Information disorder during a war infodemic

21-23 September 2022, 9:00-17:30, European Parliament, Liaison Office Greece (8 Amalias Av., Athens)

Organised by Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece, affiliated to the Council of Europe Network, Supported by European Cultural Foundation, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Thessaloniki, Council of Europe, Hosted by European Parliament, Liaison Office Greece

Registration of participants is necessary, while the seats are limited (register here). Only registered participants will enter the European Parliament premises, carrying their ID. Registration closes on September 18.

The Forum will discuss on the ongoing “war infodemic” and on countering multiple threats of disinformation, misinformation, propaganda filter bubbles and fake news promoted through media, following the invasion in Ukraine. Fueled by politics, economics and history, the global take on the war in Ukraine has varied from region to region, particularly given the role that (dis)information has played in influencing these views. We will focus on how misinformation plays part in and is part of the war, mechanisms of misinformation, unfolding political narratives, challenges in reporting from the field, debunking the phenomenon in the media, including social, and discussing ways forward, including news checking. How information is diffracted and multidimensional, mediated in unprecedented extent, serving strategic agendas and controlled yet at the same time spiraling out of control. Narratives on the war/s invariably are abundant and differ.

The right to freedom of expression and information constitutes one of the essential foundations of democratic society. In conflict situations and wars, the role of the media is critical in providing the public with accurate and timely information. Trustworthy news and images can contribute to the protection of civilians and conflict prevention, bring to the attention of the international community the horrors and reality of conflict and expose violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. As a consequence, the work of those informing and communicating in conflict zones is fraught with dangers: denial of access, censorship, harassment, arbitrary detention and attacks are alarmingly frequent. As others who decide to work in conflict areas, journalists take consciously a special risk by working in contentious areas. Their choices in reporting, their capacity in selecting their stories and in checking facts, all impact upon the unfolding events.

Conflict situations, including authoritarianism, are also often a fertile soil for mass disinformation campaigns intended to undermine the proper understanding of the developments, as well more generally, peaceful security and democratic processes. Developing tools to protect democracy more effectively from “information weapons”, while preserving freedom of expression and freedom of the media both in the countries involved in the conflict and more widely, seems to be a priority for a range of actors, from multilateral international organisations to think tanks and the media themselves in a largely unregulated universe.

Stories of people experiencing the war, fleeing from harm, suffering trauma and displacement, all form part of how the war is perceived, as well as fought. Further, how political communication is designed and carried out, how political parties develop and defend positions, needs to be unpacked. As the world is witnessing the suffering of Ukraine, yet also many other parts of the world, with millions displaced and seeking safe refuge, news, language, and narratives are crucial to push for a culture of solidarity, freedom of information and expression and for creating safe and brave spaces, particularly for those displaced. The risk of being exposed to information disorder without actively recognising how it might influence attitudes, knowledge, emotions and behaviours is dramatically increased and exacerbated during periods of crisis.

Indicative topics focus on:

• Politics and Ethics of Communication/Media: the case of Ukraine

• Mechanisms of disinformation

• The impact on South East Europe?

• Political Communication and the democratic public sphere, incl. refugees

• Authoritarianism, censorship and hate speech

We invite professionals from civil society, academia, journalists, policy makers, media, social and political studies postgraduate students, displaced persons and educators.