The past few years have seen a series of events disrupt the information ecosystem, from disinformation campaigns targeting successive elections (for example, in the United States, Canada, the European Union and Brazil) to violent extremist events shared online (Christchurch, New Zealand). Each has exposed weaknesses in government, platforms and societal responses. Both benign and hostile actors have tried to learn from each experience to better protect against and exploit these situations, as each iterates on the last.
None has captured this as clearly as the recent COVID-19 infodemic, which saw a massive escalation of false information shared around the world, spreading fake cures, racist tropes and anti-science messages, and generating real-world attacks on health-care professionals, telecommunication workers and minority communities. As the COVID-19 infodemic is succeeded by new disinformation related to the international Black Lives Matter protests, this second session held on June 30 will provide policy makers with the opportunity to consider what we have learned to help prepare us for future disruptions.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Claire Wardle, Co-founder and Director, First Draft
- Clare Melford, Co-founder and Executive Director, Global Disinformation Index
Attendance at this event is by invitation only. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us at [email protected].