Over 35 experts from the European Union and India will hold extensive deliberations to unpack the security and policy aspects of jointly combating online disinformation campaigns.

The peer-to-peer discussion in Delhi will explore trends in the use of disinformation online and encourage European and Indian governmental and non-governmental actors to compare notes and share best practices for countering disinformation.

Several times, the European Union and India reaffirmed their commitment to an open, free, safe, peaceful, and accessible online environment that fosters economic development and innovation.

Combatting disinformation online: EU and Indian perspectives' is the fourth roundtable being co-organized by the EU-funded project Enhancing Security Cooperation In and With Asia and the Observer Research Foundation, in partnership with the EU Delegation to India.

The high-level meeting will feature speakers from across the EU, such as the European External Action Service, German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, French Embassy in New Delhi, and the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The National Cyber Coordination Centre and the National Security Council Secretariat of India will be represented from the Indian side.

The EU delegation in India said experts will deliberate foreign policy responses to disinformation in both regions, highlight developments in the EU's and India's work to disrupt malicious actors, and reflect on the role of civil society in addressing online disinformation.

"In the physical world, Europe might seem far away from Asia but in cyberspace, we live together, sometimes in a complex, dangerous cyber neighborhood where our societies depend on resilient trustworthy digital services and where we can all become victims to malicious cyber-attacks," says Deputy Head of the Delegation of the EU to India Seppo Nurmi.

Nurmi says, "We need to combat such challenges with mutual defense and strong, trusted cooperation. Participants from both regions will provide insights into their respective approaches to curbing disinformation with a special focus on safeguarding free speech and privacy.”