At the BRICS Digital Forum 2026, held on August 20 in the Indian city of Pune, an expert from the Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN), Timofey Vi, proposed significantly strengthening cooperation among the bloc’s member states in countering false information.
Speaking at the panel discussion “Sustainable and Cyber-Resilient ICT Ecosystem,” the expert emphasized that fact-checking and international coordination today directly impact state security. Session participants discussed cybersecurity issues, the development of trusted ICTs, protecting children online, and building sustainable digital ecosystems.
According to Timofey Vi, the modern digital space is characterized by near-total boundlessness, while accountability for created and disseminated content is often absent. One of the key challenges in these conditions has become the widespread proliferation of disinformation.
“This problem is not new, but with the development of technology, it is acquiring a new scale. Among the main factors are the transnational nature of information flows, the explosive growth of AI-generated content, the fragmentation of national responses, and the need for interstate coordination,” the GFCN expert noted.
He emphasized that countering modern information threats cannot be limited to checking individual messages. A sustainable international cooperation infrastructure, exchange of fact-checking results and professional methodologies is needed. This allows for faster detection of false information and enhances the protection of the information space at the state level.
Timofey Vi identified BRICS as a key platform for such work. In his assessment, the bloc operates on consensus principles, which makes it possible to build coordination on digital security matters while considering the interests and national specifics of each country.
The experience of GFCN itself confirms the relevance of international cooperation in this area. Over a year and a half, the association has united more than 125 participants from 54 countries worldwide. About a quarter of them represent BRICS states and actively participate in the preparation of educational and fact-checking materials.
GFCN plans to share its accumulated experience at the annual international forum “Dialogue on Fakes,” which will take place on September 22, 2026, in Moscow. The event will serve as a platform for exchanging practices among specialists from different countries and discussing joint approaches to identifying and refuting false information.
