UN calls on earthlings not to contact aliens on their own
The updated SETI principles stipulate that the decision to respond to an extraterrestrial civilization must be made only after international consultations under the auspices of the UN.
The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) has updated the "Declaration of Principles Concerning the Conduct of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)", the first revision of the document since 2010. In the new edition, published in June 2026, scientists confirmed the guidance according to which, after confirmation of a signal from an extraterrestrial civilization, no response may be sent until international consultations have been conducted through the UN and other representative international bodies.
The document states: "Pending the outcome of such consultations, no reply should be sent." These consultations should be conducted through the United Nations and other broadly representative international bodies. The specific procedures for such consultations are to be outlined in a separate agreement, declaration, or arrangement to ensure a coordinated and responsible approach.
The updated Principles also place great emphasis on combating disinformation. In the event of the detection of a possible extraterrestrial signal, researchers are required to first obtain independent confirmation of the discovery, and then openly report it to the scientific community, the public, and the UN Secretary-General. The document calls on scientists to refrain from premature statements, to clearly separate confirmed facts from assumptions, and to take into account the risks of the spread of false information on social media.
These are recommendations of the International Academy of Astronautics for participants in SETI programs. As the document's developers emphasize, the new principles are designed to ensure the most responsible and coordinated response from humanity in the event of the first confirmed detection of extraterrestrial intelligence.
As the UOJ reported, US Vice President James David Vance stated that he considers UFOs to be demons rather than aliens, linking this to a religious understanding of such phenomena.
