This side event to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly First Committee will launch UNIDIR’s latest research, examining whether and to what extent digital information disorders occur in relation to conventional arms and ammunition flows, acquisition and build-up, and their implications.
Information disorders, an umbrella term which encompasses issues driven by disinformation, misinformation and malinformation that affect and pollute information integrity, are not a new issue. However, their scope, scale and impact have grown with advances in information and communication technologies and the democratization of digital tools and platforms, including generative AI.
The risks posed by mis- and disinformation have been recognized as key in the UN’s inaugural 2025 Global Risk Report. The Global Digital Compact, adopted by United Nations Member States in 2024, also recognizes the importance of upholding and strengthening information integrity and addressing mis- and disinformation, as does the Pact for the Future.
While the implications of information disorders for peace and conflict have previously been highlighted, the nexus between information disorders and conventional arms, in particular their flows, acquisition and build-up, has remained anecdotal. However, forthcoming UNIDIR research on the topic shows that information disorders exist around conventional arms flows, acquisition and build-up, and that these manifest themselves in specific ways.
Discussing this issue now is timely: not only do online information disorders risk permeating offline spaces, including multilateral discussions on arms control, but the increase in conflicts worldwide has also stimulated public attention – if not interest – in the normally more covert topic of arms flows.
This event will provide a platform to discuss how to ensure and strengthen information integrity within conventional arms control forums and beyond, leveraging insights from various stakeholders from the arms control space as well as adjacent fields.
Speakers
Opening remarks
- Oļegs Iļģis, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Latvia to the United Nations
- H.E. Bart De Wolf, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Belgium to the United Nations
- Anna Huovila, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations
Speakers
- Olga Belogolova, Director of the Emerging Technologies Initiative, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
- Sarah Grand-Clément, Senior Researcher, Security and Technology and Conventional Weapons Programme, UNIDIR
- Elias Yousif, Fellow and Acting Director of the Conventional Defense Program, Stimson Center
Moderated by Ioana Puscas, Senior Researcher, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR
Closing remarks
- Dr Robin Geiss, Director, UNIDIR
When and where
Wednesday, 21 October 2026 | 13:30 – 14:45 EDT | In person (Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations, 605 Third Avenue, 35th Floor, New York) and online.
Check your local time here.
A light lunch will be offered from 13:15.
Participants
The event is open to representatives from Member State delegations, as well as members of the multi-stakeholder community including industry, civil society, and intergovernmental organizations (ECOSOC status).
RSVP
Registration is mandatory, for in-person and online participation please register here.
Registration closes 24 hours before the event.
In collaboration with
