THE DESTABILIZATION OF DEMOCRACIES THROUGH THE SPREAD OF DISINFORMATION: THE ROLE OF INTELLIGENCE
THE DESTABILIZATION OF DEMOCRACIES THROUGH THE SPREAD OF DISINFORMATION: THE ROLE OF INTELLIGENCE

Summary/Abstract: Internet may be the most relevant development of our times, but together withits many benefits it has brought new challenges. One of them is disinformation or the so-called“fake news”. This challenge should be approached both from an ethical and tchnological perspective. Internet gives us access to a big amount of data but not all ofit is true or valid, neither knowing the data is the same as understanding. Citizens areeager for information, but lies are more attractive than truths – generally considered asoverrated – and whistle-blowers and social networks seem to be the only trustworthysources. As a result, citizens – mainly the younger – are critically exposed todisinformation agents that sometimes even participate in disinformation networksorganized at a State level in the battle for information; which poses a great risk for ourdemocracies. A great problem to tackle this is the confrontation of legal measures tocontrol profit-guided Social Networks and the persistence of basic principles for the EUsuch as the freedom of expression. The most effective way to face disinformation notfalling under censorship must therefore be educating in critical thinking, and this meanseducating citizens in Intelligence Analysis.

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