The COVID-19 health crisis has been followed by an infodemic, in which disinformation related to the virus has spread across the world. Even though disinformation is not a new phenomenon, its volume has skyrocketed in recent years.
This episode discusses first how can we explain that and why does it matter for democracy. Disinformation disrupts the functioning of the public sphere, encouraging chaos and confusion in citizens’ minds.
Second, the episode discusses which actors spread disinformation and with what objectives. It addresses the role of the media and journalists, social media platforms, companies such as Cambridge Analytica and foreign authoritarian actors. Finally, it discusses what can academia, policy-makers, journalists, civil society do to counter disinformation effectively.
Listen to the debate with:
Jorge Tuñón is a lecturer in Journalism and Communication at the University Carlos III of Madrid, and coordinates the Jean Monnet Chair "EU, disinformation and Fake News".
Nad'a Kovalcikova is Program Manager and Fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD) in the German Marshall Fund's Brussels office, specialised in disinformation and transatlantic security challenges.
Emma Briant is Associate Researcher in Human Rights at Bard College, New York, is author of the book 'Propaganda and Counter-terrorism: Strategies for Global Change', and coordinator of the Women in Disinfo community.
Moderation: Carlos Carnicero Urabayen.
Technical production and edition: Franco Delle Donne.
An OpenEUpodcast produced by Agenda Pública.
Stay tuned to find out more on these scenarios and visit openeudebate.eu or connect on Twitter or Facebook to follow up the debates and find out on next activities.
Follow us on Twitter (@OpenEUdebate) and Facebook.