Disinformation and Digital Media as a Challenge for Democracy

Beschrijving

quot;It would be pleasant to think that democracies will always wake up to their threats internal andbr external and heal themselves in good time before it is too late. ... Yet, it is not too late to find publicbr policy solutions which can restore information technologies to their original role of facilitators ofbr democracy rather than their undertakers. But the timeframe is closing and we need these solutionsbr sooner rather than later.br This is why the present volume of expert analyses bringing together many academics arrives at justbr the right time. It aspires to deepen our understanding of the dangers of fake news and disinformation,br but also charts well-informed and realistic ways ahead. To my mind, it is certainly one of thebr most comprehensive and useful studies of this topic to date and I recommend it to the general readerbr as much as to the policy-maker as a reliable guide and mentor.quot;br br from the Foreword by Prof. Dr. Jamie Shea, Brussels School of Governancebr br quot;This book is motivated, to a large extent, by some recent troubling developments in public discourse,br namely the developments in information and disinformation practices. From the beginningbr of history, various and diverse means or channels of communication have been used to inform, misinformbr unintentionally and disinform deliberately. However, in recent decades, the emergencebr and development of new information and communications technologies ICT, combined with thebr ever-increasing digitalisation and globalisation of almost every aspect of modern life, among others,br have opened up new and uncharted avenues to that end. This book therefore focuses on disinformationbr practices occurring with the help of digital media as these practices bring to the fore profoundbr negative ramifications for the functioning of a democratic polity.quot;br br from the Introduction by the Editorsquot;This collection of original essays provides an expert guide to the new information ecosystem br It is an extraordinarily useful contribution to scholarly and professional debate about the future ofbr information and communications. By mapping and analysing how disinformation works and exploringbr opportunities for change, the book shines a light on the pathway back to respect for pluralismbr and fact-based communications upon which European and western democratic life depends.quot;br br Aidan White, Ethical Journalism Networkbr br quot;39;Fake news39; has been plaguing more and more aspects of the contemporary world. This is a timelybr and thought-provoking piece on disinformation and digital media. Both the editors and the authorsbr in this collection do not shy away from taking a critical perspective on this challenge or from developingbr concrete recommendations for restoring trust in the information we receive, and - in consequencebr - for restoring trust in democracy.quot;br br Eva Kaili MEP, Panel for the Future of Science and Technology STOA, European Parliamentbr