Deciphering Deception: Online Disinformation Talks in New Delhi Unveiled

In the bustling metropolis of New Delhi, an assembly of more than 35 luminaries hailing from the European Union (EU) and India is slated to convene on February 21. Their collective mission? To unravel the intricate web woven by online disinformation and information manipulation, delving into the nuances of security and policy. The delegation of the EU in New Delhi divulged that this intellectual rendezvous, titled “Combatting disinformation online: EU and Indian perspectives,” will transpire on the periphery of the Raisina Dialogue 2024.

This symposium marks the fourth installment of the round-table series co-organized by the EU-funded initiative Enhancing Security Cooperation In and With Asia (ESIWA) and the venerable Indian Observer Research Foundation (ORF). A partnership with the EU Delegation to India underscores the gravity of the discussions to be held.

Sources intimate that the peer-to-peer discourse will navigate the labyrinth of online disinformation trends, fostering an environment where governmental and non-governmental entities from both the EU and India can juxtapose notes and exchange optimal strategies for countering disinformation. Adhering to the #TeamEurope ethos, the high-profile gathering boasts speakers representing diverse EU entities, including the European External Action Service, the German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the French Embassy in New Delhi, and the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On the Indian front, dignitaries from pivotal agencies such as the Indian Prime Minister’s Office for Information Security, India’s National Cyber Coordination Centre, and the National Security Council Secretariat of India will grace the occasion. Insiders reveal that the experts will engage in profound deliberations on foreign policy responses to disinformation, shedding light on ongoing efforts in both the EU and India to thwart malicious actors. Additionally, the role of civil society in tackling online disinformation and fortifying resilience will be contemplated.

“In the tangible realm, Europe may appear distant from Asia, but in the vast expanse of cyberspace, our cohabitation becomes apparent, existing within a complex and perilous cyber neighborhood. Our societies hinge on resilient, trustworthy digital services, susceptible to the malevolence of cyber-attacks. To combat such challenges, mutual defense and robust cooperation are imperative,” asserted Seppo Nurmi, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to India, who will extend the inaugural welcome at the roundtable.

Participating stakeholders from both regions are poised to unveil insights into their distinct strategies for quelling disinformation, with a particular emphasis on upholding free speech and privacy. The track 1.5 dialogue aims to dissect the foreign policy responses of the EU and India to online disinformation while pinpointing avenues for collaborative efforts.

The EU and India, in multiple instances, have reaffirmed their dedication to fostering an open, free, secure, stable, peaceful, and accessible cyberspace that propels economic growth and innovation. In pursuit of heightened cooperation, ESIWA and ORF have jointly orchestrated a series of track 1.5 dialogues between the EU and India in the guise of high-level meetings.

Noteworthy are the preceding three meetings held in April 2022, October 2022, and March 2023 in New Delhi, coinciding with the CyFy and Raisina dialogues. The findings from these gatherings seamlessly feed into the formal EU–India Cybersecurity Dialogues, advancing discussions on the evolving landscape of security challenges and fostering connections between two global security protagonists.

Mindaugas Lasas, the Head of Sector – Hybrid Threats at the European External Action Service, and one of the distinguished speakers at the event, articulated, “Online disinformation and information manipulation constitute a burgeoning political and security quandary. Given the potential negative repercussions on two of the world’s largest democracies, this ESIWA-ORF roundtable assumes heightened significance in building upon EU-India collaboration in the realm of cybersecurity.”