Looking back to Apache Day!

Christophe Busch, director of the Hannah Arendt Institute, and journalists Hind Fraihi (Apache) and Brecht Castel (Knack) discussed fake news, information manipulation and algorithms past Saturday, June 4th. Apache organized in De Vooruit, an art center in the city of Ghent, the event and programmed, in partnership with CrossOver, a discussion on disinformation.

Moderated by Steven Vanden Bussche, the panel analysed the origins of disinformation and explored the different strategies used in disinformation campaigns. The panel warned for the impact of fake news on democracy and our welfare state but they asked to keep listening to people believing the disinformation campaigns.

During the talk, that was attended by some hundred people, the invited speakers elaborated on the role and responsibility of journalists too. They argued for more quality journalism and some introspection. Journalists should try to communicate the complexities of current events, they said. Today, reporters often simplify topics and leave gaps that are thus filled by disinformation.