Confronting the Disinformation Age
2019 Community Summit | April 10-18, 2019
Information is fundamental to our existence. Without it, we cannot understand or effectively respond to the events that shape our world. Throughout history, campaigns to deliberately spread false information to influence public opinion or obscure the truth have been launched by individuals, organizations, and governments. But today, we’re living in a new age of information facilitated primarily by digital technology. These advancements offer us extraordinary access to facts and data but also allow for harmful, inaccurate, and manipulated information to be created and disseminated at an unprecedented speed, scope, and scale. Falsehoods are pitted against facts in competition for our attention and technology is used to exploit our cognitive functioning without repercussion. In what is being called the “post-truth” era, the distortion of our information landscape is eroding our trust in institutions, political systems, the media, and each other.
SFU Public Square’s 7th Community Summit considered how the proliferation of disinformation is impacting society and challenging our capacity to make informed decisions about our economic, social, and political lives. Together, we co-created strategies to ensure stronger and healthier information ecosystems and stimulate more connected and resilient communities.
Summit Events
-
Fake News, Real Talk
In a digital age of fake news, alternative facts, media echo chambers, confirmation bias, and algorithm-fuelled virality, how can we as students navigate our way around our distorted media landscape?
Read More →
-
A Special Philosopher's Cafe: Confronting the Disinformation Age
Lies and mistruths have always been used to sway people’s beliefs, and people have always created false personas. Plato wrestled with how to tell appearance from reality, and suggested that those in “the cave” might choose shadows and reflections over being truly enlightened. Are current times different and, if so, why and how? For example, does the Internet make it easier to create and disseminate persuasive lies? Are snark and falsehood now rewarded with more attention and money than ever before? Or is there nothing new under the sun?
Read More →
-
Competing Visions of Climate Populism
Populism has become an increasingly prominent force in Canadian political life, with significant implications for how the public engages with the intersecting politics of climate change and energy. In a panel discussion featuring Shane Gunster, Bob Neubauer, and Paul Saurette, these three authors of a forthcoming book will discuss how competing visions of extractive and ecological populism are shaping political debate in Canada.
Read More →
-
Innovations in Research: Confronting the Disinformation Age
Hosted by Joy Johnson, Vice-President, Research and International at SFU, this event features rapid-fire presentations, in-depth discussions, and interactive demonstrations by faculty, staff, students and alumni from across SFU’s faculties, departments, programs and campuses.
Read More →
-
Is Social Media Destroying Democracy?
Is social media destroying our democracy? If it is, what role can public policy play in regulation, will regulation even work, and can we save our democracy before it’s too late?
Read More →
-
Working Towards an Inclusive Digital Society
This interactive forum will address current practices, challenges and possibilities for justice-based approach to digital literacy education in communities that experience various forms of marginality across income, ability, health, gender and race.
Read More →
-
Media, Misinformation, and What Can Be Done About It
Given the rise of misinformation that we’ve seen around the world and in Canada, what practical steps can be taken to improve the coverage leading up to and during the 2019 federal election?
Read More →
-
Face to Face(book) with Christopher Wylie
The New Yorker calls him “a pink-haired, nose-ringed oracle sent from the future". Best known for his role in setting up – and then taking down – the cyberwarfare firm Cambridge Analytica, Chris has been listed in TIME100 Most Influential People in the World, Forbes’ 30 Under 30, Politico’s 50 Most Influential People in Politics and Business Insider’s 100 Coolest People in Tech.
Read More →
-
Confronting the Disinformation Age | Keynote
Today, in what many are calling the “post-truth” era, we’re witnessing an epidemic of disinformation. How did we get here?
Read More →
-
Youth Take Action
Digital citizenship is a new and evolving concept which grapples with the complex reality of new digital technologies that impact all aspects of our lives today.
Read More →
-
Philosophy of Fake News
What is it exactly? How bad is it? And what can we do about it? Three philosophers grapple with how disinformation works and poses a serious threat to our democratic institutions.
Read More →
-
When Facts Fail | City Conversations
Over the last decade, narratives surrounding climate, housing, drug, and transportation policies have taken centre stage in our news cycle and the collective conscious of Greater Vancouverites.
Read More →
-
Fabricating Meaning
Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn and Dr. J. Steven Dodge will present their approaches to how language is used in science, as objective or embedded with cultural histories and subjectivities.
Read More →
Final Report, Program and Resources
Confronting the Disinformation Age | Resources
Books, articles, videos and other resources on disinformation.
In the News
- Confronting the Disinformation Age's keynote event was broadcast on CBC's Ideas (May 23, 2019)
- How is misinformation fueling hate — and can journalists do something about it? — The Discourse (May 15, 2019)
- Data Diviner Christopher Wylie—of Cambridge Analytica Fame—Decries Online Segregation — Kate Wilson, The Georgia Straight (May 8, 2019)
- Recap of Youth Take Action: Digital Citizenship Day — Check Your Head (May 7, 2019).
- SFU Community Summit Explores How Disinformation Undermines Society and Democracy — Charlie Smith, The Georgia Straight (April 25, 2019)
- Andrew Petter: SFU Public Square Community Summit: Confronting the Disinformation Age — Andrew Petter, Vancouver Sun (April 25, 2019)
- Beware the ‘Weaponized’ Web, Says Guy Who Helped Elect Trump — Zoë Ducklow, The Tyee (April 19, 2019)
- Daniel Savas and Robin Prest: Can citizen connection fight misinformation and strengthen democracy? — Daniel Savas and Robin Prest, Vancouver Sun (April 19, 2019)
- Christina de Castell: Libraries Can Help People Connect and Learn How to Cut Through Misinformation — Christina de Castell, Vancouver Sun (April 18, 2019)
- Debate: Is Social Media Destroying Democracy? — Politicoast (April 17, 2019)
- Toward a Youth Manifesto on Digital Rights and Responsibilities — Katie Hyslop, The Tyee (April 17, 2019)
- Confronting the Disinformation Age — Claire Atkin, Medium (April 17, 2019)
- Benjamin Bergen: Without a National Data Strategy, Canada’s Prosperity is at Risk — Benjamin Bergen, Vancouver Sun (April 16, 2019)
- Is Social Media Destroying Our Democracy? — Gabrielle Plonka, The Tyee (April 15, 2019)
- Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin: We Need Constructive Participation in our Democracy — Janet Austin, Vancouver Sun (April 15, 2019)
- Timothy Caulfield: Are we enabling harmful wellness woo? — Timothy Caulfield, Vancouver Sun (April 12, 2019)
- Jan Neutze: Defending Canadian democracy from cyber threats — Jan Neutze, Vancouver Sun (April 14, 2019)
- Ep 133: Social Media is Bad — Politicoast (April 12, 2019)
- Yasir Naqvi: Citizen Action Needed to Clean up Pollution of our Public Square — Yasir Naqvi, Vancouver Sun (April 12, 2019)
- Adanna Shallowe: Disinformation is Raising the Stakes — Adanna Shallowe, Vancouver Sun (April 12, 2019)
- Ian Noble: Fake news — our worry is real — Ian Noble, Vancouver Sun (April 9, 2019)
- Philosophy of Fake News and the Diffusion of Disinformation — Siddhartha Bala, The Source (April, 2019)
- Douglas Todd: Disinformation is coming to a screen near you, incessantly — Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun (February 1, 2019)
Blog Posts
-
May 15, 2019
Confronting the Disinformation Age
Asmita Lawrence, SFU Community Ambassador
-
Apr 18, 2019
Sentiment Manipulation Through False Information
Jessie Strongitharm, Student, SFU CMNS 253
-
Apr 13, 2019
Big Data... Bad Data? How Can We Stop the Latter From Occurring
Karugi Gathumbi, Student, SFU CMNS 353
-
Apr 12, 2019
In-faux-mation: John Gray
John F. Gray, CEO/co-founder Mentionmapp Analytics Inc.
-
Apr 4, 2019
Who Needs Vaccinations When You Have Healing Crystals?
Jasmine Kaur, Student, SFU CMNS 353
-
Jan 7, 2019
The Post-Truth Era — Should We Be Worried?
Luis Fischer, International Program Intern, SFU Public Square
Other Community Summits
Supporters and Partners
