"This report draws on insights from the workshop, along with recent academic and journalistic publishing. It highlights three major issues: How generative AI can make disinformation campaigns faster, more targeted, and more persuasive. How newsrooms’ adoption of AI tools can lead to inaccuracies a
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nd other risks. How AI may threaten the viability of professional journalism, including through automation and content generation that replaces human journalists. In response, journalists are developing investigative practices to expose disinformation campaigns, experimenting with AI tools to make their own work more efficient, and developing ethical guidelines and labour protections to defend professional journalism. Likewise, the news industry, policymakers, and platforms are considering responses that range from workforce training to newsroom innovation to new professional guidelines to AI regulation. Through this report, CSDI hopes to contribute to important public conversations about the impact of new technologies on journalism and our information environments. Ultimately, the responses developed by journalists, policymakers, technologists, and citizens will shape our efforts to understand the world and act as democratic citizens." (Abstract)
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"Revelations from the 2021 “Pegasus Project” investigation into the use of spyware have confirmed long-held concerns about the proliferation of the technology as a surveillance solution to monitor the activities of journalists around the world. Spyware is a particularly malicious form of malware
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that can potentially expose a target’s entire digital life, sometimes even leaving victims powerless to prevent an attack. As such, spyware appears to be the ultimate tool of oppression that can be used against journalists, and its proliferation is currently taking place with extremely limited transparency and according to "black box" dynamics. The aim of this paper is to shed light on how spyware technology can affect the work and security of journalists by analyzing what threats spyware poses to the practice of journalism. Qualitative and exploratory in nature, and theoretically grounded in surveillance studies and the growing body of literature on information security in journalism, the article is based on a series of qualitative interviews with technologists and reporters conducted to deepen the understanding of the threats posed by spyware and to provide an overview of potential resistance and neutralization practices that journalists can put in place, as well as their effectiveness. Overall, the article aims to contribute to the study of the impact of surveillance on journalism and its implications for press freedom." (Abstract)
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"This paper presents an exploratory study aimed at systematically mapping the public actions taken by OSCE participating States to combat online violence against female journalists. Adopting a qualitative large N research design, the study examines national policies and initiatives across all 57 OSC
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E participating States. Through extensive desk research of official government documents and gray literature qualitative data is collected. The analysis thereof is guided by three research aims: (a) identifying actions implemented by participating states, (b) examining the roles of public sphere actors, and (c) assessing the approaches adopted to combat online violence. The paper discusses best practices identified in eleven OSCE participating States, shedding light on strategies for addressing online violence against female journalists. However, the findings highlight significant disparities in policy implementation and acknowledgment of the issue, with only a minority of states demonstrating proactive measures on the safety of journalists (11 states; 19.3%). Of these 11 States, only 7 participating States (12.28%) were found to have a gendered approach. 47 (80.7%) participating States lack information and/or targeted action on violence against journalists. Challenges including the legal gray area surrounding online violence, limited response from tech platforms, and the complexities of transnational collaboration are discussed. Finally, based on these insights, policy recommendations are proposed to enhance to address the multifaceted challenges more effectively. These include working towards multinational definitions and approaches on online gender-based violence against journalists, and developing international multi stakeholder cooperation and peer education." (Abstract)
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"Dieser Report bietet einen Überblick über die im NOTORIOUS Projekt entwickelten und angewandten Methoden und Strategien zur Erhebung und Analyse von Mehrplattform-Social-Media-Daten mit einem Schwerpunkt auf der Aufdeckung von Desinformationsnarrativen. Zur Datensammlung erwiesen sich explorative
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Ansätze, basierend auf Akteur*innen, Inhalten und extern verlinkten Inhalten als notwendig und wurden entsprechend entwickelt und implementiert. Zur Datenaufbereitung und -analyse liegen die Vorteile der von uns entwickelten und vorgestellten Daten-Analyse-Methoden in ihrer Fähigkeit mit vergleichbar geringem Konfigurations-Aufwand, ausreichender Validität und hoher Effizienz große Textmengen zu verarbeiten und komplexe semantische Beziehungen zu erfassen. Hier hat sich die Verwendung semantischer Einbettungen von Texten als sehr effektiv herausgestellt, um Themen und Themenströmungen zu identifizieren. Auch die Erstellung von Ähnlichkeitsnetzwerken aus semantischen Einbettungen erwies sich als leistungsfähige Methode zur Visualisierung der Beziehung zwischen Themen und Akteur*innen. Semantische Ähnlichkeitsnetzwerke ermöglichten darüber hinaus eine Komplexitätsreduktion für Analyst*innen durch die Identifizierung von Clustern, die wir über einen semantischen Abgleich mit Fact-Check-Datenbanken mit bestimmten Desinformationsnarrativen in Verbindung bringen konnten. Mögliche zukünftige Entwicklungen basierend auf unseren Erkenntnissen sind die Integration multimodaler Ansätze und die Erschließung weiterer Datenquellen im Sinne einer kontinuierlichen Verbesserung der Erkennung und Bekämpfung von Desinformation." (Zusammenfassung)
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"The integration of AI systems has profoundly transformed multiple dimensions of international cultural relations (ICR). Notably, changes in recent years have accentuated imbalances among languages, affected the situation of cultural sectors, and impacted the integrity of information while also prov
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iding a platform for influential tech players with unique imaginaries. This is unfolding in an era characterised by an increasing geopolitical competition and a global search for new AI governance frameworks. Most of these issues will likely further intensify in the coming years, with the proliferation of AI agents with whom users will interact in various contexts. In such a scenario, it has become urgent to outline a strategy for the work in the field of ICR in the AI era. Considering the mutual influence between AI and ICR, institutions engaged in ICR should aim to ensure ethical and responsible technology use and emerge as pivotal contributors to the advancement and regulation of AI." (Back cover)
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"Much has been said about the importance of digital inclusion in reducing the digital divide and ensuring equal access and use of ICTs for all. Generally, inclusivity has a positive connotation, meaning that no one should be left behind by digitalization processes. However, the inclusion of marginal
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ized communities into the digital system could lead to new exclusions within the new system because it amplifies the pre?existing social inequalities that these communities face, creating digital inequality. By observing the implementation of School of Community Networks in 10 Indonesian villages, this article attempts to describe those inequalities and explain how rural communities actively design a strategy to make their involvement in Indonesia's digitalization more meaningful. The conceptual framework developed in this study adopts a "periphery?centric" approach, aligning with the user?centric approach, as it examines from the perspective of marginalized communities how they perceive, understand, and utilize digital technology by generating new forms of innovation that have real impacts on their community, such as tailored applications for public services and local internet infrastructure to reach remote areas. The approach poses the problem and strategic dimension of the issue and puts forward the ownership and locality of these innovations to overcome digital inequality. With the meaningful use of digital technology, the inclusiveness of socially less?advantaged groups into the digital system does not immediately create new inequality; rather, they make themselves the center of their respective bottom?up innovation projects." (Abstract)
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"This paper delves into the intricate relationship between religious populism and the legitimization of digital authoritarianism in Turkey. Specifically, it investigates how the ruling party, AKP, has strategically linked Islamist values to state policies as a means of justifying its repressive cont
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rol over digital technology. Through an examination of internet governance at multiple levels—full network-level governance, sub-network or website-level governance, proxy or corporation-level governance, and network–node or individual-level governance—the study reveals the instrumentalization of religious populism to consolidate support and validate the government’s autocratic agenda. Furthermore, it sheds light on the role of state-controlled religious institutions, traditional media, social media outlets, as well as religious leaders and organizations in shaping public opinion, enabling the government to exert greater control over the dissemination of information. By dissecting the religious populist justification of digital authoritarianism in Turkey, this research provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics at play in the realm of online governance." (Abstract)
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"Social media platforms have become crucial channels for radical right populist leaders to broadcast anti-immigrant views. These politicians employ various rhetorical appeals, such as pathos (emotional language), logos (logical arguments), and ethos (speaker credibility), to sway public opinion. Thi
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s study considers the anti-immigrant rhetoric of prominent European populist radical right leaders across X, Instagram, and Facebook, analysing the prevalence of these rhetorical strategies across different platforms. From the perspective of mediatization theory, politicians can adjust their messages to fit with the design and formats of various social media platforms. Party leaders often resort to emotional appeals on X, with its limited space for communication, as well as on Facebook, where emotional interaction buttons and discussion features can encourage emotional rhetoric as well. Logical appeals (logos) are common on platforms such as Facebook and X, which offer options to easily share information in the form of texts and links. Additionally, ethos, associated with speaker’s credibility, is common in posts on platforms that facilitate closer engagement with the party leaders’ constituents, such as Facebook and Instagram. These findings underscore the importance of considering platform design when shaping political communication strategies." (Abstract)
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"The article builds on current research into the effects and harms of hate speech in the lives of its victims. It introduces the anthropological concept of everyday violence to focus on hate speech as an everyday experience as opposed to a sequence of separate hate speech acts. Methodologically, the
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study is based on a qualitative approach and analyses data collected via semi-structured interviews (N=33) with people who have experienced hate speech in four EU member states (Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic and Portugal). The analysis documents four overlapping themes of how hate speech manifests as the everyday experience of “living hated”—hate speech as a flow; its spatial dimension of moving across online and offline contexts; its long-term effects, leading to what we call “cumulative desensitization” (aggravated during the COVID-19 pandemic); and the role of support systems and their (in)effectiveness. The article concludes by suggesting possible applications as well as avenues for future research that could provide a deeper understanding of hate speech as the daily life experience of its targets." (Abstract)
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"This study contributes to research on digital inequalities in the context of artificial intelligence by examining user perceptions of deepfake technology. We focus on the stratification of deepfake knowledge and attitudes towards deepfakes as critical elements of technology access. Based on a surve
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y of 1,421 German internet users, we analyse the role of sociodemographic variables, digital skills, and personal innovativeness in predicting deepfake knowledge. We then examine the role of deepfake knowledge in users’ assessments of risks and potentials associated with the technology. Our results point to a generally low level of knowledge and a strong focus on risks in internet users’ perceptions of deepfakes. We find that age, gender and educational attainment predict knowledge about deepfakes. Digital skills, personal innovativeness, and social media use also positively relate to deepfake knowledge. This knowledge, in turn, is shown to play a role in users’ positive attitude towards the technology. While age plays only a minor role, female gender strongly relates to low knowledge and negative attitudes towards deepfakes. We thus find evidence of a sizeable gender divide in user access to the novel deepfake technology." (Abstract)
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"Artificial Intelligence (AI) is woven into a supply chain of capital, commodities and human labour that has been neglected in critical debates. Given the current surge in generative AI – which is estimated to drive up the extraction of natural resources such as minerals, fossil fuels or water –
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it is vital to investigate its entire production line from a critical infrastructural perspective. Drawing on the supply chain capitalism, a concept coined by Anna L. Tsing in 2009, this paper contributes to critical AI studies by investigating the structure of AI supply chains, taking into account the mining, electronics, digital and e-waste industry. This paper illustrates how the supply chain capitalism of AI is precipitating geographical asymmetries connected to contested struggles in México by focusing on a key element of these chains: data centres. In times of climate emergency, this paper calls to reconsider algorithmic harms and resistance by investigating the entire capitalist production line of the AI industry from critical and environmental lens." (Abstract)
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