Launch event: Countering disinformation and social division
Technologies can promote inclusion but they can also contribute to the spread of disinformation. This undermines trust in institutions and peace processes and destabilises democratic systems. Disinformation also impacts voter decisions, erodes confidence in media, and hinders peacebuilding efforts.
Around the globe, initiatives have emerged to mitigate the spread of disinformation, such as fact-checking, media literacy programmes, platform regulations, and community-based resilience strategies. Peacebuilding organisations are also taking steps to address this issue. Yet challenges persist. Recent decisions by major platforms, such as Meta’s announcement to stop fact-checking, show the difficulties in tackling disinformation. The report “Peacebuilding response to disinformation – taking stock", commissioned by the Berghof Foundation and the Platform Peaceful Conflict Transformation, highlights current peacebuilding approaches and lessons learned in addressing this critical challenge.
At this launch event, we will explore:
- How can research from other fields, such as cognitive science, inform peacebuilding efforts?
- What strategies are peacebuilders currently using to counter disinformation?
- What lessons have we learned from previous efforts?
Online event via Zoom. This event will be held in English.
Speakers:
- Grace Connors, Research Assistant, Do Good Institute, University of Maryland, author of the report
- Emma Baumhofer, independent consultant on digital peacebuilding and interaction design, author of the report
- Julie Hawke, Peacebuilding and Research Lead, Build Up
- Jon Roozenbeek, Lecturer in Psychology and Security, Kings College London
Moderated by Nina Strumpf, Project Manager, Conflict Transformation Research Department, Berghof Foundation, Platform Peaceful Conflict Transformation, FriEnt.
The event is co-organised by the Platform Peaceful Conflict Transformation and the Berghof Foundation.