The European Disinformation and Media Observatory (EDMO) annual conference recently convened a diverse group of stakeholders to tackle the pressing issue of online disinformation. This event brought together media and policy practitioners, policymakers, academics, regulators, journalists, and members of civil society. They discussed the current challenges posed by online disinformation and explored potential solutions. One of the highlights of the conference was the presentation of TITAN, our cutting-edge tool designed to aid in helping citizens combat disinformation.
The primary aim of the EDMO conference was to address the growing threat of online disinformation, particularly in the lead-up to the EU elections. Participants shared insights, strategies, and their latest research findings, and EDMO showcased its achievements in countering disinformation over the past year and set the stage for future efforts.
Panel 2 of the conference, titled “AI as part of the solution to disinformation,” focused on the dual role of AI in both creating and combating disinformation. The panel featured prominent experts in the field, including:
Chair: Kalina Bontcheva | University of Sheffield, BROD, vera.ai
Carlos Hernández-Echevarría | IBERIFIER, Maldita
Andrew Dudfield | FullFact
Antonis Ramfos | ATC, EDMO, TITAN
Remo Sasso | xDNA & Aletheia
Gijs van Beek | BENEDMO, Textgain
The discussion highlighted how AI can be leveraged to tackle disinformation. While generative AI has the potential to spread false information, it can also be harnessed to detect and counteract it effectively. Key points included:
Detection and Verification: AI can analyse vast amounts of data to detect patterns indicative of disinformation. This includes identifying manipulated images, deepfakes, and misleading narratives.
Fact-Checking Assistance: AI can support fact-checkers by helping to detect disinformation signals, making the identification process faster and more efficient.
Public Awareness: AI-driven tools like TITAN can help educate the public about disinformation, supporting the development of critical thinking skills, and media literacy.
Antonis Ramfos from ATC, representing TITAN, emphasised the importance of ensuring that citizens are helped to become more resilient to disinformation, to not share fake and damaging content without thinking. TITAN is specifically designed to assist people by offering robust help to encourage them to be more questioning and analytical. This includes raising their skills to be aware of false information and showing them how they can better verify facts. Ramfos highlighted the social responsibility of TITAN's mission and the positive impact critical thinking abilities will have in other areas of peoples lives.
The conference concluded with a forward-looking perspective on the upcoming European elections. Participants agreed that while disinformation remains a significant challenge, advancements in AI offer promising tools to mitigate its impact. Collaborative efforts between technology developers, media organisations, and policymakers are crucial to ensure a well-informed public and the integrity of democratic processes.
The presentation of TITAN and the insightful discussions in Panel 2 demonstrated the potential of AI as a powerful ally in this fight. The continued development and deployment of such tools will be essential in safeguarding the truth and promoting informed decision-making among the electorate. By leveraging the expertise of diverse stakeholders and the capabilities of advanced AI tools like TITAN, the EDMO conference highlighted a proactive approach to tackling one of the most pressing issues of our digital age.
For more on EDMO visit https://edmo.eu/event/2024-edmo-annual-conference/
For TITAN news visit www.titanthinking.eu
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