The positive and negative uses of technology: Interview with Dr. Sharath Srinivasan 1

amandamenasAugust 15, 2018March 19, 20211 Comment

The positive and negative uses of technology: Interview with Dr. Sharath Srivasian

Dr. Sharath Srinivasan was an ideal panelist for the Contentious Narratives conference, with experience in the intersection of technology and politics. Working to teach and practice the possibilities of positive technologies in influencing powerful decision makers around the world, Srinivasan took time to discuss contested narratives and disinformation in conflict-fragile states. He furthers the debate on the topic of peace journalism by discussing both sides of empowering and hindering the potentials of these tools. More on Srinivasan and other panelists can be found here.

A story of powers and capabilities: Interview with Natalia Chaban

How do your perceptions of the European Union differ from that of others? Natalia Chaban dives into her work to bring a new perspective on disinformation.

amandamenasAugust 15, 2018March 19, 2021Leave a comment

A story of powers and capabilities: Interview with Natalia Chaban

Natalia Chaban and five other colleagues spoke during the last day of the conference on specific case studies relating to disinformation in the political sector. Chaban has focused on perceptions of the European Union as a counterpart to Ukraine, viewing her work through three lenses of strategic narratives: identity, systemic, and issue specific. Chaban argues that to create public diplomacy with countries currently in conflict, it is important to listen to the narratives emitted by those receivers, in the case of her study: Ukraine. Her work as an internationally renowned expert at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, has furthered research on Europe and the European Union around the world.

Problems with cyber war: What do we do? Interview with Kathryn Sikkink

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Problems with cyber war: What do we do? Interview with Kathryn Sikkink

In the wake of Christopher Wylie announcing to the world the scandal of Cambridge Analytica’s operations, individuals in the U.S. and around the world have been wondering what they actually need to know to protect themselves.

Kathryn Sikkink, in her exploration of social movements and their ability to frame issues, discussed actionable steps individuals can take not just for themselves, but for the greater good. She brings to light the fact that cyber security attacks have a broad impact leading to national security issues.

Responding to earlier panels, Sikkink discussed remedies to technology from the perspective of states, corporations, and individuals. This video describes steps for each unique group.

“We need social media”: Interview with Christina Varvia

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"We need social media": Interview with Christina Varvia

To start off the Contentious Narratives conference, Christina Varvia presented her work on spatial analysis with Forensic Architecture in combination with human rights groups around the world. She argues social media and open source media are important for human rights organizations as they try to combat misinformation by powerful actors.

Varvia ties in the history of the media sphere and the invention of the radio as journalists and academics seek to understand the misinformation and propaganda associated with the rise of social media. If given the time to adjust to new technologies and the truths they claim to bring, the societies utilizing the technologies will be be better equipped to react to misinformation. She suggests new information-communication technologies provide an opportunity for the democratization of information as long as users provide enough time to adjust to the new media landscape.

For more information on Christina Varvia, visit our conference page.

Educating in a world of deliberate disinformation: Interview with Malachy Browne

amandamenasAugust 15, 2018March 22, 2021Leave a comment

Educating in a world of deliberate disinformation: Interview with Malachy Browne

During the Contentious Narratives: Digital Technology and the Attack on Liberal Democratic Norms Conference on April 2-3, 2018, Malachy Browne sat down with the Media and Peacebuilding Project to discuss everything from "micro-acts of journalism" to misinformation. Browne, a senior producer with the New York Times, provided an optimistic view of the role of journalism against a background of disinformation campaigns and the consequences of present day technology. His career path has combined open source reporting and community engagement, leading to his faith in the public to partake in acts of 'micro-journalism' every day. From fact checking to acknowledging misinformation, the media sphere benefits from not just reporters, but individuals, readers, an the openness of new technologies. Journalists, Browne says, are empowered by the increase of information from around the world, and that combatting the challenges are up to the public. Browne spoke during the Documentation and Fact-Based Discourse panel with Christina Varvia, Aric Toler, and Haishan Fu. More on Malachy Browne here.