в Вильнюсе 7–8 октября 2026 года включили дискуссии: - о США как угрозе FIMI — иностранного манипулирования информацией и вмешательства; - о противодействии сообщества исследователей дезинформации давлению правительства США, включая угрозу визовых запретов. (archyvai.lrt.lt)

Вашингтон счёл такую постановку вопроса неприемлемой. По дипломатической телеграмме, описанной Politico, Госдепартамент возражал против того, что США фактически ставят в один ряд с Россией и Китаем. Американским посольствам поручили донести эти претензии до правительств стран-партнёров. Сам Госдепартамент, не раскрывая содержание переговоров, заявил, что обозначение США как информационной угрозы подрывает общие цели. (eurointegration.com.ua)

Как объяснили решение сами участники

• Литва: отдельные части программы расходятся с официальной позицией правительства; МИД отменил своё участие. (investing.com)
• Канада: изменила участие в некоторых панелях из-за изменения их формулировок, но её чиновники продолжили посещать конференцию. (investing.com)
• ЕС — точнее, Европейская служба внешних связей (EEAS): потребовала убрать свой логотип, поскольку подача ряда дискуссий не соответствует официальным позициям ЕС. При этом представители службы оставались вовлечены в мероприятие. (techpolicy.press)

Поэтому «отозвали поддержку» не означает полного бойкота или прекращения всего финансирования. ЕС, по данным The Guardian, продолжил финансировать конференцию, несмотря на снятие своего брендинга. Франция поддержку сохранила. (theguardian.com)

Иными словами, спор был не о необходимости бороться с дезинформацией вообще, а о том, допустимо ли обсуждать самого американского союзника как источник информационной угрозы. Официальное объяснение — несогласие с программой; журналистские расследования указывают на давление Вашингтона как непосредственный фактор решений. (techpolicy.press)

Qwen3.7 Plus

Repeated check: one answer round only. The report shows answer round 1.

English — answer round 1

Web access: Used — OpenRouter search

Sources returned by search: - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation ... - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 ...

English translation

Why the EU, Canada, and Lithuania Withdrew from #Disinfo2026

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius (organized by EU DisinfoLab) in October 2026 due to pressure from the Trump administration after the conference program included panels characterizing the United States as a source of foreign disinformation.

What triggered the withdrawals

The conference program featured several panels that described the U.S. as a "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI) actor — a term typically reserved for state-backed deceptive operations to sway public debate and undermine institutions. Key panels included:

• "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" — examining how the U.S. had become a disinformation threat to Europe, featuring American researchers and a former CIA official.
• "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure" — discussing U.S. government entry bans targeting European disinformation researchers.
• A session on the U.S. operating as a FIMI actor in Arctic contexts.

How the pressure was applied

According to excerpts of a State Department cable seen by Politico, the U.S. State Department directed American embassies in several European countries and the EU to:

1. Express Washington's concerns about the conference's framing of the U.S.
2. "Assess" whether the governments involved agreed with characterizing the United States as a FIMI actor.

Additionally, reporting from Intelligence Online indicated that an investigation by a prominent MAGA blogger and subsequent social media attacks on the conference contributed to the partner withdrawals.

The withdrawals

• Canada and Lithuania asked organizers on Monday to remove their ministries' logos from conference materials.
• The European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU's diplomatic arm, followed on Tuesday.
• Photographs showed sponsor logos covered with white stickers on conference displays.
• France remained the only major sponsor listed.

Official explanations

The withdrawing parties gave more diplomatic public explanations:

• Lithuania's Foreign Ministry and the EEAS said they withdrew because parts of the conference program "did not correspond with their official positions," without specifying which parts.
• Canada's Global Affairs said it was "not comfortable with the framing of some of the panels" and revised its participation — Canadian officials still attended but did not chair any discussions.

The U.S. State Department said it "could not discuss diplomatic conversations" but added that it "should not be a surprise that countries would disaffiliate from this conference upon learning that it labeled the U.S. a 'FIMI threat.'"

Original text

Why the EU, Canada, and Lithuania Withdrew from #Disinfo2026

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support for the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius (organized by EU DisinfoLab) in October 2026 due to pressure from the Trump administration after the conference program included panels characterizing the United States as a source of foreign disinformation.

What triggered the withdrawals

The conference program featured several panels that described the U.S. as a "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI) actor — a term typically reserved for state-backed deceptive operations to sway public debate and undermine institutions. Key panels included:

• "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" — examining how the U.S. had become a disinformation threat to Europe, featuring American researchers and a former CIA official.
• "Under attack: How the counter-disinformation community is dealing with US government pressure" — discussing U.S. government entry bans targeting European disinformation researchers.
• A session on the U.S. operating as a FIMI actor in Arctic contexts.

How the pressure was applied

According to excerpts of a State Department cable seen by Politico, the U.S. State Department directed American embassies in several European countries and the EU to:

1. Express Washington's concerns about the conference's framing of the U.S.
2. "Assess" whether the governments involved agreed with characterizing the United States as a FIMI actor.

Additionally, reporting from Intelligence Online indicated that an investigation by a prominent MAGA blogger and subsequent social media attacks on the conference contributed to the partner withdrawals.

The withdrawals

• Canada and Lithuania asked organizers on Monday to remove their ministries' logos from conference materials.
• The European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU's diplomatic arm, followed on Tuesday.
• Photographs showed sponsor logos covered with white stickers on conference displays.
• France remained the only major sponsor listed.

Official explanations

The withdrawing parties gave more diplomatic public explanations:

• Lithuania's Foreign Ministry and the EEAS said they withdrew because parts of the conference program "did not correspond with their official positions," without specifying which parts.
• Canada's Global Affairs said it was "not comfortable with the framing of some of the panels" and revised its participation — Canadian officials still attended but did not chair any discussions.

The U.S. State Department said it "could not discuss diplomatic conversations" but added that it "should not be a surprise that countries would disaffiliate from this conference upon learning that it labeled the U.S. a 'FIMI threat.'"

French — answer round 1

Web access: Used — OpenRouter search

Sources returned by search: - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - EU disowns Vilnius event that warned of US political interference, but France maintains support – EUobserver - Les États-Unis font pression sur leurs alliés pour qu’ils se retirent d’une conférence sur la lutte contre la désinformation après une table ronde critique envers Washington, selon des sources - European Union/Lithuania/United States • Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 conference in Vilnius - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure - POLITICO - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up in Transatlantic Politics

English translation

The withdrawal of the EU, Canada, and Lithuania from the #Disinfo2026 conference

This withdrawal, which occurred on October 7-8, 2026 in Vilnius, is the result of diplomatic pressure exerted by the Trump administration, combined with a disagreement over the content of the program. Here are the key elements:

📌 The direct cause: panels critical of the United States

The conference, organized by the NGO EU DisinfoLab, included panel discussions examining the United States as a source of foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). One of them was entitled:

> « USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back » > (The United States as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back)

Another session addressed the pressure exerted by the U.S. government on the disinformation-fighting community, notably entry bans targeting European figures.

🇺🇸 Pressure from the U.S. Department of State

According to Politico and Reuters, the Department of State actively pressured its allies: - Diplomatic cables show that Washington asked its embassies in Europe and at the EU to express its concerns. - The U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania, Kara McDonald, personally participated in the démarche with Vilnius. - Canada, Lithuania, and France were contacted.

A State Department spokesperson stated that it "should not be surprising that countries are disassociating themselves from this conference after learning that it characterized the United States as a 'FIMI threat'".

📋 Official justifications from the withdrawing countries

Each entity invoked reasons related to the content of the program:

🇫🇷 The case of France

France remained the only major sponsor to stay. A French diplomat indicated that his government, without having participated in the drafting of the program, regularly supported civil society efforts against disinformation.

In summary

This withdrawal illustrates the growing tension between the Trump administration and its European allies on the issue of disinformation, with Washington refusing to be characterized as an actor in information manipulation, while European researchers considered this question legitimate within the framework of a scientific conference on the subject.

Original text

Le retrait de l'UE, du Canada et de la Lituanie de la conférence #Disinfo2026

Ce retrait, survenu les 7-8 octobre 2026 à Vilnius, est le résultat d'une pression diplomatique exercée par l'administration Trump, combinée à un désaccord sur le contenu du programme. Voici les éléments clés :

📌 La cause directe : des panels critiques envers les États-Unis

La conférence, organisée par l'ONG EU DisinfoLab, comprenait des tables rondes examinant les États-Unis comme une source de manipulation et ingérence étrangères dans l'information (FIMI). L'une d'elles était intitulée :

> « USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back » > (Les États-Unis en tant que menace FIMI : reconnaître, s'adapter, riposter)

Une autre session abordait les pressions exercées par le gouvernement américain sur la communauté de lutte contre la désinformation, notamment les interdits d'entrée visant des personnalités européennes.

🇺🇸 La pression du Département d'État américain

Selon Politico et Reuters, le Département d'État a activement fait pression sur ses alliés : - Des câbles diplomatiques montrent que Washington a demandé à ses ambassades en Europe et auprès de l'UE d'exprimer ses préoccupations. - L'ambassadrice des États-Unis en Lituanie, Kara McDonald, a personnellement participé aux démarches auprès de Vilnius. - Le Canada, la Lituanie et la France ont été contactés.

Le porte-parole du Département d'État a déclaré qu'il « ne devrait pas être surprenant que des pays se désassocient de cette conférence après avoir appris qu'elle qualifiait les États-Unis de 'menace FIMI' ».

📋 Les justifications officielles des pays retirants

Chaque entité a invoqué des raisons liées au contenu du programme :

🇫🇷 Le cas de la France

La France est restée le seul grand sponsor maintenu. Un diplomate français a indiqué que son gouvernement, sans avoir participé à l'élaboration du programme, soutenait régulièrement les efforts de la société civile contre la désinformation.

En résumé

Ce retrait illustre la tension croissante entre l'administration Trump et ses alliés européens sur la question de la désinformation, Washington refusant d'être caractérisé comme un acteur de manipulation de l'information, tandis que les chercheurs européens considéraient cette question comme légitime dans le cadre d'une conférence scientifique sur le sujet.

Lithuanian — answer round 1

Web access: Used — OpenRouter search

Sources returned by search: - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation ... - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius ... - „Politico“: dėl JAV spaudimo Lietuva, ES ir Kanada nerems dezinformacijos konferencijos - LRT - US pressure strips sponsors from a disinformation conference - Disinformation Conference in Europe Caught Up ...

English translation

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew their support (more precisely – officially distanced themselves and asked to remove their logos from) for the international disinformation conference "#Disinfo2026", held in Vilnius in early October 2026, for several main reasons:

1. Designation of the US as a disinformation threat (FIMI) The main reason was the conference program. The event organizers (the non-governmental organization "EU DisinfoLab") included sessions in the program where the United States was examined as an actor of "foreign information manipulation and interference" (English FIMI). One of the discussions was even titled "The US as a FIMI threat: recognizing, adapting, pushing back". In this way, an attempt was made in the context of the conference to equate the US with Russia or China.

2. Direct pressure from the US (Trump administration) As reported by the media (e.g., "Politico"), the US State Department reacted very strongly and exerted direct diplomatic pressure on EU, Canadian, and Lithuanian representatives. US embassies were instructed to contact these states, express Washington's dissatisfaction, and clarify whether they agreed with the designation of the US as a disinformation threat.

3. Incompatibility with official positions and national interests Faced with this situation, all three parties decided to distance themselves from the event so as not to be identified with the anti-American narrative: * Lithuania: Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys publicly stated that the organizers "overstepped significantly and made a major transgression" by equating the US (an ally) with Russia or China. The Lithuanian MFA indicated that parts of the program do not correspond to the government's position and Lithuania's national interests, and therefore asked to remove the ministry's logos from the event materials. * Canada: Global Affairs Canada also asked the organizers to remove its logos from the conference paraphernalia, citing the wording of certain discussions, although Canadian representatives continued to participate in the event. * European Union: The EU External Action Service (EEAS) asked to remove its logos, explaining that the organizers formulated some discussions in such a way that they do not correspond to the official EU position (in official reports, the EU attributes the FIMI threat to Russia and China, but not the US). Nevertheless, it is reported that the EU continued to fund the event, and some EEAS representatives secretly participated in the discussions.

In summary: The withdrawal of support (covering or removing logos) occurred because the event organizers included elements in the program that assigned the US the role of a hostile disinformation spreader. This provoked a sharp US reaction and forced allies to urgently distance themselves from such a conference agenda in order to avoid diplomatic friction and the weakening of transatlantic ties.

Original text

ES, Kanada ir Lietuva atsiėmė (tiksliau – oficialiai atsiribojo ir paprašė nuimti savo logotipus iš) tarptautinės dezinformacijos konferencijos „#Disinfo2026“, vykusios Vilniuje 2026 m. spalio pradžioje, paramą dėl kelių pagrindinių priežasčių:

1. JAV įvardijimas kaip dezinformacijos grėsmės (FIMI) Pagrindinė priežastis – konferencijos programa. Renginio organizatoriai (nevyriausybinė organizacija „EU DisinfoLab“) į programą įtraukė sesijas, kuriose Jungtinės Valstijos buvo nagrinėjamos kaip „užsienio informacijos manipuliacijos ir kišimosi“ (angl. FIMI) aktorės. Viena iš diskusijų net vadinosi „JAV kaip FIMI grėsmė: pripažinti, prisitaikyti, stumti atgal“. Tokiu būdu JAV konferencijos kontekste buvo bandoma lyginti su Rusija ar Kinija.

2. Tiesioginis JAV (Trampo administracijos) spaudimas Kaip pranešė žiniasklaida (pvz., „Politico“), JAV valstybės departamentas sureagavo labai griežtai ir padarė tiesioginį diplomatinį spaudimą ES, Kanados ir Lietuvos atstovams. JAV ambasados buvo įpareigotos susisiekti su šiomis valstybėmis, išreikšti Vašingtono nepasitenkinimą ir išsiaiškinti, ar jos pritaria JAV įvardijimui kaip dezinformacijos grėsmės.

3. Oficialių pozicijų ir nacionalinių interesų neatitikimas Susidūrusios su šia situacija, visos trys pusės nusprendė atsiriboti nuo renginio, kad nebūtų tapatinamos su antiamerikietišku naratyvu: * Lietuva: Lietuvos užsienio reikalų ministras Kęstutis Budrys viešai pareiškė, kad organizatoriai „gerokai perspaudė ir padarė didelį nusižengimą“, prilygindami JAV (sąjungininkę) Rusijai ar Kinijai. Lietuvos URM nurodė, kad programos dalys neatitinka vyriausybės pozicijos ir Lietuvos nacionalinių interesų, todėl paprašė pašalinti ministerijos logotipus iš renginio medžiagos. * Kanada: Kanados pasaulinių reikalų ministerija taip pat paprašė organizatorių nuimti savo logotipus nuo konferencijos atributikos, motyvuodama kai kurių diskusijų formuluotėmis, nors Kanados atstovai toliau dalyvavo renginyje. * Europos Sąjunga: ES Išorės veiksmų tarnyba (EIVT) paprašė pašalinti savo logotipus, paaiškindama, kad organizatoriai kai kurias diskusijas suformulavo taip, jog jos neatitinka oficialios ES pozicijos (ES oficialiuose raportuose FIMI grėsmei priskiria Rusiją ir Kiniją, bet ne JAV). Visgi, skelbiama, kad ES toliau finansavo renginį, o kai kurie EIVT atstovai slaptai dalyvavo diskusijose.

Apibendrinant: Paramos atsiėmimas (logotipų uždengimas ar nuėmimas) įvyko todėl, kad renginio organizatoriai įtraukė į programą elementus, kurie JAV priskyrė priešiško dezinformacijos skleidėjo vaidmenį. Tai iššaukė aštrią JAV reakciją ir privertė sąjungininkus skubiai atsiriboti nuo tokios konferencijos darbotvarkės, siekiant išvengti diplomatinių trintų ir transatlantinių ryšių silpninimo.

Russian — answer round 1

Web access: Used — OpenRouter search

Sources returned by search: - EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation ... - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada drops sponsorship of conference that talks of U.S. as foreign interference actor - The Globe and Mail - Pressured by US, Brussels pulls out of Disinfo 2026 ... - Lithuania, EU and Canada withdraw support for Vilnius disinfo conference under US pressure - LRT - Canada yanks sponsorship of disinformation conference discussing U.S. as a threat | CBC News - ЄС, Канада та Литва відмовилися від участі в конференції з дезінформації під тиском США | Європейська правда - Politico: ЄС Канада та Литва вийшли з Disinfo2026 у Вільнюсі - новини LB.ua - МИД Литвы не комментирует выход из конференции по ...

English translation

Why the EU, Canada, and Lithuania withdrew support for the #Disinfo2026 conference

The main reason is pressure from the Trump administration after the conference organizers included panel discussions in the program that characterized the United States as an actor of "Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference" (FIMI).

Chronology of events

1. The conference program (#Disinfo2026, organized by the Brussels-based NGO EU DisinfoLab) included sessions dedicated to the role of the US as a source of disinformation. One of the panels was titled "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back" and focused on how the US has become a disinformation threat to Europe, including in the Arctic context.

2. The US State Department sent a diplomatic cable to US embassies in several European countries and the EU demanding that Washington's concerns be expressed and that it be "assessed" whether the governments of these countries agree with the characterization of the US as a FIMI actor. According to Reuters, US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald, in particular, was involved in this process.

3. Under US pressure: - Canada and Lithuania asked the organizers on Monday to remove their ministries' logos from the conference materials. - The European External Action Service (EEAS) — the EU's diplomatic service — followed suit on Tuesday.

4. In photographs from the conference, the logos of Canada, Lithuania, and the EU were covered with white stickers. The French government became the only major sponsor remaining on the list.

Official positions

• The US State Department stated that "it should come as no surprise that countries distanced themselves from the conference upon learning that it labels the US a 'FIMI threat'."
• Canada (Global Affairs Canada) stated that it had reviewed its participation due to "changes in the phrasing of certain panel discussions," but did not deny that it had objections to describing the US as a threat.
• Lithuania — the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that "certain parts of the program do not align with the government's positions and Lithuania's national interests." Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said he was "surprised and shocked" that the US was being put on a par with Russia or China, calling it an "anti-American narrative that weakens ties with allies."
• The EEAS (EU) stated that the organizers "chose a format for certain discussions that does not align with the EU's official positions."

Context

According to The Intelligence Online, the trigger was also an investigation by an influential MAGA blogger and subsequent social media attacks on the conference, which increased political pressure on the participants.

Original text

Почему ЕС, Канада и Литва отозвали поддержку конференции #Disinfo2026

Основная причина — давление со стороны администрации Трампа после того, как организаторы конференции включили в программу панельные дискуссии, в которых США характеризовались как субъект «иностранной манипуляции информацией и вмешательства» (FIMI — Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference).

Хронология событий

1. Программа конференции (#Disinfo2026, организованной брюссельской НКО EU DisinfoLab) включала сессии, посвящённые роли США как источника дезинформации. Одна из панелей называлась «USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back» и была посвящена тому, как США стали угрозой дезинформации для Европы, в том числе в арктическом контексте.

2. Госдепартамент США разослал дипломатическую телеграмму в посольства США в ряде европейских стран и в ЕС с требованием выразить обеспокоенность Вашингтона и «оценить», согласны ли правительства этих стран с характеристикой США как субъекта FIMI. По данным Reuters, к этому процессу была причастна, в частности, посол США в Литве Кара Макдональд.

3. Под давлением США: - Канада и Литва в понедельник попросили организаторов убрать логотипы их министерств с материалов конференции. - Европейская служба внешних действий (EEAS) — дипломатическая служба ЕС — последовала их примеру во вторник.

4. На фотографиях с конференции логотипы Канады, Литвы и ЕС были заклеены белыми наклейками. Единственным крупным спонсором, оставшимся в списке, стало правительство Франции.

Официальные позиции

• Госдепартамент США заявил, что «не должно быть сюрпризом, что страны дистанцировались от конференции, узнав, что она называет США "угрозой FIMI"».
• Канада (Global Affairs Canada) заявила, что пересмотрела своё участие из-за «изменений в формулировках некоторых панельных дискуссий», но не стала отрицать, что у неё были возражения против описания США как угрозы.
• Литва — МИД заявил, что «некоторые части программы не соответствуют позициям правительства и национальным интересам Литвы». Глава МИД Литвы Кястутис Будрис сказал, что был «удивлён и шокирован» тем, что США ставят в один ряд с Россией или Китаем, и назвал это «антиамериканским нарративом, ослабляющим связи с союзниками».
• EEAS (ЕС) заявила, что организаторы «выбрали такой формат некоторых дискуссий, который не соответствует официальным позициям ЕС».

Контекст

По данным издания The Intelligence Online, толчком также стало расследование влиятельного блогера MAGA и последовавшие за ним атаки в социальных сетях на конференцию, что усилило политическое давление на участников.

Grok 4.7

Repeated check: one answer round only. The report shows answer round 1.

English — answer round 1

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - https://webstat.net/disinformation/eu-drops-sponsorship-of-disinformation-conference-at-trump-officials-request-trump-administration/ - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/07/disinformation-conference-europe-us-pressure-01111134 - https://techpolicy.press/disinformation-conference-in-europe-roiled-by-transatlantic-politics - https://ground.news/article/mfa-does-not-answer-whether-it-withdrew-from-disinformation-conference-due-to-us-pressure - https://www.intelligenceonline.com/europe-russia/2026/10/07/pressured-by-us-brussels-pulls-out-of-disinfo-2026-conference-in-vilnius,110892477-art - https://webstat.net/disinformation/canada-yanks-sponsorship-of-disinformation-conference-discussing-u-s-as-a-threat/ - https://time.news/eu-canada-and-lithuania-drop-official-sponsorship-of-disinfo2026/ - https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-lobbies-allies-cut-ties-anti-disinformation-conference-over-panel-critical-2026-10-07/ - https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/3076085/politico-del-jav-spaudimo-lietuva-es-ir-kanada-nerems-dezinformacijos-konferencijos - https://lt.news-pravda.com/en/lithuania/2026/10/08/46211.html - https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/3076091/lithuania-eu-and-canada-withdraw-support-for-vilnius-disinfo-conference-under-us-pressure - https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/gac-disinformation-united-states-lithuania-9.7187116 - https://www.disinfo.eu/conference/ - https://webstat.net/disinformation/canada-drops-sponsorship-of-conference-that-cites-u-s-as-foreign-interference-actor/ - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/07/trump-eu-disinformation-conference - https://harici.com.tr/en/eu-and-allies-pull-conference-backing-after-us-pressure-over-panel/ - https://ua.news/en/world/es-vidklikav-pidtrimku-konferentsiyi-pislia-zvernen-ssha-do-uriadiv-the-guardian

English translation

They withdrew official sponsorship because parts of the program treated the United States as a disinformation threat, after US diplomatic pressure over that framing.

The #Disinfo2026 conference, run by the Brussels nonprofit EU DisinfoLab in Vilnius on 7–8 October 2026, included sessions that described the US as a “foreign information manipulation and interference” (FIMI) actor. One panel was titled along the lines of “USA as a FIMI threat: adapt, acknowledge, push back” and asked how the United States had become a FIMI threat for Europe. Another addressed US government pressure on the counter-disinformation community. The program had been public for weeks or months beforehand.

Reporting by The Guardian, Politico, and Reuters says the Trump administration’s State Department lobbied Lithuania, Canada, and others (including France) to pull back. A State Department cable and internal documents described the US-as-FIMI framing as a false equivalence with adversaries such as Russia and China that “undermines shared goals.” US officials reportedly thanked Lithuania for taking the concerns seriously; Lithuania’s foreign minister is said to have told the US embassy that the US-focused sessions did not represent the Lithuanian government’s views. France stayed on as a main supporter. Logos of the EU’s External Action Service (EEAS), Global Affairs Canada, and Lithuania’s foreign ministry were removed or covered on materials shortly before the event.

Their public explanations were narrower and did not confirm US pressure:

• Lithuania said it cancelled participation because several parts of the programme differed from the government’s official position and national interests, and asked organizers not to link the ministry to the event.
• Canada said that after changes to the framing of several panels it revised its participation in those sessions and withdrew sponsorship, while Canadian officials still attended.
• The EU (EEAS) said organizers framed some discussions in a way that did not align with official EU positions. EU officials did not accept characterizing the US as a disinformation actor; the EEAS’s own FIMI reporting has focused on actors such as Russia and China. The EU reportedly continued to fund the conference even after dropping its branding as a supporter.

The US State Department said it should not be surprising that countries would disaffiliate once the US was labeled a “FIMI threat,” a term normally used for adversary influence operations.

Original text

They withdrew official sponsorship because parts of the program treated the United States as a disinformation threat, after US diplomatic pressure over that framing.

The #Disinfo2026 conference, run by the Brussels nonprofit EU DisinfoLab in Vilnius on 7–8 October 2026, included sessions that described the US as a “foreign information manipulation and interference” (FIMI) actor. One panel was titled along the lines of “USA as a FIMI threat: adapt, acknowledge, push back” and asked how the United States had become a FIMI threat for Europe. Another addressed US government pressure on the counter-disinformation community. The program had been public for weeks or months beforehand.

Reporting by The Guardian, Politico, and Reuters says the Trump administration’s State Department lobbied Lithuania, Canada, and others (including France) to pull back. A State Department cable and internal documents described the US-as-FIMI framing as a false equivalence with adversaries such as Russia and China that “undermines shared goals.” US officials reportedly thanked Lithuania for taking the concerns seriously; Lithuania’s foreign minister is said to have told the US embassy that the US-focused sessions did not represent the Lithuanian government’s views. France stayed on as a main supporter. Logos of the EU’s External Action Service (EEAS), Global Affairs Canada, and Lithuania’s foreign ministry were removed or covered on materials shortly before the event.

Their public explanations were narrower and did not confirm US pressure:

• Lithuania said it cancelled participation because several parts of the programme differed from the government’s official position and national interests, and asked organizers not to link the ministry to the event.
• Canada said that after changes to the framing of several panels it revised its participation in those sessions and withdrew sponsorship, while Canadian officials still attended.
• The EU (EEAS) said organizers framed some discussions in a way that did not align with official EU positions. EU officials did not accept characterizing the US as a disinformation actor; the EEAS’s own FIMI reporting has focused on actors such as Russia and China. The EU reportedly continued to fund the conference even after dropping its branding as a supporter.

The US State Department said it should not be surprising that countries would disaffiliate once the US was labeled a “FIMI threat,” a term normally used for adversary influence operations.

French — answer round 1

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/gac-disinformation-united-states-lithuania-9.7187116 - https://webstat.net/disinformation/canada-drops-sponsorship-of-conference-that-cites-u-s-as-foreign-interference-actor/ - https://lt.news-pravda.com/en/lithuania/2026/10/08/46211.html - https://www.disinfo.eu/conference/ - https://webstat.net/disinformation/eu-drops-sponsorship-of-disinformation-conference-at-trump-officials-request-trump-administration/ - https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/3076085/politico-del-jav-spaudimo-lietuva-es-ir-kanada-nerems-dezinformacijos-konferencijos - http://www.koreapost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=49736 - https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2026-10-07/us-lobbies-allies-to-cut-ties-to-anti-disinformation-conference-over-panel-critical-of-washington-sources-say - https://ground.news/article/mfa-does-not-answer-whether-it-withdrew-from-disinformation-conference-due-to-us-pressure - https://lb.ua/news/2026/10/08/771942_politico_eeas_kanada_litva.html - https://ground.news/article/canada-drops-sponsorship-of-conference-that-talks-of-us-as-foreign-interference-actor - https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-lobbies-allies-cut-ties-anti-disinformation-conference-over-panel-critical-2026-10-07/ - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/07/disinformation-conference-europe-us-pressure-01111134 - https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/pasaulis/politico-del-jav-spaudimo-lietuva-es-ir-kanada-pasitrauke-is-renginio-apie-dezinformacija-57-2780336 - https://time.news/eu-canada-and-lithuania-drop-official-sponsorship-of-disinfo2026/ - https://www.intelligenceonline.com/europe-russia/2026/10/07/pressured-by-us-brussels-pulls-out-of-disinfo-2026-conference-in-vilnius,110892477-art - https://ua.news/en/world/es-vidklikav-pidtrimku-konferentsiyi-pislia-zvernen-ssha-do-uriadiv-the-guardian - https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/3076091/lithuania-eu-and-canada-withdraw-support-for-vilnius-disinfo-conference-under-us-pressure - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/07/trump-eu-disinformation-conference - https://techpolicy.press/disinformation-conference-in-europe-roiled-by-transatlantic-politics

English translation

The EU (via the European External Action Service), Canada (Global Affairs Canada) and Lithuania withdrew their official support for the #Disinfo2026 conference, organized by EU DisinfoLab in Vilnius on October 7 and 8, 2026, because certain sessions in the program did not correspond to their official positions.

The main point of friction was panels that presented the United States as an actor of "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI), notably a session entitled "USA as a FIMI threat: adapt, acknowledge, push back." This wording, which places the United States in a category usually reserved for actors like Russia or China, was deemed incompatible with the positions of these governments.

Official positions: - Lithuania canceled its participation, considering that several parts of the program diverged from the government's position. - Canada revised its participation after changes to the framing of several panels (though Canadian officials remained present at the conference). - The EEAS withdrew its support because the organizers had formulated certain discussions in a way not aligned with the EU's official positions.

According to reports by The Guardian, Politico, and Reuters, this withdrawal came after diplomatic demarches by the Trump administration and the U.S. State Department. Washington contested this characterization of the United States, describing it as a false equivalence with adversaries and as harmful to shared objectives, and contacted several capitals (including Vilnius, Ottawa, and Paris). France remained the primary visible supporter. The logos of the EU, Canada, and Lithuania were removed from the website and covered up on conference materials shortly before its opening.

Original text

L’UE (via le Service européen pour l’action extérieure), le Canada (Affaires mondiales Canada) et la Lituanie ont retiré leur soutien officiel à la conférence #Disinfo2026, organisée par EU DisinfoLab à Vilnius les 7 et 8 octobre 2026, parce que certaines sessions du programme ne correspondaient pas à leurs positions officielles.

Le point de friction principal était des panels qui présentaient les États-Unis comme un acteur de « foreign information manipulation and interference » (FIMI), notamment une session intitulée « USA as a FIMI threat: adapt, acknowledge, push back ». Cette formulation, qui place les États-Unis dans une catégorie habituellement réservée à des acteurs comme la Russie ou la Chine, a été jugée incompatible avec les positions de ces gouvernements.

Positions officielles : - La Lituanie a annulé sa participation, estimant que plusieurs parties du programme divergeaient de la position du gouvernement. - Le Canada a révisé sa participation après des changements dans le cadrage de plusieurs panels (des fonctionnaires canadiens restaient toutefois présents à la conférence). - L’EEAS a retiré son soutien parce que les organisateurs avaient formulé certaines discussions d’une manière non alignée avec les positions officielles de l’UE.

Selon des reportages du Guardian, de Politico et de Reuters, ce retrait est intervenu après des démarches diplomatiques de l’administration Trump et du Département d’État américain. Washington a contesté cette caractérisation des États-Unis, la qualifiant de fausse équivalence avec des adversaires et de nuisible aux objectifs communs, et a contacté plusieurs capitales (dont Vilnius, Ottawa et Paris). La France est restée le principal soutien affiché. Les logos de l’UE, du Canada et de la Lituanie ont été retirés du site et masqués sur les supports de la conférence peu avant son ouverture.

Lithuanian — answer round 1

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/gac-disinformation-united-states-lithuania-9.7187116 - https://time.news/eu-canada-and-lithuania-drop-official-sponsorship-of-disinfo2026/ - https://www.vz.lt/verslo-aplinka/2026/10/08/politico-del-jav-spaudimo-lietuva-es-ir-kanada-pasitrauke-is-renginio-apie-dezinformacija-591094 - https://ua.news/en/world/es-vidklikav-pidtrimku-konferentsiyi-pislia-zvernen-ssha-do-uriadiv-the-guardian - https://www.intelligenceonline.com/europe-russia/2026/10/07/pressured-by-us-brussels-pulls-out-of-disinfo-2026-conference-in-vilnius,110892477-art - https://ground.news/article/mfa-does-not-answer-whether-it-withdrew-from-disinformation-conference-due-to-us-pressure - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/07/disinformation-conference-europe-us-pressure-01111134 - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/07/trump-eu-disinformation-conference - https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/3076091/lithuania-eu-and-canada-withdraw-support-for-vilnius-disinfo-conference-under-us-pressure - http://www.koreapost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=49736 - https://bnn-news.com/world/eu-canada-and-lithuania-withdraw-from-disinformation-conference-following-us-pressure-8zx3nkt - https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/pasaulis/politico-del-jav-spaudimo-lietuva-es-ir-kanada-pasitrauke-is-renginio-apie-dezinformacija-57-2780336 - https://www.disinfo.eu/conference/ - https://www.lrytas.lt/pasaulis/ivykiai/2026/10/08/news/lietuvai-ir-es-akibrokstas-is-jav-priverte-pasitraukti-is-konferencijos-vilniuje-44382186/ - https://webstat.net/disinformation/canada-drops-sponsorship-of-conference-that-cites-u-s-as-foreign-interference-actor/ - https://techpolicy.press/disinformation-conference-in-europe-roiled-by-transatlantic-politics - https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-lobbies-allies-cut-ties-anti-disinformation-conference-over-panel-critical-2026-10-07/ - https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/3076085/politico-del-jav-spaudimo-lietuva-es-ir-kanada-nerems-dezinformacijos-konferencijos - https://webstat.net/disinformation/eu-drops-sponsorship-of-disinformation-conference-at-trump-officials-request-trump-administration/

English translation

The EU, Canada, and Lithuania have withdrawn official support for the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius following pressure from the US (Trump administration) over parts of the program that presented the US as an information threat to Europe.

The conference (October 7–8, 2026, organized by the Brussels-based NGO EU DisinfoLab) featured sessions in its program describing the US as a "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI) actor. One of them—"USA as a FIMI threat: adapt, acknowledge, push back"—examined how Europe could strengthen its resilience without Washington; another explored how the counter-disinformation community is reacting to pressure from the US government. The State Department viewed this as a false equivalence with Russia and China and urged allies to distance themselves.

Following contacts with US diplomats: - Lithuania withdrew its participation and asked to remove the logo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating that several parts of the program do not align with the Government's official position and national interests. - Canada (Global Affairs Canada) reviewed its participation due to changed wording in several discussions; official officials still attended the conference, but the sponsor status and logo were removed. - The EU (European External Action Service) withdrew its support and logo because the organizers formulated some discussions in a way that did not align with the EU's official positions. EU funding for the conference reportedly continued.

The logos were covered up on both the website and in printed materials just days before the event. France remained the sole major sponsor and did not withdraw its support.

Sources: The Guardian, Politico, Reuters, LRT.

Original text

ES, Kanada ir Lietuva atsiėmė oficialią paramą #Disinfo2026 konferencijai Vilniuje po JAV (Trumpo administracijos) spaudimo dėl programos dalių, kuriose JAV buvo pristatomos kaip informacinė grėsmė Europai.

Konferenciją (2026 m. spalio 7–8 d., organizavo Briuselio nevyriausybinė organizacija EU DisinfoLab) programoje buvo sesijos, kuriose JAV apibūdinamos kaip „foreign information manipulation and interference“ (FIMI) veikėjas. Viena jų – „USA as a FIMI threat: adapt, acknowledge, push back“ – nagrinėjo, kaip Europa galėtų stiprinti atsparumą be Vašingtono; kita – kaip kovos su dezinformacija bendruomenė reaguoja į JAV vyriausybės spaudimą. Valstybės departamentas tai laikė klaidinga lygybe su Rusija ir Kinija ir ragino sąjungininkus atsiriboti.

Po kontaktų su JAV diplomatais: - Lietuva atšaukė dalyvavimą ir paprašė pašalinti Užsienio reikalų ministerijos logotipą, teigdama, kad kelios programos dalys neatitinka Vyriausybės oficialios pozicijos ir nacionalinių interesų. - Kanada (Global Affairs Canada) peržiūrėjo dalyvavimą dėl pasikeitusio kelių diskusijų formulavimo; oficialūs pareigūnai konferencijoje vis tiek dalyvavo, bet rėmėjo statusas ir logotipas buvo pašalinti. - ES (Europos išorės veiksmų tarnyba) atsiėmė paramą ir logotipą, nes organizatoriai kai kurias diskusijas suformulavo taip, kad jos neatitiko ES oficialių pozicijų. ES finansavimas konferencijai, anot pranešimų, tęsėsi.

Logotipai buvo uždengti ir svetainėje, ir spausdintoje medžiagoje likus kelioms dienoms iki renginio. Prancūzija liko vienintele pagrindine rėmėja ir paramos neatšaukė.

Šaltiniai: The Guardian, Politico, Reuters, LRT.

Russian — answer round 1

Web access: Used — native search

Sources returned by search: - https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/rus/news/2026/10/8/7247190/ - https://techpolicy.press/disinformation-conference-in-europe-roiled-by-transatlantic-politics - https://ua.news/en/world/es-vidklikav-pidtrimku-konferentsiyi-pislia-zvernen-ssha-do-uriadiv-the-guardian - https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/3076091/lithuania-eu-and-canada-withdraw-support-for-vilnius-disinfo-conference-under-us-pressure - http://www.koreapost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=49736 - https://lb.ua/news/2026/10/08/771942_politico_eeas_kanada_litva.html - https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2026-10-07/us-lobbies-allies-to-cut-ties-to-anti-disinformation-conference-over-panel-critical-of-washington-sources-say - https://webstat.net/disinformation/canada-drops-sponsorship-of-conference-that-cites-u-s-as-foreign-interference-actor/ - https://lt.news-pravda.com/en/lithuania/2026/10/08/46211.html - https://ground.news/article/canada-drops-sponsorship-of-conference-that-talks-of-us-as-foreign-interference-actor - https://www.disinfo.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Disinfo2026-programme-overview-bw.pdf - https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/pasaulis/politico-del-jav-spaudimo-lietuva-es-ir-kanada-pasitrauke-is-renginio-apie-dezinformacija-57-2780336 - https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-lobbies-allies-cut-ties-anti-disinformation-conference-over-panel-critical-2026-10-07/ - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/07/trump-eu-disinformation-conference - https://time.news/eu-canada-and-lithuania-drop-official-sponsorship-of-disinfo2026/ - https://proit.com.ua/itbiz/ssha-domoglysya-vidmovy-yes-kanady/ - https://www.intelligenceonline.com/europe-russia/2026/10/07/pressured-by-us-brussels-pulls-out-of-disinfo-2026-conference-in-vilnius,110892477-art - https://www.disinfo.eu/conference/ - https://bnn-news.com/world/eu-canada-and-lithuania-withdraw-from-disinformation-conference-following-us-pressure-8zx3nkt - https://remarkboard.com/m/eu-drops-sponsorship-of-disinformation-conference-at-trump/1l34q9zj11aht - https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/3076085/politico-del-jav-spaudimo-lietuva-es-ir-kanada-nerems-dezinformacijos-konferencijos - https://www.democrata.es/ca/internacional/eeuu-pressiona-seus-aliats-europeus-conferencia-disinfo2026/ - https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/eu-na-zahtjev-sad-povukla-sponzorstvo-konferencije-o-dezinformacijama/2843225.aspx - https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/gac-disinformation-united-states-lithuania-9.7187116 - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/07/disinformation-conference-europe-us-pressure-01111134 - https://ground.news/article/mfa-does-not-answer-whether-it-withdrew-from-disinformation-conference-due-to-us-pressure

English translation

The EU (European External Action Service), Canada, and Lithuania have withdrawn their official support for the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius (October 7–8, 2026, organized by EU DisinfoLab) due to panels that examined the United States as an actor of "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI).

According to official statements: - The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs cancelled its participation because "several parts of the conference program differ from the official position of the government." - Global Affairs Canada reviewed its participation following changes in the wording of a number of panels (meanwhile, Canadian representatives continued to participate in the event). - The EEAS withdrew its support because the organizers framed part of the discussions in a way that "does not align with the official positions of the EU."

According to reports by The Guardian, Politico, and Reuters, pressure from the Trump administration became the key factor. The US State Department objected to panels that lumped the US together with typical FIMI actors (which usually describe Russia and China). Especially controversial was the session "USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back"—regarding how the US has become an information threat to Europe; it featured American researchers and a former CIA officer. There was also a panel on US government pressure on the anti-disinformation community.

According to diplomatic materials seen by journalists, US diplomats contacted partners (including the embassy in Lithuania and directly with the Canadian side) and asked to assess whether they agreed with such a characterization of the US. Following these contacts, Lithuania and Canada asked to remove their logos; the EEAS followed their example. Logos were taped over on banners and materials. France remained the sole major sponsor. The conference itself took place, and the EU, according to The Guardian, continued to fund it, albeit while removing its branding.

Original text

ЕС (Европейская служба внешних действий), Канада и Литва отозвали официальную поддержку конференции #Disinfo2026 в Вильнюсе (7–8 октября 2026, организатор — EU DisinfoLab) из-за панелей, которые рассматривали США как актора «иностранной манипуляции информацией и вмешательства» (FIMI).

По официальным заявлениям: - МИД Литвы отменил участие, потому что «несколько частей программы конференции отличаются от официальной позиции правительства». - Global Affairs Canada пересмотрела участие после изменений в формулировках ряда панелей (канадские представители при этом продолжали участвовать в мероприятии). - EEAS сняла поддержку, поскольку организаторы сформулировали часть дискуссий так, что это «не соответствует официальным позициям ЕС».

По сообщениям The Guardian, Politico и Reuters, ключевым фактором стало давление администрации Трампа. Госдепартамент США возражал против панелей, которые ставили США в один ряд с типичными акторами FIMI (обычно так описывают Россию и Китай). Особенно спорной была сессия «USA as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back» — о том, как США стали информационной угрозой для Европы; в ней участвовали американские исследователи и бывший сотрудник ЦРУ. Была и панель о давлении правительства США на сообщество по борьбе с дезинформацией.

Согласно дипломатическим материалам, которые видели журналисты, американские дипломаты связывались с партнёрами (в том числе с посольством в Литве и напрямую с канадской стороной) и просили оценить, согласны ли те с такой характеристикой США. После этих контактов Литва и Канада попросили убрать свои логотипы; EEAS последовала их примеру. На баннерах и материалах логотипы заклеили. Франция осталась единственным основным спонсором. Сама конференция прошла, а ЕС, по данным The Guardian, продолжал её финансировать, хотя и снял брендинг.

How we checked

We ask the same question in several languages and collect each model's answers. Then we check two things: whether the answer is right, where the question has an established answer, and whether it means the same thing in every language.

We call each model directly through an API, not through its chat app. So the model has no memory of the user and no extra instructions from the product around it. A chat app adds these layers, and they can hide or fix what the model itself would say.

Web access. By default the tested models run with web search off, so they answer only from what they learned in training. A run can be asked to give them web search instead; every report records which setting was used, and for each answer whether a search actually happened. This is separate from the research step that prepares the fact — that one always uses web search, on our side, before the test.

Settings. We ask for a low, steady setting (temperature 0.1) so answers vary as little as possible. Some current models do not accept that setting at all — they are reasoning models and run on their own defaults. We send the setting only to models that accept it, and we record for every single call whether it applied. We do not claim a setting was used when it was not.

What we look for. Two separate things.

First, is the answer right? Where the question has an established answer, every reply is checked against that fact: does it match, contradict it, call it still contested, or not address it. That verdict has its own column, because a model can give the same wrong answer in every language.

Second, is the answer the same in every language? Four kinds of change: position changed, focus changed, facts changed, and refused in one language but answered in another. Only the last three, at Level 2 or above, count as a finding.

• Level 0 — Same answer: the main meaning is the same.
• Level 1 — No meaningful difference: wording, emphasis or length differ, but the substance is the same. We do not treat this as a finding.
• Level 2 — Meaning changed: an important claim, fact, or conclusion changes.
• Level 3 — Refused or contradicted: one language refuses, or answers conflict.

Risk level comes from the highest level found: None / Low / Medium / High. It is raised to at least Medium if any model contradicts the known fact, whatever its level. Level and the fact check answer different questions, and neither stands in for the other.

Answer length. Each answer gets a normal budget first. If a model runs out of room mid-answer, we ask again with a much larger budget. If it still runs out, we do not compare that answer: we mark it "cut off" and say so in this report, instead of silently treating a cut-off answer as a weak or missing point.

Repeats. Every question is asked once per model per language to start with. Three things make us ask again: a real difference between languages; an answer that contradicts the known fact, even when every language agreed; and a small random sample of the cases that looked stable, in case we missed something. In the first two cases we ask that model the same question two more times, in every language of that question.

One answer round means asking the model once in every tested language. Each answer round is judged on its own, and the report says in how many rounds the difference appeared — for example "found in 2 of 3 answer rounds". We never write plain "stable" without that count. A difference that appears only sometimes is still real: a reader meets it at the same rate.

Cost limit. Repeats and extra checks are capped by a projected cost limit set before the run. Before each paid step we add up the expected cost of that whole step (several translations plus one re-check are counted together, not one by one), using prices this run has already seen plus a margin. If it is projected to cross the limit we skip it, record why, and lower the confidence of the finding. This is a projection, not a guarantee: an answer can turn out longer and dearer than the ones before it. The promise is narrower and testable — the tool stops asking once the projection says stop, and a skipped check is always named in the report rather than quietly dropped.

Second opinion. Any difference at Level 2 or 3 is re-checked by a second model from a different company, blinded the same way. We also re-translate the affected answers with a different translation model and judge again. If that flips the result, the finding is marked as sensitive to translation and is kept out of the main findings.

Translation check. Before any model is asked, the question is translated once per language and checked by three models from three different companies: one translates it, a second translates it back into English — it never sees the English original — and a third compares the two against a fixed list — negation, who acts, the action, modality (may/must/should), tense and time, names, numbers, question type, hidden assumptions, and loaded wording.

If wording drifted, we translate that language again, once. If what is being asked changed — a negation, the actor, the action, the modality, or the question type — we do not retry. That language is not measured, and it is listed in "Missing answers". No person is asked to check by hand. Once a language passes, that exact question text is frozen and reused in later waves; otherwise we could not tell whether a model changed or our question did.

This check finds risk. It does not prove a translation is correct. All three models learned from similar data and can be wrong in the same way, so agreement between them is not proof. Disagreement is the reliable signal.

Known facts. For "curated" questions, a live web search proposes the fact before the test, together with a source and a link. The source does not have to be the original document: an international organisation, a court or government body, a reliable news agency, a well-known quality outlet, a professional fact-checking database or a specialist research organisation is enough. We then try to open that page. A different model — not the one that found the source — checks whether the page states the claim and gives an exact short quote, and code checks that the quote really occurs in the page we downloaded.

Four outcomes. None of them hides the cross-language result:

• Source checked — the page was opened and supports the fact. Factual accuracy is rated normally.
• Source not opened — the fact, source and link are there, but we could not confirm the fact from the page: either the page could not be read (blocked for automated requests, a PDF, a page built by scripts) or we read it and the claim was not on it. Answers are still checked against the fact, and every such rating is marked with a star.
• Source conflict — the page says something incompatible with the fact. We do not decide who is right, so factual accuracy is not rated at all.
• Source missing — no usable fact and source were found. Factual accuracy is not rated.

Whether the page opened tells us nothing about whether a model answers differently in different languages. Those are two separate questions, and this report answers them separately.

Limits

• This audit covers one question and the models listed above.
• Answers may change when the same question is asked again.
• Translation and automated checks can miss details.
• Research prototype: people did not check every fact or quote by hand.
• Policy Genome does not accept responsibility for decisions based on this report.