Latvia spotlights disinformation fight at AI summit

BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 11. On July 8, 2025, Latvia hosted a high-level panel discussion titled “What Proliferation of Artificial Intelligence Means for Information Integrity?” during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20) in Geneva, Trend reports.

The event, organized by Latvia as part of its public diplomacy efforts, aimed to explore solutions for preserving information integrity and countering manipulation in the digital age—while upholding human rights and freedom of expression.

The discourse functioned as a conduit for Latvia to underscore its accomplishments in mitigating disinformation and its escalating proficiency in artificial intelligence methodologies. Global authorities underscored the imperative for capital infusion in digital competency, enhanced accountability from tech enterprises, and a bolstered public comprehension of artificial intelligence instruments.
Latvia's strategic imperatives as a newly inducted participant in the United Nations Security Council encompass the facilitation of global discourse on contemporary challenges of the 21st century, including the intricacies of cybersecurity and the multifaceted threats associated with artificial intelligence, in conjunction with sustainability and developmental paradigms.
The proceedings commenced with an address from Latvia’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ivars Pundurs, and were presided over by Viktors Makarovs, the Special Envoy on Digital Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The hybrid-format symposium convened an assemblage of more than 80 stakeholders from governmental entities and civil society organizations. Makarovs emphasized Latvia’s strategic role as a frontrunner in the global arena for countering disinformation and reiterated its preparedness to disseminate its specialized knowledge, particularly within the framework of the UN Security Council.

Speakers included Septiaji Eko Nugroho, President of Indonesia’s MAFINDO; Peggy Hicks, Director of Thematic Engagement at the UN Human Rights Office; Graham Brookie, Vice President at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab); and Professor Žaneta Ozoliņa, who leads the “AI4Debunk” project at the University of Latvia.

While in Geneva, Makarovs also held bilateral meetings on July 9–10 with key figures such as Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, and Peter Major, Chair of the UN Working Group on Data Governance. Discussions focused on freedom of expression in the digital age, data governance frameworks, and the broader human rights impact of AI.

On July 10, Makarovs participated in a roundtable on AI governance at the AI for Good Summit, which brought together leaders from academia, government, industry, and civil society to explore AI’s role in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The WSIS+20 process provides a multilateral platform to address global ICT challenges and will conclude at the UN General Assembly in December 2025. Latvia’s panel was part of its broader public diplomacy campaign following its election on June 3, 2025, to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2026–2027 term. Latvia’s main goal during its tenure will be to reinforce an international order that promotes national and regional security through multilateral diplomacy.

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