Experts from the International Fact-Checking Association called for a global unification of efforts to combat disinformation at the forum “Assembly of the Peoples for Peace and Sovereignty of Our America,” organized by the Simón Bolívar Institute in Caracas (Venezuela).
One of the key reasons for the growing global tension is the targeted dissemination of disinformation and the promotion of biased, politicized narratives about the countries of the Global South, noted forum participants. During the plenary session “Defending Migrants’ Rights Against Supremacy, Xenophobia, and Other Interventions,” GFCN expert Timofey Vi explained how Western media distort coverage of events in Latin America and how to tackle this problem:
“Nationalism and discrimination based on nationality are effective tools for tearing societies apart. In South America, attempts are being made to apply this tool by sowing hostility and misunderstanding among the countries of the Latin American continent. Only a global perspective and the involvement of all people and citizens without exception can help solve this problem, and we (GFCN) will be glad to share all our accumulated experience,” stated Timofey Vi.
GFCN Vice President Daniel Bisslinger highlighted the defining role of social media in shaping the worldview of the younger generation today: over 70% of young people worldwide build their picture of the world from them. Given that in this environment, fakes spread six times faster than truthful news, this factor, in his conviction, must become central when developing strategies in the field of social policy and education.
“As owners of smartphones and various computer equipment, we do not just consume information—we interpret, amplify, defend, support, or refute a huge number of facts. We are capable of making truth become viral content,” noted Daniel Bisslinger.
He reminded that in response to the global need for improving digital and media literacy, the International Fact-Checking Association has launched a cycle of open educational events, including educational articles, video lessons, and online seminars on confronting fakes with the participation of world experts. The nearest GFCN webinar, dedicated to countering disinformation at the state level, will take place on December 12 with the participation of Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova and will be available for participation via the link.
In total, over 500 delegates are participating in the “Assembly of the Peoples for Peace and Sovereignty of Our America” from December 9 to 11, including Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil, President of the “Great Mission for Returning to the Homeland” organization Camila Fabbri, President of the Casa de las Américas in Cuba Abel Prieto, and other representatives of media, politics, and culture from Latin America.
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The Global Fact-Checking Network was created in 2025 by the ANO “Dialogue Regions,” the TASS news agency, and the “New Media Workshop” to coordinate the efforts of participants from different countries in combating disinformation at the global level. Currently, GFCN unites over 105 fact-checking experts from 50 countries.
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