Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, Intergovernmental Organization
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 3: Civil Society, African Group
Organizer 4: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 3: Civil Society, African Group
Organizer 4: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 1: Sandra Aceng, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: Minayo Angela, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3: Parsa Sajid, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 4: Chithira Vijayakumar, Civil Society, Intergovernmental Organization
Speaker 2: Minayo Angela, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3: Parsa Sajid, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 4: Chithira Vijayakumar, Civil Society, Intergovernmental Organization
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: The roundtable format encourages interactive dialogue and equal participation among diverse stakeholders, fostering a collaborative environment for sharing insights and co-creating solutions. The 90-minute duration allows for in-depth discussions while maintaining engagement. This format is particularly effective for hybrid settings, to enable seamless interaction between onsite and online participants.
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: The roundtable format encourages interactive dialogue and equal participation among diverse stakeholders, fostering a collaborative environment for sharing insights and co-creating solutions. The 90-minute duration allows for in-depth discussions while maintaining engagement. This format is particularly effective for hybrid settings, to enable seamless interaction between onsite and online participants.
Policy Question(s)
1. How can Global South-led innovations in combating mis/disinformation inform global digital governance frameworks?
2. What role do community-driven initiatives and various forms of local fact-checking networks play in building resilience against information pollution?
3. How can international collaborations address the infrastructural and linguistic challenges faced by the Global South in combating mis/disinformation?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain:
1. New knowledge about innovative mis/disinformation-combating strategies from the Global South.
2. Diverse perspectives on how cultural, linguistic, and infrastructural challenges are shaping solutions to mis/disinformation.
3. Practical insights into integrating Global South experiences into global digital governance frameworks.
4. Tools and best practices for fostering community resilience against mis/disinformation.
SDGs
Description:
The Global South’s Fight Against Information Pollution: Lessons and Leadership This session explores the unique challenges and innovative solutions emerging from the Global South in combating misinformation and disinformation. The Global South is on the frontlines of this battle, innovating under pressure—navigating linguistic diversity, limited resources, and fragmented digital infrastructures to combat information pollution. The session will highlight case studies from regions such as Uganda, Kenya, Bangladesh, India, and Lebanon, showcasing how grassroots initiatives, fact-checking networks, and regulatory frameworks are being leveraged to build resilience against mis/disinformation. It will also emphasize the diverse demographics of communities leading these efforts, including LGBTQ+ advocates, individuals from conflict regions, and those working on sexual and reproductive health rights. These groups often face heightened risks of targeted misinformation and disinformation campaigns, making their experiences critical to understanding the full spectrum of challenges and solutions. Participants will gain insights into how these lessons can inform global digital governance frameworks, fostering a more inclusive and equitable approach to combating information pollution. The session will feature diverse stakeholders, including civil society representatives, academics, and community leaders, to ensure a multi-perspective dialogue. This workshop is also a call to action: the lessons from the Global South must inform global digital governance frameworks, or we risk perpetuating the same inequities that got us here. By centering the voices of marginalized and underrepresented communities, we can build more resilient and inclusive strategies to combat misinformation and disinformation globally.
The Global South’s Fight Against Information Pollution: Lessons and Leadership This session explores the unique challenges and innovative solutions emerging from the Global South in combating misinformation and disinformation. The Global South is on the frontlines of this battle, innovating under pressure—navigating linguistic diversity, limited resources, and fragmented digital infrastructures to combat information pollution. The session will highlight case studies from regions such as Uganda, Kenya, Bangladesh, India, and Lebanon, showcasing how grassroots initiatives, fact-checking networks, and regulatory frameworks are being leveraged to build resilience against mis/disinformation. It will also emphasize the diverse demographics of communities leading these efforts, including LGBTQ+ advocates, individuals from conflict regions, and those working on sexual and reproductive health rights. These groups often face heightened risks of targeted misinformation and disinformation campaigns, making their experiences critical to understanding the full spectrum of challenges and solutions. Participants will gain insights into how these lessons can inform global digital governance frameworks, fostering a more inclusive and equitable approach to combating information pollution. The session will feature diverse stakeholders, including civil society representatives, academics, and community leaders, to ensure a multi-perspective dialogue. This workshop is also a call to action: the lessons from the Global South must inform global digital governance frameworks, or we risk perpetuating the same inequities that got us here. By centering the voices of marginalized and underrepresented communities, we can build more resilient and inclusive strategies to combat misinformation and disinformation globally.
Expected Outcomes
1. A deeper understanding of the Global South’s contributions to combating mis/disinformation.
2. A set of actionable recommendations for integrating Global South lessons into global digital governance frameworks.
3. A follow-up report or publication documenting case studies and best practices.
4. Strengthened networks for international collaboration on mis/disinformation challenges.
Hybrid Format: Participatory Video Quiz: We’ll open the session with an interactive video quiz accessible to both onsite and online participants. This activity will showcase the latest forms and formats of mis/disinformation, highlighting how these tactics are evolving rapidly in response to technological and societal changes. By exposing participants to emerging trends—such as AI-generated content, deepfakes, and targeted disinformation campaigns—the quiz will set the stage for a nuanced discussion on combating information pollution.
Audience-Driven Q&A: We will dedicate a significant portion of the session to an open, audience-driven Q&A. Participants—both onsite and online—will be encouraged to submit questions and comments throughout the session, which the moderators will weave into the discussion to keep the conversation grounded in the audience’s interests.
Dedicated Moderators: Two moderators—onsite and online—will work together to ensure balanced participation, integrating remote voices and managing in-room dynamics seamlessly.