Fighting disinformation is one of the key challenges of the future
Petra Bezjak Cirman during the presentation of the Slovenian Stop Disinformation campaign: reREAD, reTHINK, RECHECK. | Author PRO PR Conference
During her presentation, Director Bezjak Cirman emphasised that the Government and public institutions must empower citizens to think critically, verify information, and judge independently whether certain content constitutes disinformation.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Government Communication Office launched an awareness-raising campaign highlighting the dangers of disinformation, and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). The campaign ran for two weeks ahead of the European elections and again in October 2024 as part of the Cybersecurity Awareness Month. A smaller-scale version of the campaign was repeated in 2026, focusing primarily on social media, ahead of the parliamentary elections. Data and experience consistently show that the volume of misleading content, disinformation, and FIMI typically increases during pre-election periods, making public awareness campaigns of key importance.
The politically neutral campaign focused on raising awareness and providing education, with the Government Communication Office seeking to reach the widest possible audience through traditional and social media. All creative and operational work was carried out within the institution. The Disinformation page on the official government website received thousands of visits, and social media posts achieved significant reach. A wide range of communication tools and channels were used in the campaign, including leaflets, government social media profiles, briefings, influencer collaboration, a podcast, and numerous interviews and other media appearances.
The campaign also encouraged other state institutions to become more actively involved in combating disinformation, thereby establishing the Government Communication Office as a prominent partner within international professional circles.
The Director warned that the internet is a borderless space where information, ideas, and movements can spread across frontiers in seconds. This reality reshapes politics, culture, and power dynamics, significantly impacting our beliefs. "Combating disinformation is one of the key challenges of the future that all governments will have to address, as disinformation directly affects our lives and democracy," she concluded.