U.S. and Italy Form Partnership to Combat Misinformation and Foreign Interference

The United States and Italy have announced a new agreement aimed at countering the spread of misinformation and fake news articles by foreign governments. The pact was established during a meeting on the sidelines of the three-day Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers gathering on the island of Capri.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reached the agreement to coordinate efforts against information manipulation. This collaboration follows a 2022 U.S. intelligence report accusing Moscow of using spies, social media, and state-run media to undermine trust in the legitimacy of democratic elections in over 100 countries.

Belgium also recently reported that its prosecutors were investigating alleged Russian attempts to influence an upcoming European Parliamentary election. While Russia has consistently denied involvement in foreign elections and pledged not to meddle in the November 2024 U.S. vote, concerns about foreign interference remain.

The eight-page document outlining the Italy-U.S. agreement highlights the establishment and implementation of strategies to combat information manipulation by foreign states. It also emphasizes the promotion of transparency in media financing and ownership, including the role of governments. Moreover, the memorandum includes a commitment to assist other countries facing foreign attempts to interfere in their elections. Although it does not specifically name any particular country behind such activities, the pact underscores a unified stance against such threats.

Both countries have also pledged to invest in artificial intelligence that can be employed to address the spread of fake news items. Additionally, they aim to create a shared database for detecting manipulation activities, which will bolster their capabilities in this joint endeavor.