North Macedonia Hosts Regional Forum on Countering Foreign Electoral Influence
Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) poses a growing challenge to the credibility of democratic elections. It seeks to distort facts, shape public opinion, and weaken trust in institutions all of which threaten the foundation of electoral integrity. Protecting elections from such manipulation means ensuring that every stage of the process from campaigning to counting remains transparent, inclusive, and resistant to foreign influence.
The integrity of our elections is only as strong as the information ecosystem that supports them
The interference highlighted how external actors exploit technological tools, social divisions, and gaps in oversight to influence democratic processes. Misinformation spread rapidly, eroding public trust in official sources and making it more difficult for citizens to engage confidently in political discourse. At the same time, civil society organizations, election authorities, and independent fact-checkers mobilized to monitor, counter, and mitigate the effects of these manipulative campaigns.
Disinformation spreads fastest where people are not equipped to question what they see
- Brings together government, media, civil society, and digital literacy advocates.
- Focuses on training journalists, fact-checkers, and communities to identify false content.
- Promotes digital literacy and responsible information consumption.
- Aims to protect democratic processes without restricting free expression
Key Highlights
- Nationwide collaboration: Government, media, civil society, and digital literacy advocates work together to strengthen the information environment.
- Training and capacity building : Journalists and fact-checkers receive training on digital verification tools, while community workshops help citizens spot false or manipulated content.
- Tackling manipulation: Rights, gender, morality, culture, and identity narratives are monitored to prevent their misuse in influencing public opinion
“Our goal is not to police speech but to protect citizens from harmful manipulation that undermines the democratic process,” said Fatou Sarr, Minister of Digital Transition. Community partners share similar optimism.
