Ankara: Disinformation, deliberately crafted to shape false public perceptions and target inter-state relations, has become an integral part of traditional security concepts, stated Faig Mahmudov, Head of the International Relations and Analytics Department of APA Information Agency. He made these remarks during the Turkic States Forum on Combating Disinformation organized by the Communications Directorate of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Trkiye.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Mahmudov emphasized the impact of disinformation containing Turkophobic and Islamophobic content, which particularly affects Turkic-speaking countries by creating societal confusion and negatively influencing public opinion. He advocated for a joint and principled stance to counter such threats, suggesting that fake news targeting one country should concern other nations and be collectively assessed in a timely manner.
Mahmudov highlighted the importance of prompt information exchange, institutional cooperation, and professional media solidarity to mitigate the effects of disinformation. In Azerbaijan, he noted, swift responses to disinformation are crucial for maintaining domestic stability and international relations, with official state bodies, the Media Development Agency, and media outlets taking coordinated action.
The speech also touched on the growing cooperation among Turkic states, which has been met with Turkophobic approaches aimed at eroding trust between these nations through false and manipulative information. Mahmudov warned that while it is impossible to completely eradicate disinformation in the current media landscape, failing to respond effectively to such threats could lead to larger-scale issues.