Language: English (mozilla)
With the call 'Getting a grip on desinformation' SIDN Fund invited proposals for projects involving the development of tools and instruments for getting a grip on disinformation (deliberately misleading information distributed with a view to manipulating public opinion).
The coronavirus doesn't exist, 9/11 never happened, and Bill Gates wants to control all of us through a 5G cell tower. Disinformation, and especially its online scalability, may pose a threat to our open, democratic society. The concern is that the deliberate dissemination of misleading information feeds widespread mistrust: of the media, government and among citizens. The rise of disinformation is a potential threat in relation to a well-informed society, democratic processes, polarisation and healthy public debate.
It's important that we get a better grip on disinformation. We therefore called for proposals involving the development of tools and instruments that can help in that regard – by, for example, shedding light on questions such as:
How does the technology that amplifies opinions on platforms work?
Who is engaged in the production, dissemination and amplification of disinformation?
How do the algorithms used by the various platforms work, and who controls them
What motivates certain groups of people to disseminate disinformation and how do they go about it?
What tools can internet users and journalists employ to improve their grip on the disinformation phenomenon?
In this session we will showcase a couple of funded projects and would like to discuss what else is needed to tackle this wicked problem.
This session is being livestreamed and can be viewed from the main page of the MozFest Plaza.
We would like to host this session in the OBA of Amsterdam. The goal is to inform the audience about possible solutions and talk about other solutions to tackle this problem. And maybe to find new initiatives which we can support.
Why did you choose that space? How does your session align with the space description?:The library of Amsterdam - OBA - is a really logic space to host this session, cause libraries are all about getting knowledge
How will you deal with varying numbers of participants in your session? What if 30 participants attend? What if there are 3?:This would not be a problem - we've dealt with this variation before.
What happens after MozFest? We're hoping that many efforts and discussions will continue after MozFest. Share any ideas you already have for how to continue the work from your session.:SIDN fund continues to work on getting grip on disinformation
What language would you like to host your session in?: English
Mieke van Heesewijk graduated in Russian Language and Literature, but her internet roots lie with XS4ALL, the first Internet Provider in the Netherlands. XS4ALL was founded by a group of internet pioneers in 1993. It stands for the full use of the possibilities of the internet. For free and uncensored exchange of data, information and ideas for everyone. Since then it has grown to become the quality internet service provider for businesses and consumers in the Netherlands.
Subsequently Mieke started working at the Dutch Ministry of Internal Affairs as policy advisor for internet participation.
Momentarily Mieke is deputy director at SIDN Fund. SIDN Fund embodies for ‘a strong internet for all’ and provides financial support to ideas and projects to consolidate the internet’s position in contemporary society or that use the internet in innovative ways. By doing so, SIDN Fund wants to help increase the social impact of the internet in the Netherlands. SIDN Fund is an independent foundation established by SIDN, the foundation for internet domain registration in the Netherlands.
Mieke was co-founder and co-director of Network Democracy, which is a platform for democratic innovation. Network Democracy is committed to building a resilient democracy in which citizens are better involved and in which, with the help of technology, they can actively contribute.
Mieke is a member of the Dutch Internet Society chapter for over ten years, was the Chair of the board of the Dutch whistleblowing platform Publeaks, Chair of the board of City Festival WeMakeThe.City, and is a member of the supervisory board of WPG publishers, a multi-medial publishing company. Finally, she still uses her expertise as an Expert of the European Commission on Communication Networks, Contents & technical Future Networks Next-generation Internet and as a member of the selection committee for the RIPE NCC Community Projects Fund.
