World Cafe: Free Speech and M(d)isinformation in the EU and the USA

The EU Youth Hub organized a World Café on “Freedom of Speech and M(d)isinformation in the EU and the USA”, on Tuesday 31 May 2022, at 20:00-21:00 at Impact Hub Athens (28 Karaiskaki, 10554, Athens), with the participation of Members of the EU Youth Hub, as well as American undergraduates from Rhodes College (Memphis, TN, USA).

The event was open to the public and was conducted in English (without simultaneous translation into Greek).

The keynote speaker and moderator of the discussion was Dr. Alexandros Kyriakidis, Postdoctoral Researcher at the European Programme “Ariane Kondellis” of ELIAMEP and general coordinator of the EU Youth Hub.

In the event, the moderators and participants discussed the issue of intentional or unintentional disinformation and misinformation. Starting from the definition and the distinction of these two concepts, since “disinformation” means the intentional misinformation of the recipient by the transmitter of information with the aim of misleading the recipient, in contrast to misinformation which does not necessarily involve any specific purpose, the moderators raised some critical questions. Why do we accept information? How do we control it? What constitutes a reliable source? Who controls the institutions that certify the reliable sources?

These questions aimed to get the participants reflecting and highlight the dangers behind the diffuse, excessive and uncontrolled information that exists on the internet and in the Press in general. Thus, the importance of multiple tests on the validity of information and finding its sources was pointed out.

The discussion concluded by highlighting in particular the power of hard facts in this struggle for accurate information. Finally, it was highlighted that journalism free from state control is a necessary condition for correct and democratic information, which must always be controlled by the readers. The latter, in turn, must judge less pn the basis of their personal beliefs, thus allowing a truly objective reading and acceptance of the facts.

Additional information can be found on the event’s Facebook page.

Organizational team

Angelos Karayannopoulos, Sofia Kyriou, Jenny Osmenai, Ioanna Okeania Polychronopoulou