Experts and specialists discuss misinformation and influence operations at the International Defence Conference 2025
Abu Dhabi: The second session of the International Defence Conference 2025 focussed on 'Disinformation and Influence Operations: The Weaponisation of Information in Modern Conflicts,' highlighting the intersection of technology and politics, where information has become a powerful tool in modern conflicts. Panellists discussed disinformation tactics, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing misinformation campaigns, and their impact on the stability of societies and political systems.
The session examined the techniques used by state and non-state actors, the influence of AI and deepfake technology in misinformation campaigns, the ethical implications of using information as a weapon, and the role of social media platforms in spreading disinformation. It also delved into strategies for detecting and countering misinformation, as well as collaboration between governments, the private sector, and civil society organisations to build a resilient information environment.
H.E. Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry, Republic of Armenia, emphasised that Armenian companies are making significant investments in AI solutions. However, while AI brings immense advancements, it also introduces new risks and challenges, making public-private partnerships essential. He stressed that governments must collaborate with civil society to combat fake news and enhance media literacy. Investing in research, development, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks is crucial to mitigating these risks. He also highlighted Armenia's recent accession to the Paris Declaration, reinforcing its commitment to global cooperation in addressing AI-driven threats.
Vice Admiral (Ret.) Kevin Donegan, Former US NAVCENT & Fifth Fleet Commander, Senior Advisor, TRENDS US, noted that while misinformation is not a new phenomenon, its scale and speed have increased dramatically. Both state and non-state actors exploit misinformation to gain strategic advantages, including in global supply chains. Effective countermeasures require trusted information sources, robust cybersecurity policies, and public-private sector partnerships. He added that legislation, such as criminalising deepfake misinformation, can be helpful but is not sufficient on its own. Public awareness, education, and open dialogue are equally critical. He commended the UAE for providing a platform for such discussions and stressed the urgency of taking swift action to safeguard truth and trust in information sources.
Liisa Past, Cyber Security & Strategic Communication Expert, Former National Cyber Director, Estonia, described the evolving landscape of information manipulation as "a world of mutual assured doubt." She noted that AI is both a threat and a tool, as it enables fake content while also aiding in the detection and countering of false narratives.
Meanwhile, Ayesha Manzoor Wattoo, Director General, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, PEMRA, warned of the detrimental consequences of misinformation, particularly in elections, public health, and social stability. She pointed out that false propaganda in Pakistan has eroded trust in democracy, contributed to vaccine hesitancy in rural areas, and had spillover effects in Myanmar and India. To combat this, workshops and grassroots initiatives are being conducted to educate journalists and the public on fact-checking and verifying information before spreading misinformation.
The conference, themed 'Defence Reimagined: Innovation, Integration and Resilience' is organised by ADNEC Group in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence and the Tawazun Council. It brings together high-ranking government officials, defence policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, and representatives of multinational corporations.
The International Defence Conference 2025 witnessed high-level international participation, attracting prominent global figures in defence, economics, and technology, as well as senior military leaders from various nations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
10 hours ago
- The National
Europeans hold meeting in Geneva ahead of talks with Iran
Iranian foreign minister due to meet European envoys in Geneva on Friday Tehran wants guarantees that Israel will stop war 'forever', President Pezeshkian says Iran says it has received 'several messages' from the US Nuclear research site targeted in latest Israeli attacks In Gaza, at least 43 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks One person killed in Israeli airstrike on south Lebanon In pictures: Israel-Iran conflict
Middle East Eye
11 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Armenia's Pashinyan makes history with first official visit to Turkey
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made history on Friday by becoming the country's first leader since the Cold War to pay an official visit to Turkey. Pashinyan is meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, raising hopes that the two countries may soon normalise relations. Turkey broke off diplomatic ties with Armenia in 1993, following Armenian forces' occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh. While Pashinyan attended Erdogan's presidential inauguration in June 2023 and the two leaders have met at several international summits since then, this marks his first official visit to Turkey. According to a statement from the Turkish presidency, the trip is considered a 'working visit'. Both foreign ministers and special envoys for normalisation are also attending, allowing the delegations to discuss every aspect of the bilateral relationship. A senior Armenian diplomat told Middle East Eye that Erdogan extended the invitation to Pashinyan after a phone call earlier this month in which the Armenian prime minister congratulated the Turkish president on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'They had a good conversation,' the diplomat said. 'The invitation was later formalised through diplomatic channels.' The diplomat described the visit as historic, crediting the positive momentum to the two leaders' commitment to keeping communication channels open and 'patiently demonstrating leadership'. To prepare for the visit, Deputy Armenian Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan travelled to Ankara on Monday to review key issues. Speaking in Prague earlier this week, Pashinyan mentioned the improvement in Turkish-Armenian relations, noting that, unlike three years ago, the two countries can now communicate directly rather than relying on third-party intermediaries. Overcoming historic and regional tensions Tensions between Turkey and Armenia extend beyond the issue of Azerbaijan, a close Turkish ally and arch-rival of Yerevan. After a bloody six-week war in late 2020, Azerbaijan launched a military operation in September 2023 to take back the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, resulting in a ceasefire agreement. Most ethnic Armenians fled, and Artsakh, the breakaway region, was officially dissolved on 1 January 2024. The tensions are also rooted in the events of 1915, when hundreds of thousands of Armenians died after the Ottoman Empire ordered their deportation from Anatolia. Armenian leaders and much of the international community regard this as genocide and say 1.5 million were killed, while Ankara maintains the deaths occurred amid the chaos of World War I, with losses on both sides. Nonetheless, Pashinyan has recently downplayed this issue, expressing his desire to establish good neighbourly relations with Turkey, end Armenia's isolation and restore commercial and full diplomatic ties. The timing of Pashinyan's visit is also significant, coming amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran - neighbours to both Turkey and Armenia. 'But this conflict makes dialogue even more pertinent,' the Armenian official said. Turkey's last Armenian village struggles to survive after earthquake Read More » In March, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on a draft peace treaty, but Baku has continued to make additional demands and has pressured Ankara not to implement some of the confidence-building measures agreed with Yerevan in 2023. One such measure was the agreement to open the Alican-Margara border crossing to third-country nationals and diplomatic passport holders. Armenia has completed its side of the renovations, but Turkey has yet to take concrete steps to implement the agreement. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan is insisting that Armenia amend its constitution - which currently references Nagorno-Karabakh - before signing a peace agreement. Pashinyan has signaled a willingness to consider constitutional changes, but insists this should not delay the peace process. He has also stated his intention to sign a peace deal with Azerbaijan by the end of the year. Turkish officials told MEE they see Pashinyan as a 'visionary' leader seeking long-term stability for Armenia by resolving longstanding disputes with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Some in Ankara even suggest that Baku should be more receptive to Pashinyan's overtures and avoid maximalist positions, especially given the uncertainty of his political future with general elections looming next year. Pashinyan's visit comes immediately after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's trip to Turkey - a timing that has not gone unnoticed. On Thursday, Erdogan and Aliyev inaugurated a permanent housing development called 'Azerbaijan Neighbourhood' in the southern city of Kahramanmaras, built for the victims of the 2023 earthquakes.
Middle East Eye
12 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Israel's attack on Iran: What you need to know about Tehran
Millions of residents have left Tehran as Israel continues to attack Iran. Main roads have been clogged with traffic as people try to flee the metropolis. At petrol stations, residents have waited in line for hours to fill their vehicles. Shops, banks and businesses have shut. The authorities have blacked out the internet. Apartment blocks have been left largely empty. And throughout, there is the continued threat of further Israeli bombardments. To date, these have killed at least 639 people and injured 1,329 others, according to the US-based group Human Rights Activists in Iran. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Iranian authorities have not updated figures since earlier this week, when they put fatalities at 224 people. Where in Iran is Tehran? Tehran is located in northern Iran, which has a population of 90 million people and an area larger than that of the UK, France, Germany, and Spain combined. Although there is evidence of settlement in the area for more than 6,000 years, Tehran did not officially became Iran's capital until 1906 following the Constitutional Revolution. To the north and east are the peaks of the Alborz mountains, which overlook the Caspian Sea. Mount Damavand, Iran's highest point at 5,600m, can be seen from the capital. To the south it is mostly arid plains and desert, including the salt basin Namak Lake and, much further to the east, Dasht-e Kavir, known as the Great Salt Desert. The very north of Tehran is at an elevation of 1,700m, while the southern tip is only 1,100m above sea level, meaning temperatures can vary by several degrees Celsius. Iran is prone to earthquakes, although Tehran has not suffered major causalties compared to the rest of the country in recent years. Around 30km to the west of Tehran is Karaj, the fourth largest city in Iran, which is linked to the capital by the Tehran–Karaj Highway. This week the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Israel had attacked nuclear centrifuge production facilities on the outskirts of Karaj. The city of Qom, home to one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, is 120km south of Tehran. During the current war, the road between the two cities has been attacked by Israel. Many residents of Tehran, including non-Iranians, have fled the capital for the cities of Amol, Babol and Sari, 200km across the mountains and close to the Caspian Sea. How big is Tehran? The capital of Iran may be visited by foreigners less frequently than other major cities in the Middle East and North Africa, it is still a major metropolis. Only Cairo and Istanbul are comparable in size, with metropolitan populations of 23 million people and 16 million respectively. Tehran has a population estimated at 9.5 million people. This increases to 16.8 million when the wider metropolitan area is included. It has an area of more than 700 km2, and has a size and population density similar to New York City. The city dominates life in Iran, and is the economic, political, administrative, commercial, financial and cultural centre of the country. But this key role has made it a target for Israeli attacks since 13 June this year. Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation and the Tehran Research Reactor are located just north of Amirabad district and within residential areas. Central neighbourhoods hit include Kamranieh, as well as Lavizan in the north-east, and nearby Tehran-Pars and Narmak. Who lives in Tehran? Tehran, like the rest of Iran, is a young city, with an average age of 32. The country has the largest number of Shia Muslims globally - making up 90 percent of the population - with most subscribing to the Twelver branch. The city is home to considerable numbers of Kurds and Azerbaijanis. Many people left the city, especially to the West, during the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the advent of the Islamic Republic. Others fled during the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988, when the city was last targeted by air raids. Recent attacks have evoked painful memories for many of Tehran's older residents. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 brought refugees from the east, a number that was later boosted by the US-led military action from 2001 onwards. But many Afghans in Iran have faced discrimination and are frequently deported. What's the layout of Tehran? Tehran has faced many economic and political challenges over the last half century, including the Islamic Revolution, Saddam Hussein's war on Iran, and, more recently, the imposition of sanctions by the US and others. This has meant that Tehran's infrastructure has failed to keep pace with its growth, resulting in gridlocked roads and poor services. The city consists of 22 districts. Like many capitals, it is marked by older, more historic buildings at its centre, including mosques, religious schools and the central bazaar, linked by squares, boulevards and narrow streets. Some, such as the old royal citadel, are now occupied by government offices. More modern neighbourhoods and suburbs, planned on a grid street system, have sprung up in recent decades, especially to the south and west, where they have absorbed smaller towns and communities on the outskirts of Tehran. Infrastructure includes Mehrabad International Airport to the south, which serves domestic flights, but has been hit by Israeli missiles in the past week. The area close to the mountain foothills has traditionally been favoured by the city's wealthy, who appreciate its cooler climate during the summer heat. As the city has expanded over the decades, these districts have become part of Tehran. Land is more expensive here, but the population density is lower and services are better. Kesharvarz Boulevard, pictured (left in November 2024 and after an Israeli attack on 15 June 2025), crosses Valiasar Boulevard (AFP) Land is also more expensive on the city's north-south and east-west routes, such as historic Valiasar Boulevard, and Enqelab Street, which is named after the revolution of 1979 and associated with protests against Iran's mandatory hijab. Modern expressways, including the Hemmat Highway, run east-west to the suburbs. What's Tehran like for transport? Bad. While news reports in recent days have emphasised the lines of traffic leaving the city, Tehran has always been notorious for its congestion and pollution, which is exacerbated by the high number of older vehicles on the roads. Pollution chokes Tehran in December 2023, forcing some workplaces and schools to shut. The problem is worse during the colder autumn and winter months (AFP) The result is frequent smog. Much of this is down to geography and the Alborz mountains that prevent winds blowing in from the Caspian and trap hot air coming from the south. Only limited relief has come with the subway network, one of the biggest rail networks in the region. It first began running trains in 1999 and now has seven lines carrying more than three million people every day. Its tunnels are now being used by many Tehranis to shelter from the missile strikes, along with basements or older shelters used in the war with Iraq during the 1980s.
