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EU Twinning Project: Disinformation – How to Recognize and Prevent It

by AI | 24.Jan 2025 | Europe in brief AI

Let’s not forget, in one EU member state the presidential elections had to be canceled. All of this should make us revisit, to think about the fact that our democracies are under attack. I do not want to share a message or show concern, but I want to encourage a reaction, to point out that we need to see what challenges we collectively face today, said Ambassador Rokas.

Completed event "Disinformation: how to recognize and prevent them" from the EU Twinning project "Strengthening the capacities of the AVMU and the Public Broadcasting Service". Photo: MIA

Skopje – Our democracies are under attack, and support for the media is an investment in democracy and the best way to defend ourselves and to see what challenges we are collectively facing today in the world, said the European Union Ambassador in the country, Michalis Rokas, at today’s closing event titled “Disinformation: how to recognize and prevent it,” which concludes the Twinning project “Strengthening the capacities of the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services and the Public Broadcasting Service.”

– This is indeed an important event – the closing of an investment in our democracy, because supporting the media is the best way to defend ourselves from what is happening today in the world – related to disinformation and the role of artificial intelligence which can be beneficial but also poses significant challenges. Let’s not forget, in one EU member state, presidential elections had to be canceled. All this should prompt us to return, to think about the fact that our democracies are under attack. I don’t want to share a message or show concern, but I want to encourage a reaction, that is, to point out that we need to see what challenges we are collectively facing today. That’s why EU twinning projects have proven to be truly successful in working between member countries and partner countries, and we are especially proud to support the media in this country. This kind of project is where we support the soft tissues which are also the vulnerable tissues of our democracies, said Ambassador Rokas.

German Ambassador Petra Drexler expressed satisfaction that today the European cooperation between media representatives from Germany and North Macedonia is being finalized, who worked together and, above all, because of the time we live in, given that the environment in which public broadcasters operate has drastically changed due to digitization, social media, and artificial intelligence.

– In recent years, the environment in which public broadcasters operate has, I think, changed drastically. Today, most young people, if you ask them where they get their information, they will give you the same answer, from social media. So, social media has become a central source not only for information but also for informing political opinion. Digital transformation provides excellent opportunities for quality journalism, allows easy access to information from anywhere, at any time, and a wider space for everyone to express themselves, that is, to express their opinions. At the same time, it brings more risks and challenges, it’s something we see, we don’t know if it’s news or fake news. How do we know and how do we react to messages full of hate? How do we deal with emotional public fears and algorithms that do not care for democracy? Whatever you think about the balance between risks and opportunities brought by social media as a source of information, one thing is certain, that’s our reality. A reality that we all have to face, emphasized Ambassador Drexler.

The efforts, she adds, are directed towards finding the best European solutions and answers for how to do this. (January 24)