Disinformation: A Looming Threat to Global Democracies and the Liberal World Order – A Franco-Japanese Dialogue
The Fondation pour la recherche stratégique (FRS) is convening a critical webinar to address the escalating threat of disinformation, a challenge that transcends national borders and poses a significant risk to democratic values and the existing liberal world order. Scheduled for January 10th, the online event will bring together leading experts from France and Japan to dissect the complexities of disinformation operations, their amplified impact in the digital age, and the strategic implications for the international community. This collaborative effort underscores the growing need for international cooperation in combating disinformation and safeguarding democratic principles against malicious actors.
The webinar, titled "Disinformation: A common threat to democracies and the liberal world order," aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of Foreign Influence and Misinformation (FIMI) operations. While such operations are not new, the advent of social media and other digital platforms has dramatically increased their reach and potency, transforming them into a formidable weapon in the global information landscape. These operations exploit the open nature of online spaces to spread propaganda, manipulate public opinion, sow discord, and undermine trust in democratic institutions. The increasing sophistication of these tactics, coupled with the sheer volume of information circulating online, makes it challenging for individuals and societies to discern fact from fiction, creating an environment vulnerable to manipulation.
The current geopolitical climate further exacerbates the threat of disinformation. The resurgence of an ideological cold war, primarily driven by authoritarian regimes such as Russia and China, has added a new dimension to these operations. These states are actively leveraging disinformation campaigns to advance their strategic objectives, challenge democratic values, and erode the international liberal order. These campaigns often target vulnerable populations within democratic societies, exploiting social divisions and amplifying existing grievances to destabilize governments and undermine public trust. The rise of computational propaganda, utilizing algorithms and automated bots to spread disinformation at scale, poses an even greater challenge to democratic resilience.
The FRS webinar serves as a timely platform for dialogue between France and Japan, two nations that share a commitment to democratic principles and a growing concern about the destabilizing effects of disinformation. This partnership recognizes the need for a coordinated international response to effectively counter these threats. By sharing expertise, best practices, and strategies, France and Japan aim to strengthen their respective national resilience against disinformation and contribute to a broader global effort to protect democratic values and uphold the liberal world order. This collaboration reflects the understanding that disinformation is a transnational challenge that requires collective action.
The webinar will feature prominent experts in the field, including Maiko Ichihara, Professor at Hitotsubashi University, and Valérie Niquet, Director of the Japan Program at FRS. They will offer valuable insights into the evolving nature of disinformation campaigns, the motivations and tactics of state-sponsored actors, and the implications for national security and international stability. Olivier Kempf, Associate research fellow at FRS, will moderate the discussion, facilitating a productive exchange of ideas and perspectives between the speakers and the audience. The webinar promises to be a crucial forum for understanding the complex challenges posed by disinformation and exploring potential solutions.
The FRS’s initiative to host this webinar underscores the growing recognition of disinformation as a critical threat to democratic societies and the international liberal order. The event provides a vital opportunity for experts and policymakers from France and Japan to engage in a constructive dialogue, share best practices, and develop coordinated strategies to combat this pervasive challenge. The insights generated from this discussion will contribute significantly to ongoing efforts to safeguard democratic values and uphold the principles of a free and open international system. The webinar serves as a call to action for greater international cooperation and the development of robust mechanisms to counter the destabilizing effects of disinformation in the digital age.