Veteran journalist and founder of the BBC's Trusted News Initiative, Jessica Cecil, has launched a new publication called Athena to tackle the growing threat of disinformation. With decades of experience in fact-based journalism, Cecil believes that access to trustworthy facts is crucial for making informed decisions and nourishing democracies. Her initiative aims to map out the terrain of the information war and find solutions to counter disinformation.
The threat of disinformation has escalated with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to spread false information. Examples include Iran's alleged creation of fake journalists to spread lies online and a Russian influence operation that recruited unwitting researchers in Latin America to run a front think tank. In Latvia, a real military exercise was used as a seed of truth in a malicious fake video of a shooting that never took place. The video was manipulated using AI and spread across 15 languages.
The impact of disinformation is far-reaching, influencing elections and undermining institutions. In Africa, bot farms are amplifying harmful content, and AI models can now manage social media accounts. South Africa, in particular, has experience with the consequences of broken oversight institutions. Cecil emphasizes the importance of free, independent, and trusted journalism in a democracy.
To combat disinformation, Cecil proposes a whole-of-society approach to build resilience against manipulation. This involves educating the public about the threats and their role in countering them. Norway, which shares a border with Russia, has long recognized the importance of a national effort to defend against hybrid warfare. Ukraine has also learned the importance of collective defense.
Cecil suggests three ways to bring the whole society into the conversation: speaking about the unspeakable, disinformation wargames, and inoculating the nation. She emphasizes the need for a national conversation about disinformation, facilitated by a government that shares information with the media and public. Critical infrastructure operators, public and private bodies, and companies must work together with government authorities to wargame different attack scenarios.
Inoculating the nation requires public awareness of disinformation and the tools to recognize manipulation. AI has become so sophisticated that people can no longer rely on identifying deepfake videos or audio by appearance or sound. Cecil proposes harnessing the power of bodies that can reach deep into society, such as journalism, schools, libraries, and community centers, to provide the public with the necessary tools.
The fight against disinformation requires participation across society, preparation, and reliable information. While the issue may seem distant, insidious disinformation campaigns can distort and divide nations, paralyzing progress. Cecil's initiative, Athena, aims to provide a platform for experts to share solutions and for the public to access trustworthy information.
Key points
- Expert Jessica Cecil warns of increasing sophistication in AI-powered disinformation campaigns.
- A whole-of-society approach is necessary to build resilience against disinformation.
- Education and public awareness are crucial in recognizing and countering disinformation.
