Rubin: Serbia is the only country in the Balkans where Russian media RT) and Sputnik yet broadcast

One of the regions that has often been the target of dezinformation is the Balkans. During an interview with Voice of America, Rubin pauses on Washington's efforts to ensure what he called information integrity in the Balkan region, similar to territorial integrity, he said, should not be affected.

The Centre for Global Obligation at the State Department was established to direct the American government's efforts in exposing and rejecting non-informative foreign propaganda, state or non-state, aimed at undermining the stability of the United States and its allies.

The director of this center, experienced diplomat James Rubin, says that often an African, Asian journalist, or a journalist in Latin America, reads information based on the Chinese view of the world, where most things are reported accurately, but when it comes to the United States, all bad news is emphasized, while for China, only good news.

This is a distorted view of reality. For us, it is no problem for China and Russia to show their perspective, or for all other countries to present their view. The important thing is that the source of the news is transparent, that it be said who stands behind and that the media market is the one deciding. We at the Global Awareness Centre, try to provide evidence to countries around the world, when the integrity of their information space is affected. And when that happens we criticize Russians or Chinese publicly. China spends billions of dollars on these projects. We are, maybe a bit behind in this regard, given the approach they have provided in the rest of the world”, he says. One of the regions where the United States' efforts are focused on fighting dezinformation is the Balkan region, often the object of Russian dezinforms. Washington has signed a memorandum of understanding with Northern Macedonia to co-operate in this direction. Mr. Rubin says that signing this document ensures this country's commitment to addressing this problem, with the same urgency that the United States handles it.

As territorial integrity is important, so the integrity of information is important. What we found is that because of the media RTл and Spputnik '% continue to broadcast in Serbia, this was being used to divide northern Macedonia. It is up to us to work with the government of Northern Macedonia to give them the capacity to ensure integration into the information space and to show when Russia acts in the background, interfering with their information space. Try to give them tools to analyze this antidote to their space information. So this means sharing the best practices for free media, fact control, and renewable skills”.

Montenegro has also often raised the alarm for its deziformation campaign. The country is ahead of early parliamentary elections held this Sunday, June 11th.

Rubin says that so far there is no information for the efforts of foreign actors to intervene in the election process.

What I know is that Montenegro has had a political relationship with Serbia. Serbia is the only country in the Balkans where RT) and Sputnik are still broadcast. Serbia also has Serbian-language versions RT and Sputnik. So, if you live in Montenegro, you can read Russian disinfectants in Serbian, coming from Serbia. So in itself more a challenge related to outside intervention in elections is a challenge to make possible RT and Sputnik) cannot cause so much damage within Montenegro or Northern Macedonia”.

Rubin spoke about the need to establish a kind of coalition against violating the information space. He said the United States plans to help other countries like Bulgaria and Slovakia get analytical means available to investigate information space violations, as he said, one country's weaknesses could affect other countries.

Interview with US diplomat James Rubin Voice of America: During a hearing session in Senate (16 May), Secretary Blinken told Senator Murphy, that the Global Action Centre is working with the unit that handles issues on China at the State Department to oppose the dezination coming from this country. Secretary Blinken also said that the United States is making other countries available to other agencies as Associated Press '%s', Reuters, and “other objective information sources”. Can you give us more details about this?

James Rubin: Manipulation of information is a major problem for the United States. There's a problem all over the world. We have found that in some cases, China offers its free news service to some media organs, making it a condition that they do not use any other news service if they receive free Chinese service. We're trying to challenge that exactly where it happens. Because the problem is that often, an African journalist, an Asian journalist, or a journalist in Latin America, reads information that is built on the Chinese view of the world in which most things are reported accurately, but when it comes to the United States, all bad news is emphasized. When it comes to China, only good news. This is a distorted view of the world. For us, it is no problem for China to show its perspective, for Russia to show its perspective, or for all countries to present their point of view. Important is the source of the news to be transparent, to say who is behind and to be the media market the one who decides. The problem is when Chinese support isn't transparent when it happens in the background. And we at the Global Partnership Centre try to provide evidence to countries around the world, when the integrity of their space of information is affected. Just as territorial integrity should not be violated, so must the integrity of the information space. And when that happens, we criticize the Russians or the Chinese publicly. China spends billions of dollars on these projects. We are, maybe a little bit behind in this regard by seeing the approach that they have provided in the rest of the world.

Voice of America: The United States has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Northern Macedonia to co-operate in the fight against deinformation, or “-manipulation of information”. What are the United States trying to accomplish? Are there similar agreements with other countries? James Rubin: We started with Northern Macedonia, after it became clear that they are concerned that their information space is being violated. Just as territorial integrity is important, so the integrity of information is important. And what we found is that because RT) and Sputnikı still existed in Serbia, this was being used to divide northern Macedonia. So what we did is agree to a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Northern Macedonia. And what these memorandums do is to ensure the will of another country, to address a problem with the same urgency that we deal with it. It is not a solution to the problem is a demonstration of will. But it is up to us to work with the government of Northern Macedonia to give them the capacity to guarantee this integrity of the information space, to try to show when Russia is acting in the background, by interfering in their information space. Try to give them tools to analyze this antidote to their space in information. So that means sharing the best practices for free media, checking facts, building resilience skills. Our partners in Northern Macedonia or other countries, such as Bulgaria and Slovakia, all have told us they recognise this as an enormous problem they are facing. What we want to do is work with them, to make sure that when Russia or China, or any other country, intervenes in the information space, this is transparent, to know the source, it becomes evident to these countries who are in the background. It is not wrong for countries to present their viewpoint but no longer need to hide. Must be something transparent.

Voice of America: Will there be agreements similar to other Balkan countries?

James Rubin: We don't have a plan for signing memorandums with other countries, but we have the same goal planned with other countries. At my meetings with authorities in Bulgaria and Slovakia, they expressed interest in working with us to build skills similar to those we have at the Global Engagement Centre. We develop analytical tools to investigate information space violations and we want other countries to have similar tools. So, we're going to give them technical assistance, we're going to provide support so that we can all have a common operational view. We do not want a country to be weaker than others when it comes to the space of information. Because in the modern era, when one country's information space is affected, it can affect other countries as well. So it's a way to build a kind of coalition against violating the information space.

Voice of America: In April you visited Montenegro and warned at the time of the major problem facing this country in the face of deinformation. Montenegro will have early parliamentary elections this Sunday, June 11th. Do you see any indicators or evidence that foreign actors are trying to interfere with Montenegro's domestic policy?

James Rubin: Actually, I have no information. What I know is that Montenegro has had a political relationship with Serbia. Serbia is the only country in the Balkans where RT) and Sputnik are still broadcast. Serbia also has Serbian-language versions RT and Sputnik. So, if you live in Montenegro, you can read Russian disinfectants in Serbian, coming from Serbia. So in itself more a challenge related to outside intervention in elections is a challenge to make possible RT and Sputnik-uʹ, not be able to cause so much damage within Montenegro or Northern Macedonia.

Voice of America: China has been accused of interfering with elections in Canada. As the United States moves towards presidential elections, how concerned are you and how closely is the Centre for Foreign Deinformation Campaigns being monitored?

James Rubin: In fact, the mandate of the Centre for Global Action lies abroad. It's the Justice Department, The FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, is their duty to ensure that there is no outside interference in our elections. The Global Action Centre is tasked with trying to fight dezination and manipulation of information in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America. It's internal structures to deal with American elections. But I'm always worried when foreigners try to interfere in elections, wherever it happens.

Voice of America: Senior American officials have said the State Department has held hearings on artificial intelligence and has discussions on its involvement in American foreign policy. Is the Global Artificial Intelligence Centre using it to fight foreign disinformation?

James Rubin: Not at the moment, we haven't used artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is as likely as a problem. Every new technology has great advantages and sometimes disadvantages. We understood this with social media or digital revolution. In the case of artificial intelligence, what concerns me is when other countries that distribute deninforms and lies use the manipulation of information use artificial intelligence to immediately translate into a hundred languages. This is one thing that normally requires hundreds and hundreds of people to do. It's too hard to do. It requires cultural adaptation. It is possible that our opposers are using these tools to make translations into many languages and instantly. That could be a problem. The best way to deal with artificial intelligence is to work with our European allies, create the means to verify the country, and make companies voluntarily, to show that the use of artificial intelligence can be done fairly, and that it is working on by Secretary Blinken and other people. What concerns us is when artificial intelligence is secretly used in background with the aim of reporting false events worldwide.

Voice of America: So, can we say that your center has temporarily ruled out the use of artificial intelligence to counteract dezinformation?

James Rubin: I haven't seen it used in the work I do. I don't think it's gonna help me do my job, because my job is to find out what's in the lobby. I'm sure there are people in the State Department and government who will benefit from this technology.

Voice of America: Will the Global Action Centre issue an annual report this year?

James Rubin: We report correctly to Congress. We have recently released a report on the Black Sea Drive Initiative, which Russia has tried to deceive the world about the causes that have created the food crisis. Russia has curbed grain, raised prices and tried to earn money. It has blocked ships floating in the Black Sea and caused food prices to rise on purpose. We've criticised that in the report.

Voice of America: A recent question, Mr. Pigozin, head of the Russian mercenary group APUWagner, has openly criticised top Russian leaders. Do you see this as a sign that Russian President Putin's ability to have control over information has weakened?

James Rubin: What I can say about Mr. Pigozin is that sometimes he tells the truth, but there are times when he exaggerates things. I think what his attitude reflects is the difficulty Russia has faced in achieving its goals. Russia has failed to achieve its goals in Ukraine. This becomes more evident every day and all of them criticize each other because they haven't achieved their goals. / VoA