The Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies cordially invites you to a discussion entitled ‘Game of Trolls: Turning Words into Weapons’.

Game of Trolls: Turning Words into Weapons

This event will serve as a platform for an expert-level consideration of the use of propaganda and disinformation in a hybrid warfare. The first panel will explore how propaganda and trolling, in particular, can undermine Europe’s freedom of speech. The participants are invited to reflect on words that incite violence – namely, on the causal link between the large-scale propaganda, combined with hate speech and unleashing of the war. 

The second panel will manifest: “Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities*”, focusing on Ukraine as an example of an effective Russian disinformation campaign. A representative of a Ukrainian think tank Media Law Institute, who has contributed to establishing the framework for this event, will share some valuable insights about how the Russian propaganda has shaped media perceptions about the war and Ukraine. 

What should be the response of international institutions to information warfare? How can European media and journalists protect themselves from harassment and trolling? These are some of the questions we would like to discuss during our event, together with policy-makers and experts in the field.

* Voltaire

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