D-8 Secretary General Calls for Global Collaboration to Counter Disinformation

The Secretary General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, has warned that the world is witnessing a “rupture or erosion of the global order,” stressing the urgent need for collective action to counter disinformation and divisive narratives.

In an exclusive interview with Yeni Şafak, Ambassador Mahmood underscored the growing challenge of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech, describing them as forces that “create alternate realities” and “accentuate existing fault lines while building new cleavages.”

“The world must come together to reverse the deluge of misinformation and disinformation,” he said. “Governments, multilateral organizations, big tech companies, media, and civil society must work collaboratively to ensure that false narratives do not manipulate global realities. We should strive for harmony rather than discord.”

Recalling the United Nations’ global initiative on information integrity, the D-8 chief emphasized that the commitment to truthful communication and shared understanding is now essential for international peace and cooperation.

D-8 Nears Its 30th Anniversary

Founded in 1997 on the initiative of former Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, the D-8 brings together eight major developing countries from the Muslim world — Türkiye, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Egypt. Azerbaijan joined as the ninth member last year, marking a new chapter in the organization’s expansion.

Ambassador Mahmood noted that the D-8 collectively represents more than 1.2 billion people and a combined GDP exceeding $5 trillion. He added that the organization’s current focus is guided by its Decennial Roadmap 2020–2030, which identifies key priority areas such as energy, transportation, tourism, health, and technology.

New Center for Information and Media in Baku

Highlighting the growing importance of the information domain, Ambassador Mahmood announced the D-8’s plan to establish a Center of Excellence for Information and Media in Baku, Azerbaijan.

“Humanity traditionally viewed warfare through land, air, and maritime domains,” he said. “But the information domain has become equally crucial — many battles today are waged through misleading content and twisted facts.”

The proposed center, he explained, will serve as an affiliated body within the D-8’s institutional architecture, coordinating with member states’ official news agencies and media organizations. Its objective will be to enhance international visibility of the D-8, strengthen cooperation among member countries, and project the organization’s narrative globally.

“Once established, this center will make a significant contribution to promoting the D-8’s perspective internationally and fostering collaboration among member countries in the information domain,” Mahmood said. “It will be a vital hub within the D-8 framework for building mutual understanding and advancing shared values.”