BLOG: Addressing disinformation in the Region via a deeper social and educational reform: thoughts in the context of the Regional online conference: ‘Spread of disinformation during the pandemic and its impact on the Western Balkans.’

07.07.2021

BLOG: Addressing disinformation in the Region via a deeper social and educational reform: thoughts in the context of the Regional online conference: ‘Spread of disinformation during the pandemic and its impact on the Western Balkans.’

Setting the context

As we speak, research is being conducted all around Europe at a local, national and regional level (Council of Europe 2021; EU-CoE Youth Partnership 2021) aimed at identifying new types and channels of disinformation that have emerged during the coronavirus outbreak (Brennen et al. 2020).

At an EU level, in the framework of updating its code of practice on tackling disinformation -an initiative proposed back in 2018 as a response to revelations of how personal data can be exploited in electoral contexts- (EU 26.4.2018), the European Commission has been taking action to fight disinformation under the new circumstances that have arisen as a result of the pandemic. Brussels has been imperatively asking the largest social media companies to publicly assess vulnerabilities in their online systems, including their algorithms, so as to control the spread of online falsehoods (Scott 24.5.2021). Ever since the coronavirus outbreak, the EU has been showcasing its commitment to monitoring disinformation via different reports and monitoring programs, while its strengthened Code of Practice in 2021 aspires to evolve towards a co-regulatory instrument, as outlined in the Digital Services Act (European Commission 2021). This autumn, signatories are expected to present a first draft of the strengthened Code of Practice to the Commission.

In this context, the Regional online conference ‘Spread of disinformation during the pandemic and its impact on the Western Balkans’ comes at a time when large institutions have been mobilized to move on from identifying and monitoring disinformation into taking concrete action, aimed at making societies more resilient towards false and harmful information. The conference is oriented towards good practices and possible solutions providing insight on the latest developments in fighting disinformation at a policy level, but also within the capacity of civil society, academia and journalism.  

Tackling disinformation before and after the pandemic

Often correlated with the neological term ‘fake news’, disinformation is a type of ‘information disorder’, that consists of false messages, deliberately produced or distributed by “agents” with the intention of harming a person, social group, organization or country (Wardle & Derakhshan 2018: 20-21). It is often confused with the terms ‘misinformation’ and ‘malinformation’, respectively; the first referring to information which is inaccurate or fabricated, but not necessarily intended to harm or liber, while the latter on real information which is manipulated and spread in order to deliberately damage the reputation and credibility of people or institutions.

‘Fake news’ is the popular, yet overgeneralized, term that has come to refer to acts of both disinformation and misinformation. Depending on the context, ‘fake news’ is often used to describe a wide range of phenomena implying mistrust towards individuals, governments or organizations (Zuckerman 2017, Tandoc et.al 2017): ranging from news parody, false balance, news satire and media manipulation to propaganda and ‘disinformatzya’, alluding to the term that emerged during the previous century, connoting mistrust towards institutions propagating controversial information (Tait 2018). 

Are these phenomena a new thing? Certainly not. Disinformation and misinformation are traced back in the years of antiquity. As we read in Xenophon’s Memorabilia (371 BC), it was in 399 B.C that the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates was condemned for using sophistry to challenge state-driven constructions and ideas, imposed upon youth by a powerful elite. In today’s popular terms, the philosopher would have probably been accused of ‘spreading fake news’ and ‘starting a propaganda against the state’.

The spread of false information and demagogic propaganda are phenomena that have steadily been evolving together with our societies, as a direct reflection of significant developments affecting the flow of history. These phenomena, in their most extreme forms, have partly been responsible for the emergence and orchestration of some of the greatest hate-driven crimes that have shaken humanity. In the 20^th century, disinformation channels became much more methodical, shaping the conditions for a sophisticated system of ‘information warfare’ aimed at affecting real world outcomes (Tait 2018). It is during the previous century that the foundations were laid for disinformation to acquire the status of a ‘business’, constructed upon a complex system of fabrication and spread of dubious information via different channels, manipulating a scientifically proved human vulnerability when it comes to assessing information received in a digital realm (Harris 2020). 

Coming to our days, the unprecedented social changes arisen as consequences of the covid-19 pandemic have offered a fertile ground for the cultivation and spread of controversial and often hazardous ideas via the channels that have become even more popular due to the seclusion imposed during lockdown: digital platforms. Speaking specifically about Western Balkans, the latest Securimeter (2021)  findings indicate that digital threats have been identified by citizens as aspects of a new type of digital war, against which they often feel unprotected.   

Why are we so susceptible to disinformation in the region?

Except for a universal, evidence-based human tendency to be more vulnerable to digital threats as a result of underdeveloped cognitive and emotional skills to fight an invisible enemy about whom we know very little (meaning the sophisticated system upon which the internet is functioning these days), it is interesting to consider the sociopolitical factors in the region that have led to a generalized lack of impulses and competences when it comes to identifying and preventing ourselves from digital hazards. This shortage is possibly rooted in and further preserved through an obsolete educational system: based on conservative, top-down pedagogies favoring title-based hierarchy, nepotism and parroting, national schooling systems all over the region leave little room for the cultivation of critical thought and source-checking among their students. Furthermore, for as long as national curricula will continue being disconnected from the digitalized and globalized world, there will be no space for the creation of a culture of unbiased thought and evidence-based argumentation. 

A culture of critical thinking apparently does not exist in our societies, either. Research has shown that western Balkan citizens find it hard to question or even break a consolidated ‘tradition’ of ‘doing things’, even if this is causing general harm, as in the case of nepotism, corruption or clientelism in everyday social practices (Balkan Forum 2020).

Therefore, coming from an educational and social system discouraging thinking ‘outside the box’, it is no wonder that western Balkan citizens feel unarmored against emerging digital enemies. Understanding the forms and implications of disinformation and consequently, acquiring skills to protect oneself and one’s community from digital hazards is a long procedure that will probably need a shift in mentality, starting from schools and families as institutions that are closer to youth. In this sense, a bottom-up approach, involving youth and civil society, as envisioned in the Berlin Process, might be an investment worth making. This shift could ideally start at a family and community level, but it should also be concretely supported by institutional reforms. A cross-sectorial procedure should be mobilized so that citizens can have access to accurate information and resources that will enable them to handle digital challenges.

One thing is certain- in times when information spreads rapidly, we can be more effective by learning from each other and working together. The conference is a space to discuss the latest trends in the field and share experiences; it is also an indispensable opportunity to network and discuss ways to put ideas into practice. The future of the region lies very much in synergies, provided that these have a meaningful and sustainable character.

Sources:

Balkan Forum (2020) Berlin Process: Overview of the progress by the six Western Balkans countries since London and Poznań Summits. Authored by Mary Drosopulos. Prishtina: Balkan Forum. https://thebalkanforum.org/en/berlin-process-overview-of-the-progress-by-the-six-western-balkans-countries-since-london-and-poznan-summits

Brennen, J. S., Simon, F., Howard, P. N., & Nielsen, R. K. (2020). ‘Types, sources, and claims of Covid-19 misinformation’. Reuters Institute, 7, 1–13. http://www.primaonline.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/COVID-19_reuters.pdf [Google Scholar]

European Commission (2021) Code of Practice on Disinformation https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/code-practice-disinformation

Harris, T. (2020) Interview in The Social Dilemma, documentary available on Netflix.

Scott, M. (24.5.2021) ‘Brussels to Big Tech: Open up your algorithms — or else’. Politico. Available at https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-disinformation-facebook-google-twitter/

Tait, M. (2018) A brief history of disinformation and what to do about it. Presentation at the Kaspersky Security Analysis Forum. 7-11 March 2018, Cancun: Mexico.

Tandoc, Jr., E. C, Lim, Z. W., and Ling, R. (Aug. 2017) ‘Defining ‘Fake News’: A Typology of Scholarly Definitions’. Digital Journalism, 5 (7): 1-17

Wardle, C. & Derakhshan, H. (2018) Information Disorder- Toward an interdisciplinary framework for research and policymaking. Revised edition. Strasbourg: Council of Europe.

Zuckerman, E. (2017) ‘Stop Saying ‘Fake News’ It’s Not Helping’.  Ethanzuckerman.com.  Available at: http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2017/01/30/stop-saying-fake-news-its-not-helping/   

Internet links:

Securimeter Public Opinion Survey on Security issues (2021) https://www.rcc.int/securimeter/about

Blog Author: Dr Mary Drosopulos, Consultant and Researcher

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The Regional online conference ‘Spread of disinformation during the pandemic and its impact on the Western Balkans’ will bring together over 150 professionals; including representatives from the regulatory authorities, key experts, academics, journalists, researchers, and practitioners in the region and beyond.

You can register here.