Listen to this articlePresident Donald Trump’s pick to lead the United States’ health policy may be a well known vaccine sceptic. But for former US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy to lobby senators to not vote for her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for health secretary calling him a “predator” and “unfit” for the job, speaks volumes about what his outlook could mean for global health. One need only look at thetragic deathsof 83 children in Samoa from a highly contagious measles outbreak. RFK’s circulation of vaccine misinformationduring a visitin 2019 led to distrust among the Samoan population.While Robert F Kennedy’s nomination is still under consideration by lawmakers, the Samoa incident highlights the dangerous power of misinformation, particularly for small island communities. Disinformation, now circulating widely in the Pacific, presents as a serious threat to security, governance, and political stability. It undermines public trust by distorting facts and manipulating perceptions. With more people relying on digital platforms for news and information, the risk of falling victim to false narratives has never been higher.There are reasons why Pacific Island states are particularly susceptible to disinformation. First, many island nations are still adjusting to the rapid shift in communication methods. With about80 per cent of peoplein countries such as Fiji, Tuvalu, and Samoa now online, social media has become a primary source of news. While this digital access opens doors to education, economic growth, and job opportunities, it also means that people are exposed to unchecked information. Often,social media influencers– rather than trusted sources – shape what people believe to be the truth. This creates a breeding ground for misinformation and disinformation, as fact-checking is often non-existent.In 2023-24 thePacific Security Outlookreport highlighted the growing challenges to democracy in the region. Political instability, governance struggles, and scarce resources are exacerbated by the rise of disinformation and foreign interference. These factors threaten the region’s sovereignty and the stability of its democratic systems, making it harder for people to discern fact from fiction.One of the most important steps in this effort is to ensure that the voices of island leaders are heard.The consequences of disinformation are already being felt across the Pacific. The Samoa vaccine misinformation and measles crisis is just one example of how public health can be undermined. Similarly, rumours in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands aboutkidnapping and organ harvestinghave led to fear, social unrest, and even school shutdowns. The rise of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology has further complicated the situation. For instance, inFijiandTonga, misleading claims about political candidates and election integrity have deepened tensions, while AI-generated deepfakes and audio-video manipulation are making it harder to identify the truth.Climate change, an existential crisis for Pacific Island nations, is also being targeted by disinformation. While the region faces rising sea levels and extreme weather,misleading claimsabout climate policies, deregulation, and outright climate denial are sowing confusion. If these false narratives take hold, they could delay much-needed action and weaken public support for climate initiatives. Terms such as “climate hoax” and “climate scam” only serve to undermine the region’s efforts to address these pressing challenges.Given these threats, it remains crucial for countries in the Pacific region to come together and take steps to combat disinformation. Australia and India, with their shared history of engagement with island nations and experience in countering digital misinformation, are well-positioned to collaborate with island nations on such efforts. In addressing 14 Pacific Island nations at an Indian-led development meeting in Papua New Guinea in 2023, Prime MinisterNarendra Modireframed the meaning of Pacific Islands: “You are not small island states, but large ocean countries.”Their geographic positioning, shared interests and democratic values make Australia and India significant anchors for the Indo-Pacific region to combat the challenges faced by small island and littoral states against a range of threats, from disinformation to illegal fishing, to resource management and maritime security.Strengthening media resilience in the Pacific through better training and support for local journalists who are often on the front lines of the battle against disinformation is one solution being taken up. TheAustralian governmenthas already committed $68 million over five years to support media initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region. Similarly,Indiais upgrading its Centre of Excellence for Information and Technology in Papua New Guinea, turning it into a regional hub for cybersecurity and information resilience.While progress is being made, there is still much to be done to create community resilience, and Australia and India can lead the way as strong proponents of a rules-based international order.One of the most important steps in this effort is to ensure that the voices of island leaders are heard. That is why the Australia India Institute will host the first of its kindFiji Dialoguein Suva this week, in partnership with the University of the South Pacific, bringing together experts and government officials from across the region. This security Dialogue will focus on building resilience to disinformation and climate change, strengthening regional governance and resource management, and enhancing Australia and India’s cooperation with Pacific Island and Indian Ocean Island nations. By hosting this Dialogue in Fiji, we can work towards solutions that are rooted in the region’s unique needs, to help build the partnerships necessary to tackle a range of regional threats head-on.