Athens Alitheia Forum: A New Initiative to Combat Disinformation
Athens, March 4 – The General Secretariat for Communication and Information, together with Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Pavlos Marinakis, announced the inaugural Athens Alitheia Forum, scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, and Wednesday, March 11. The forum, titled “Confronting fake news and toxic discourse,” seeks to establish an institutional platform for addressing the crisis of misinformation and the spread of fake news, aiming to protect public discourse and, crucially, citizens themselves.
Greece has made significant strides in media freedom, journalist safety, and the rule of law in recent years. This progress is reflected in the European Commission’s annual Rule of Law and Media Freedom report, which highlights the country’s substantial advancements. Against this backdrop, the state recognizes its essential role in a discussion that impacts every facet of public and private life.
Objectives of the Athens Alitheia Forum
The Athens Alitheia Forum aims to initiate a productive dialogue on disinformation – and how it affects every citizen – the spread and proliferation of fake news, their often uncritical acceptance, the reasons behind this phenomenon, and how it frequently fuels toxicity and populism that is then reproduced across various public platforms.
This conference is conceived as an institutional initiative intended to become an annual event, addressing questions pertinent to everyone: “How can social media be used correctly, especially by younger generations?” “How can we enhance freedom of expression through the pursuit of truth and information sources?” “Is online anonymity a contributing factor to misinformation and toxicity?”
The overarching goal is to bolster reliability in news and information, always guided by freedom of speech without exclusion, but also without exploiting anonymity that leads to behaviors detrimental to society and genuine information. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to fostering a more informed and resilient public sphere.
Distinguished Participants and Program Highlights
The Athens Alitheia Forum will feature a diverse array of participants, including government officials, European dignitaries, university professors, social media experts, psychologists, academics, representatives from political parties, journalists, and members of journalistic associations. This broad participation ensures a multifaceted approach to the complex issues of disinformation and media credibility.
The conference proceedings will conclude on Wednesday afternoon with a discussion featuring Prime Minister and President of New Democracy Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He will engage in a conversation with Yiannis Pretenteris, Publisher of TO VIMA newspaper, and Yiannis Theocharis, Professor of Digital Governance and holder of the eponymous chair at the Technical University of Munich. This high-profile closing session highlights the significance the Greek government places on this critical discussion.
The detailed program for the conference, which will take place at the Intercontinental Hotel, can be found on the General Secretariat for Communication and Information’s website: media.gov.gr/athens-alitheia-forum. The event will also be live-streamed through the Secretariat’s official channel, ensuring broad accessibility for those unable to attend in person.
The Athens Alitheia Forum represents a proactive step by the Greek government to address the growing challenges posed by disinformation in the digital age. By bringing together a wide range of experts and stakeholders, the forum seeks to develop concrete strategies and foster a more informed and resilient citizenry.
Source: ertnews.gr
