Can Democracy Survive #FakeNews?

Mar 16, 2021

10:15am – 10:40am CT

Disinformation and #fakenews exploit divisions within society, exacerbating threats and even inciting violence – as observed in the January 6 riots on Capitol Hill. The rapid growth of online platforms has opened up new vulnerabilities and made it more difficult to maintain the integrity of elections, ensure a free and plural media, and protect the democratic process from disinformation and other manipulation. Citizens in both Europe and the United States need to know how information is reaching them, and where it comes from. What responsibility should social media platforms have for taking over the public square and controlling our access to facts, news, and ultimately – the truth? This session will discuss Europe’s recently released “Democracy Action Plan."

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

photo of Věra Jourová
Věra Jourová

European Commission

photo of Kevin Roose
Kevin Roose

The New York Times

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