Tackling Online Misinformation and Disinformation
Online Event 18 January 2022, 9:00am - 3:00pm
1
9:00am
Online Registration
9:30am
Chair’s Welcome Address
Dr Fadi Safieddine, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science, University of East London
9:40am
Countering Disinformation For Communications Professionals
- Understanding the difference between misinformation and disinformation
- Exploring the development of misinformation over time, and assessing information in a digital age
- Identifying the challenges of disinformation on communications, politics and society
- Recognising the importance of the messenger for delivering information and disinformation
- Considering education as a tool to combat misinformation
Mandy Pearce, Vice President, Chartered Institute of Public Relations
10:00am
Keynote Address: Go Viral Project for Combatting Misinformation
- Defining what counts as problematic content - ‘fake news’ is not very common compared to misleading news
- Limitations of fact-checking in reaching those who are exposed to misinformation.
- Usefulness of pre-emptive approaches to tackling misinformation
- Using a wide array of interventions (games, videos, infographics) to serve as “prebunking” tools and reduce vulnerability to misinformation, plus a brief review of the evidence
Dr Jon Roozenbeek, University of Cambridge Social Decision Making Lab
10:20am
Keynote Address: Assessing The Availability And Potential Impact Of False Information Online
- Exploring a range of factors that allow false information in new ways online
- Using a research approach to provide insight about false information in the UK which can inform future research
- Analysing different categories of false and misleading information and their potential harms
- Observing key developments in the digital era affecting news and information sources
Will Moy, CEO, Full Fact
10:40am
Questions And Answers Session
11:00am
Break and Networking
11:30am
Building Smart, Active Consumers Of Information For The Benefit Of Democratic Participation
- The importance of increasing news literacy in the modern landscape
- Developing fact-checking skills and understanding cognitive biases
- Productive conversations without confrontation: re-establishing the art of dialogue and debate
- Digital citizenship and democracy
Damaso Reyes, Consultant, News Literacy Project
11:50am
Case Study: Addressing Vaccine Misinformation By Using The Messenger Principle
- Identifying that misinformation regarding the COVID-19 vaccine was circulating through surveys and engagement sessions
- Understanding the best way to correct misinformation among minority groups by focussing on both the message (what) and who (messenger)
- Designing and testing three types of messages and messengers including and NHS infographic, a council branded message and a quote from a local GP
- Providing insight on how to best launch information campaigns
Sterling Rippy, Strategic Lead Behavioural Insights, Public Health, London Borough of Hounslow
12:10pm
Keynote Address: Developing Solutions for Automating Disinformation Detection – Provenance Action
- Hear about how Provenance Action aims to provide audience interventions aimed at combatting disinformation
- Examine the research surrounding audience susceptibility and resilience to disinformation
- Consider the current challenges in developing countermeasures to disinformation
- Learn about the latest updates and recent developments to information verification and technology developed by Provenance
Kirsty Park, Postdoctoral Researcher, Provenance
12:30pm
Questions And Answers Session
12:50pm
Lunch and Networking
1:30pm
Keynote Address: Community Initiatives for Countering Misinformation and Online Hoaxes – MAFINDO
- Considering how MAFINDO developed verification and fact-checking processes to debunk online hoaxes
- Identifying methods for challenging the spread of misinformation, building engagement, research, and public education
- Improving awareness of misinformation, developing critical thinking skills, and enhancing community participation
- Applying strategies for overcoming false information from Indonesia to around the world, using collaborations and partnerships
Renanda Putri, Junior Fact Checker, MAFINDO
1:50pm
Uncovering The Cambridge Analytica Scandal: Disinformation As A Threat To Democratic Processes
- Building a stronger and more secure democracy in a digital age
- Disinformation and propaganda: treating the digital influence industry as a threat to national security
- The weaponization of social media – how Psyops techniques have entered the mainstream
- Why regulation and accountability is vital for the protection of democratic processes
Dr Emma Briant, Associate Researcher, Bard College
2:10pm
Questions And Answers Session
2:20pm
Chair's Summary and Close