"This report proposes solutions on how best to equip journalists and other key actors to fulfil their vital role in a changing landscape. While censorship is an alluring option in the face of disinformation over the internet, it is important to find avenues to facilitate the responsible and ethical
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use of the medium." (Acknowledgements)
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"With the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) package, the European Union will adopt what is probably the most significant international standard-setting project besides the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It is expected that the DSA will have far-reaching impact
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beyond the EU. This legal opinion deals with concrete questions on the effectiveness of the DSA, as well as in the areas of conflict with freedom of communication and dissemination of disinformation. The opinion concerns the draft published by the European Commission in December 2020." (Executive summary, page 5)
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"The study finds that journalistic and fact-checking disinformation responses in the country have struggled due to lack of conceptual understanding of disinformation among journalists, monetization trends that incentivize sensationalist news and reduce the impact of capacity building initiatives, la
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ck of financial sustainability of responses, language barriers, and political backlash. At the same time, the research finds that local capacity building responses have improved the ability of individual journalists to understand Covid-19 misinformation and hashtag manipulation on Twitter whereas fact-checking responses have led to the development of efficient workflows, informed recruitment principles, contextual verification practices, and collaboration with social networks to downrank viral online disinformation. The study also confirms findings from literature that disinformation is negatively affecting the work and safety environment of Pakistani digital journalists. The journalists surveyed for this research reported that disinformation has increased their risk of getting deceived by fake social media posts during online newsgathering. In addition, most women journalists surveyed for the study said they were targeted with gendered disinformation campaigns, which caused them physical, psychological or reputational harm. A majority of surveyed women digital journalists also believed that they face additional challenges to counter disinformation due to their gender identity. The digital journalists who participated in the survey identified fact-checking training as their most urgent need to counter disinformation." (Executive summary, page 8)
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"Instead of criminalising or otherwise silencing people to address misinformation and disinformation, States should step up their efforts to ensure credible, reliable, objective, evidence-based and accessible information is disseminated to all." (Back cover)
"The Code of Practice on Disinformation is a first-of-its kind tool through which relevant players in the industry agreed - for the first time in 2018 - on self-regulatory standards to fight disinformation. Its revision process was launched in June 2021 and, after the signature and presentation of t
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he revised Code on 16 June 2022, the new Code will become part of a broader regulatory framework, in combination with the legislation on Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising and the Digital Services Act (DSA). For signatories that are Very Large Online Platforms, the Code aims to become a mitigation measure and a Code of Conduct recognised under the co-regulatory framework of the DSA. The strengthened Code of Practice contains 44 commitments and 128 specific measures, in the following areas: demonetisation - cutting financial incentives for purveyors of disinformation; transparency of political advertising; ensuring the integrity of services; empowering users; empowering researchers; empowering the fact-checking community; transparency centre and Task-force; strengthened monitoring framework."
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"As the online space becomes increasingly centre stage in the fight against antisemitism, this guide from ISD and B’nai B’rith International, in partnership with UNESCO, aims to build capacity among civil society to tackle this growing threat. Recognising the enormous capacity for positive actio
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n that the digital space offers, this practical and action-oriented resource aims to consolidate knowledge and provide a wide range of policy and community avenues for action. The guide provides an overview of the online antisemitism threat landscape, a summary of existing policy responses on an international and national level across a range of European contexts, and a broad set of recommendations for civil society engagement with governments, platforms and wider communities to address this challenge." (About this report)
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"Public service media (PSM) are widely acknowledged as part of the variety of solutions to disinformation. The remit of PSM, formed around values of universality, equality, diversity, accuracy and quality, implies a responsibility to fight disinformation by producing fact-based news content and find
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ing anti-disinformation solutions. In this article, we introduce a framework for assessing how PSM organizations are able to counter disinformation in different contexts. Our normative framework provides a triangulation of contextual factors that determine the role of the PSM organization in the national environment, the activities carried out to fight disinformation and expert assessments of the potential of PSM to reduce the impact of disinformation. The framework is illustrated with analyses of PSM from the Czech Republic (CZE), Finland, Spain and the United Kingdom (UK)." (Abstract)
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"Hate Speech ist Alltag, egal ob auf der Straße, im Parlament oder im Netz. Menschen werden beleidigt, entwürdigt und man ruft zu Gewalt auf. Die Folgen sind unübersehbar. Hate Speech ist so zu einem gesellschaftsbedrohenden Phänomen avanciert, befeuert durch politische und soziale Krisen wie di
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e Flüchtlingskrise 2015/16 und die Corona-Pandemie 2020/21. Mit diesem Sammelband möchten wir einen Beitrag zu einer strukturierten Reflexion des Phänomens leisten. Dabei werden sprachliche Indikatoren von Hassrede, die Bedeutung von digitaler Kommunikation für Hass und Hetze sowie öffentliche Kommunikation und Hate Speech in der Praxis diskutiert. Ebenso setzt der Band sich mit möglichen politischen, rechtlichen, journalistischen sowie zivilgesellschaftlichen Handlungsoptionen auseinander. Einen besonderen Fokus legen wir dabei auf die journalistische Bearbeitung und digitale Verbreitung von Hate Speech." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"While false rumours, inaccurate reporting, and conspiracy theories have existed for as long as there were people to create and spread them, the Internet has reshaped and amplified the ability to produce and perpetuate false and misleading content. Stopping the creators and spreaders of untruths onl
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ine is essential to reducing political polarisation, building public trust in democratic institutions, improving public health, and more generally improving the well-being of people and society. This Going Digital Toolkit note discusses the importance of access to accurate information online and presents a novel typology of the different types of untruths that circulate on the Internet. It considers how untruths are spread online as well as the consequences, and it surveys the evidence base of false and misleading information online. It concludes by identifying approaches to fighting untruths online and mitigating their negative effects." (Summary)
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"This book has compiled the tech policy debate into a toolkit for policy makers, legal experts, and academics seeking to address platform dominance and its impact on society today. It discusses the global consensus around technology regulation with recommendations of cutting-edge policy innovations
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from around the world. It also explores the proposed policy toolkit through comprehensive coverage of existing and future policy on data, antitrust, competition, freedom of expression, jurisdiction, fake news, elections, liability, and accountability. The book identifies potential policy impacts on global communication, user rights, public welfare, and economic activity. It outlines a policy framework that address the interlocking challenges of contemporary tech regulation and offer actionable solutions for the technological future." (Publisher description)
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"In this paper, ARIJ proposes the following recommendations which target the greater media community. This includes media institutions concerned with the press, unions, press unions and donors who support this venture. We maintain that disinformation is a product of a social and political environmen
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t, as well as a professional one. Our recommendations are as follows: First: Build a regional network for news and information fact-checkers, in both the written and visual press ...; Second: Designate the year 2021 to combat disinformation in the Arab region ...; Third: Support scientific specializations for scientific journalism cadres ...; Fourth: Expand and develop methods of teaching media education ...; Fifth: Launch an audiovisual media campaign to support news verification ...; Sixth: Produce simplified training materials in Arabic on how journalists can use artificial intelligence in media work ...; Seventh: Encourage independent news auditing initiatives [...] Eighth: Encourage the Arabization of more existing digital news verification tools ..." (Recommendations, page 38-43)
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"This report includes framing context to strategically understand and respond to disinformation in the aid sector (part 1), followed by three separate but linked sets of analyses, recommendations, and tools (parts 2, 3, and 4) spanning core perspectives relevant to InterAction Member organizations.
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Finally, this document includes relevant resources, databases of potential counter-disinformation partners, and policy perspectives among the annexes. With the exception of part 1, each section of this report includes tools, examples, and recommendations for organizations and individuals targeted by disinformation or confronting its harmful impact in the context of their civil society, development, or humanitarian work." (Introduction, page 1)
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"1 Words matter: Use the correct terms
2 Images and emotions: Understanding the entire range of disinformation
3 Creating structures for the digital education of every age group
4 Securing the freedom of expression: Smart regulation against overblocking
5 A modern constitutional state
6 Focus on tec
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hnology: Greater responsibility of platform operators
7 Social media councils: Binding integration of the civil society
8 Strengthening journalism for the 21st century
9 Diplomacy in the Digital Age: Prioritising cyber foreign policy
10 Prevention of threats: Better communication, civic tech and transparency." (Pages 1-8)
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"As a freelance journalist, you will often work independently or outside of a newsroom. Sharpening your fact-checking and verification skills is vital to protect both you and your stories from mis- and disinformation. Knowing the networks and resources you can turn to for help means you’re not alo
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ne in this important fight." (Page 1)
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"In the Eastern DRC where the 10th Ebola epidemic was coming to an end, the advent of COVID-19 raised additional concern of dealing with two major health emergencies at the same time with implications for effective audience engagement, and compliance to public health measures. These concerns came ag
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ainst the backdrop of audience fatigue with Ebola programming and a seeming lack of trust in the Ebola response – seen by some members of the public as a money-making venture. Similar concern and mistrust are also expressed with the COVID-19 response. Given this, Internews secured funding from BHA/USAID to respond to the growing rumors and misinformation about COVID-19 and provide life-saving information to audiences. By working with local radio partners, Internews produced 23 radio programs and several Public Service Announcements that were aired over 14,000 times on 39 partner stations. This is in addition to expanding its rumor tracking to address community concerns on COVID-19 and building partner capacity on fact-checking and radio programming. In a Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) survey conducted in December last year, 72% respondents cited Internews radio program, Tushinde Corona for improving their knowledge about COVID-19 and 74% credited it for changing certain behaviors and practices that include regular handwashing and use of facemask. While these are notable developments, challenges remain, particularly with the acceptance of and willingness to take COVID-19 vaccine, thus generating heated public debate. The government recently suspended vaccines delivered through the COVAX Facility citing safety concerns thus adding to existing rumors about the efficacy and reliability of COVID-19 vaccines. In the December KAP survey conducted by Internews, only 49% of respondents said they would take a COVID-19 vaccine or recommend it to someone - a figure that is similar to the 46% who said the same in a GeoPoll 2020 report on COVID-19 that focused on six countries including the DRC." (Executive summary)
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"As highlighted above, the development and refinement of counter-terrorism policies and practices by social media and technology companies has come about as a function of the evolving nature of terrorist and extremist entities’ exploitation of said platforms. The challenges highlighted above, name
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ly, the distinct institutional purposes, the impacts of private companies acting as determinants of freedom-of-expression norms, and the disparate treatment of Salafi-Jihadist content compared with extreme right-wing content are a sample of the kinds of ethical dilemmas that are raised by the changing character of counter-terrorism activity. As these practices continue to evolve, it is important that the state continues to retain its role in expressing and representing community norms and as an accountable actor in the policing of freedom of expression. Ensuring that an increasingly diverse body of extremist content is responded to with equal vigour, and provided with equally limited tolerance, is a key role for the state. The increased presence of private-sector technology companies as controllers and owners of key public and political discourse infrastructure presents a number of substantial risks to the traditional roles that the democratically accountable apparatus of the state played in ensuring civil political discourse was both enabled and protected. As technology plays an increased role in politics and in political discourse, it is essential that the ethical challenges that are raised by these changes are considered and incorporated into policy thinking, both within government and within private-sector technology companies." (Conclusion, pages 125-126)
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"This discussion paper seeks to give an overview of the key aspects that need to be taken into consideration to address the occurrence of hate speech on social media, be it through concrete regulations by social media companies, counter efforts and legislations or preventive educational measures. Th
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e paper is divided into three sections: part 1 focuses on definitions of hate speech and associated legal frameworks, part 2 reviews and addresses tools and techniques for monitoring hate speech online and discusses measurements of the prevalence of online hate speech and part 3 discusses potential counter and preventive measures." (Page 2)
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"This study explores the various methods of combating fake news on social media such as Natural Language Processing, Hybrid model. We surmised that detecting fake news is a challenging and complex issue, however, it remains a workable task. Revelation in this study holds that the application of hybr
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id-machine learning techniques and the collective effort of humans could stand a higher chance of fighting misinformation on social media." (Abstract)
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"Auf der Grundlage der identifizierten Schutzlücken erarbeitet das Gutachten mögliche Gegenmaßnahmen und beschreibt die nötigen Wirkungsvoraussetzungen. Die zentrale Frage lautet: Welche Risikopotenziale für individuelle und gesellschaftliche Interessen weist Desinformation auf und welche Gover
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nance-Maßnahmen können darauf adäquat reagieren? Die Beantwortung dieser Leitfrage erfolgt dabei in drei Schritten: Vorangestellt (Kap. 2) werden die in wissenschaftlichen und medienpolitischen Diskussionen differenzierten Erscheinungsformen von Desinformation sowie ihre jeweiligen Begriffsverständnisse zusammengefasst und auf ihre Risikopotenziale hin untersucht. Ziel ist es, die Spannweite betroffener Phänomene aufzuzeigen und sie von anderen Erscheinungsformen und Begrifflichkeiten zu differenzieren. Dabei erfolgt auch eine Bewertung der Abgrenzungsindikatoren im Hinblick auf die Nutzbarkeit für rechtliche bzw. regulatorische Anknüpfungspunkte. Zudem wird hier kurz der Stand der Forschung hinsichtlich der abträglichen Effekte von Desinformation für individuelle und gesellschaftsbezogene Schutzziele einbezogen; Kenntnisse über Wirkungen von Desinformation auf einzelne Rezipientinnen und Rezipienten liegen hier bislang nur lückenhaft vor. Dies steht in gewissem Kontrast zu den eher impliziten Unterstellungen, die den aktuellen Regulierungsforderungen zugrunde liegen. Dort, wo empirische Evidenzen vorliegen, zeigt das Gutachten jedenfalls vermutete Effekte und ihre Risikopotenziale auf. Im zweiten Schritt (Kap. 3) wird der geltende Rechtsrahmen daraufhin untersucht, welche gesetzlichen Vorkehrungen gegen eine Risikorealisierung bereits bestehen und welche untergesetzlichen Initiativen sich auf Ebene von Ko- und Selbstregulierung entwickelt haben, die als Gegenkraft wirken können. An dieser Stelle setzt die Untersuchung die Arbeit des GVK-Gutachtens von Möller, Hameleers und Ferreau fort,5 indem bestehende risikospezifische Schutzlücken mit Blick auf die identifizierten Risikopotenziale herausgearbeitet werden. Dort, wo Schutzlücken erkennbar werden, zeigt das Gutachten staatliche Handlungsmöglichkeiten und -grenzen auf. Im dritten Schritt (Kap. 4) werden regulatorische Ansatzpunkte und -instrumente, die in der Lage sind, die identifizierten Schutzlücken zu schließen, beleuchtet. Klassische Ansätze der Medienregulierung eignen sich hier meist begrenzt, da für den Bereich der öffentlichen Kommunikation der Grundsatz gilt, dass es nicht staatliche Aufgabe sein kann und darf, über die Einstufungen wahr/unwahr oder erwünschte Meinung/unerwünschte Meinung zu befinden. Hier müssen – soweit überhaupt Handeln angezeigt ist – Wege staatsferner, prozeduraler Steuerung betreten6 oder alternative Formen von inhalts- und technikbezogener Governance entwickelt werden. Alternativ oder ergänzend kommen neben Maßnahmen, die diskursermöglichend oder -unterstützend wirken, auch Gegenmaßnahmen in Betracht, die informationsintegritätssteigernde oder -integrierende Wirkungen haben können." (Seite 4-5)
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