From Argentina, where a far right libertarian candidate has emerged as the frontrunner in the general election this fall, to Mexico, India and the U.S. in 2024, the results of pivotal upcoming elections will have implications for democratic norms globally.
An Editor & Publisher article recently featured ICFJ’s efforts to combat disinformation, through the Disarming Disinformation initiative. ICFJ President Sharon Moshavi discussed the various aspects of the program and highlighted the spread of disinformation on a global scale.
At Media Party Chicago, a conference exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and journalism, attendees debated and learned about the opportunities and dangers of AI. Ethics experts proposed frameworks for responsible use of powerful new technologies, developers taught journalists how to use AI to bring customized content to their readers and reporters wrestled with how to maintain audiences’ trust while AI-aided disinformation abounds.
Journalists selected for ICFJ’s Disarming Disinformation program will work with 41 partners – from news outlets and individual reporters to universities and tech companies – to pursue and publish hard-hitting investigations revealing the people who fund disinformation in the Americas.
During an ICFJ Disarming Disinformation masterclass, held in partnership with the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, award-winning data journalist and director of Columbia University’s Master of Science Data Journalism Program, Giannina Segnini, discussed these “digital mercenaries” and how to stop them.
Almost all smartphones in Brazil have WhatsApp installed on them.
While the messaging app helps ensure easy communication within and outside of Brazil, its widespread use also facilitated the proliferation of disinformation in the lead-up to the country’s 2018 presidential election. During that time, Patricia Campos Mello, a journalist with Folha de São Paulo, reported closely on the mass dissemination of disinformation on WhatsApp.
Websites that facilitate disinformation often employ a combination of revenue sources. By pinpointing streams of profit, journalists can find the players and trace the networks responsible for funding false content online. Identifying those who perpetuate disinformation is integral to debunking lies and uncovering the truth.
Las “noticias falsas” (“fake news” en inglés) no son nuevas. De hecho, la historia registrada de las "guerras de desinformación" se remonta a la antigua Roma; pero el siglo 21 ha visto la utilización de la información como arma en una escala sin precedentes. La nueva y poderosa tecnología hace que la manipulación y la fabricación del contenido sea simple, y las redes sociales amplifican dramáticamente las falsedades que venden los gobiernos antidemocráticos, los políticos populistas y las entidades corporativas deshonestas.
A new resource published by ICFJ plots the evolution of the current crisis on an international timeline. We encourage anyone who uses the learning module to augment this timeline with examples from their own country’s history, adding new entries as the crisis evolve.
