RightsCon Toronto 2018

Session Emcee: Nathan White

There is only one solution to the fake news problem... (Independent)

Speakers: Shane Greenup

The problem with fake news and all forms of misinformation is not the misinformation itself, but the fact that people believe it. The solution to this massive problem lies no in removing or hiding the misinformation, but in changing how people respond to it.

Any proposed solution which focuses on the misinformation itself is destined to fail (it is impossible to stop people from creating and spreading misinformation), or destined to create far greater problems than it solves (if all content online is filtered for truth, then people will learn to believe everything they read).

The only way to solve this problem is to find a solution which creates a constant influence over the global population towards improved critical reading and ability to detect misinformation.

The web itself must become a force for teaching critical thinking skills.

REAL "FAKE NEWS" OR MERE EXPRESSION? : FORGING AN EFFECTIVE HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED RESPONSE TO FAKE NEWS IN SOUTHEAST-ASIA (Advocates for Freedom of Expressiom Coalition - Southeast Asia (AFEC-SEA) and Centre for International Law Philippines (CenterLaw))

Speakers: Gilbert T. Andres

This is a lightning talk on whether or not the criminalization of fake news conforms to international human rights law, and whether there is even a need for anti-fake news laws. The lightning talk will propose a human rights-based approach to the rise of fake news in Southeast Asia, and effective alternatives to criminalization that can be a lesson for the rest of the world.

Fact Checking: Fake News and the Roles of the Press in Africa

Speakers: Julie Owono

The session is supposed to explore and discuss the potential and dilemmas of the use of fake news online .

Misinformation is about demand, not just supply (News Co/Lab, Cronkite School, ASU)

Speakers: Dan Gillmor

Most of the focus in fighting misinformation has been on the supply side -- fixing journalism; getting dominant tech platforms to behave better; etc. We definitely need better journalism, and a better overall supply of information. But we should not take the dangerous step of making Facebook, Google, et al the editors of the Internet.

As we upgrade supply, we should focus at least as much on the demand side -- upgrading all of us, starting by making critical thinking a lifelong skill -- so that we can judge and understand for ourselves. And we need to do this at scale, by involving educators/librarians, media organizations, and the technology industry.

Information Disorder (Harvard Kennedy School/MIT Media Lab)

Speakers: Hossein Derakhshan

Without a shared definition and the right questions, thinking about answers is pointless. Information Disorder is a complex notion which as three types, three phases, and three elements.