this is 2012 Slovakia a conspiracy theory Johanna justice was born it
theory Johanna justice was born it
theory Johanna justice was born it accused Germany friends and Nordic
accused Germany friends and Nordic
accused Germany friends and Nordic countries of the most brutal tyranny in
countries of the most brutal tyranny in
countries of the most brutal tyranny in the human history it described a
the human history it described a
the human history it described a multinational system in which state
multinational system in which state
multinational system in which state authorities are stealing children from
authorities are stealing children from
authorities are stealing children from healthy and normal families it started
healthy and normal families it started
healthy and normal families it started spreading quite quickly it was on
spreading quite quickly it was on
spreading quite quickly it was on numerous websites and social media
numerous websites and social media
numerous websites and social media accounts and at one point in even
accounts and at one point in even
accounts and at one point in even reached a mainstream TV station people
reached a mainstream TV station people
reached a mainstream TV station people starting signing petitions against it
starting signing petitions against it
starting signing petitions against it four years later another conspiracy was
four years later another conspiracy was
four years later another conspiracy was born in Germany these are case even
born in Germany these are case even
born in Germany these are case even blogger a reporter at the first channel
blogger a reporter at the first channel
blogger a reporter at the first channel Russian Kremlin owned accused a group of
Russian Kremlin owned accused a group of
Russian Kremlin owned accused a group of asylum seekers of raping a young German
asylum seekers of raping a young German
asylum seekers of raping a young German Russian girl Lisa the story was quickly
Russian girl Lisa the story was quickly
Russian girl Lisa the story was quickly debunked but it was already too late it
debunked but it was already too late it
debunked but it was already too late it caused media storm within few days
caused media storm within few days
caused media storm within few days thousands of Russian speakers took to
thousands of Russian speakers took to
thousands of Russian speakers took to the streets to protest against what they
the streets to protest against what they
the streets to protest against what they perceived was a cover-up by by German
perceived was a cover-up by by German
perceived was a cover-up by by German police and against America and her
police and against America and her
police and against America and her immigration policy neither of the two
immigration policy neither of the two
immigration policy neither of the two story that I gave you are based on truth
story that I gave you are based on truth
story that I gave you are based on truth both were fake if both were able to
both were fake if both were able to
both were fake if both were able to mobilize people and change their social
mobilize people and change their social
mobilize people and change their social behavior and there are hundreds if not
behavior and there are hundreds if not
behavior and there are hundreds if not thousands of such stories all around
thousands of such stories all around
thousands of such stories all around Europe every day in every country but
Europe every day in every country but
Europe every day in every country but this is not really a new phenomenon I
this is not really a new phenomenon I
this is not really a new phenomenon I mean propaganda is the old method the
mean propaganda is the old method the
mean propaganda is the old method the word propagate I’m used in the 17th
word propagate I’m used in the 17th
word propagate I’m used in the 17th century it was used for propagating
century it was used for propagating
century it was used for propagating Catholic Church in non-ketotic lands and
Catholic Church in non-ketotic lands and
Catholic Church in non-ketotic lands and also war propaganda was used by cables
also war propaganda was used by cables
also war propaganda was used by cables in the in the second world war by
in the in the second world war by
in the in the second world war by Soviets during the Cold War but the
Soviets during the Cold War but the
Soviets during the Cold War but the current phenomenon of this information
current phenomenon of this information
current phenomenon of this information is different from these examples from
is different from these examples from
is different from these examples from the past it doesn’t seek to propagate an
the past it doesn’t seek to propagate an
the past it doesn’t seek to propagate an ideology or a party or an idea
ideology or a party or an idea
ideology or a party or an idea it rather tries to destroy what has
it rather tries to destroy what has
it rather tries to destroy what has already been built it tries to undermine
already been built it tries to undermine
already been built it tries to undermine the trust of people toward democracy and
the trust of people toward democracy and
the trust of people toward democracy and towards institutions towards Western
towards institutions towards Western
towards institutions towards Western values towards the politicians towards
values towards the politicians towards
values towards the politicians towards everything
everything
everything it is very destructive it mobilized
it is very destructive it mobilized
it is very destructive it mobilized people against something rather than for
people against something rather than for
people against something rather than for something but also conspiracy so has
something but also conspiracy so has
something but also conspiracy so has always been here I mean there’s always a
always been here I mean there’s always a
always been here I mean there’s always a part of society that likes to believe
part of society that likes to believe
part of society that likes to believe that everything is different then they
that everything is different then they
that everything is different then they tell us in 2006 when they did opinion
tell us in 2006 when they did opinion
tell us in 2006 when they did opinion poll in the United States they found
poll in the United States they found
poll in the United States they found that 36% of Americans believed that the
that 36% of Americans believed that the
that 36% of Americans believed that the United States government was behind the
United States government was behind the
United States government was behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks and this number
9/11 terrorist attacks and this number
9/11 terrorist attacks and this number was actually quite high also in the
was actually quite high also in the
was actually quite high also in the countries of Europe but having said that
countries of Europe but having said that
countries of Europe but having said that still the 2014 when the war in Ukraine
still the 2014 when the war in Ukraine
still the 2014 when the war in Ukraine started was a turning point because
started was a turning point because
started was a turning point because suddenly this phenomenon became much
suddenly this phenomenon became much
suddenly this phenomenon became much more target oriented much more
more target oriented much more
more target oriented much more sophisticated and much more active so
sophisticated and much more active so
sophisticated and much more active so suddenly you had all those stories of
suddenly you had all those stories of
suddenly you had all those stories of fastest in Kiev and that the bodies of
fastest in Kiev and that the bodies of
fastest in Kiev and that the bodies of dead children being trading in don’t
dead children being trading in don’t
dead children being trading in don’t bother at all over Europe in 2015 the
bother at all over Europe in 2015 the
bother at all over Europe in 2015 the same media started to exploit
same media started to exploit
same media started to exploit immigration crisis vilifying immigrants
immigration crisis vilifying immigrants
immigration crisis vilifying immigrants and exaggerating already existent
and exaggerating already existent
and exaggerating already existent problem and I think this made it really
problem and I think this made it really
problem and I think this made it really much more effective because because they
much more effective because because they
much more effective because because they were able to use one of the most
were able to use one of the most
were able to use one of the most powerful weapons people’s emotions and
powerful weapons people’s emotions and
powerful weapons people’s emotions and fear and once the debate gets to the
fear and once the debate gets to the
fear and once the debate gets to the emotional level people stop listening to
emotional level people stop listening to
emotional level people stop listening to arguments I have been fascinated by this
arguments I have been fascinated by this
arguments I have been fascinated by this phenomenon for years I work as an
phenomenon for years I work as an
phenomenon for years I work as an analyst in a thing done in Prague where
analyst in a thing done in Prague where
analyst in a thing done in Prague where I have created and now leads the
I have created and now leads the
I have created and now leads the Institute initiative to to study and to
Institute initiative to to study and to
Institute initiative to to study and to understand this phenomenon for my first
understand this phenomenon for my first
understand this phenomenon for my first study I got a hundred of the examples of
study I got a hundred of the examples of
study I got a hundred of the examples of conspiracies in this information to
conspiracies in this information to
conspiracies in this information to understand the the main trends and and
understand the the main trends and and
understand the the main trends and and the characteristics of it to understand
the characteristics of it to understand
the characteristics of it to understand it with our team in Prague we are
it with our team in Prague we are
it with our team in Prague we are organizing events discussions all kinds
organizing events discussions all kinds
organizing events discussions all kinds of conferences to bring more people and
of conferences to bring more people and
of conferences to bring more people and ideas to this topic
ideas to this topic
ideas to this topic because only by fully understanding such
because only by fully understanding such
because only by fully understanding such a such a complex and complicated
a such a complex and complicated
a such a complex and complicated phenomenon you can then proposes
phenomenon you can then proposes
phenomenon you can then proposes solutions the right solutions I also
solutions the right solutions I also
solutions the right solutions I also work with a different team in Kiev a
work with a different team in Kiev a
work with a different team in Kiev a team of IT developers with them we are
team of IT developers with them we are
team of IT developers with them we are trying to develop more innovative
trying to develop more innovative
trying to develop more innovative solutions to this problem so like apps
solutions to this problem so like apps
solutions to this problem so like apps or platforms I try to bridge the world
or platforms I try to bridge the world
or platforms I try to bridge the world of think tanks and long reports with the
of think tanks and long reports with the
of think tanks and long reports with the world of IT innovation and new
world of IT innovation and new
world of IT innovation and new technologies a year ago I moved to her
technologies a year ago I moved to her
technologies a year ago I moved to her keys a city in eastern Ukraine
keys a city in eastern Ukraine
keys a city in eastern Ukraine it’s also a place that is very close to
it’s also a place that is very close to
it’s also a place that is very close to the war in Donbass and their information
the war in Donbass and their information
the war in Donbass and their information kills people
kills people
kills people 10,000 people have died in a conflict in
10,000 people have died in a conflict in
10,000 people have died in a conflict in which separatists and Russia are using
which separatists and Russia are using
which separatists and Russia are using propaganda in this information to spark
propaganda in this information to spark
propaganda in this information to spark anger among locals but what I realized
anger among locals but what I realized
anger among locals but what I realized there and by studying other countries as
there and by studying other countries as
there and by studying other countries as well is that this information and
well is that this information and
well is that this information and propaganda can be a very powerful weapon
propaganda can be a very powerful weapon
propaganda can be a very powerful weapon it can be a decisive weapon but what
it can be a decisive weapon but what
it can be a decisive weapon but what makes it really effective is a number of
makes it really effective is a number of
makes it really effective is a number of factors it’s a socio criminal situation
factors it’s a socio criminal situation
factors it’s a socio criminal situation it’s the history of a place
it’s the history of a place
it’s the history of a place Donbass has been neglected for decades
Donbass has been neglected for decades
Donbass has been neglected for decades it lacked development investment into
it lacked development investment into
it lacked development investment into infrastructure and into people in many
infrastructure and into people in many
infrastructure and into people in many problems had B unresolved their
problems had B unresolved their
problems had B unresolved their frustration has been high for a long
frustration has been high for a long
frustration has been high for a long time also unemployment is high all these
time also unemployment is high all these
time also unemployment is high all these things have created grievances that were
things have created grievances that were
things have created grievances that were later exploited by Russia and by
later exploited by Russia and by
later exploited by Russia and by separatists and you may now say that
separatists and you may now say that
separatists and you may now say that Dumba’s is quite an extreme case and
Dumba’s is quite an extreme case and
Dumba’s is quite an extreme case and that it’s true there’s war in Ukraine
that it’s true there’s war in Ukraine
that it’s true there’s war in Ukraine but look at for example Slovakia my home
but look at for example Slovakia my home
but look at for example Slovakia my home country where I was born
country where I was born
country where I was born Slovakia is on the forefront of
Slovakia is on the forefront of
Slovakia is on the forefront of disinformation attacks there are around
disinformation attacks there are around
disinformation attacks there are around 50 websites that are actively spreading
50 websites that are actively spreading
50 websites that are actively spreading pro-russian and anti Western
pro-russian and anti Western
pro-russian and anti Western disinformation Slovakia has got also
disinformation Slovakia has got also
disinformation Slovakia has got also problem with the growing extremism the
problem with the growing extremism the
problem with the growing extremism the codelab a party which is the neo-nazi
codelab a party which is the neo-nazi
codelab a party which is the neo-nazi party go to the Parliament the 8% last
party go to the Parliament the 8% last
party go to the Parliament the 8% last year but when they recently asked Slav
year but when they recently asked Slav
year but when they recently asked Slav us what is the number one concern
us what is the number one concern
us what is the number one concern it was corruption the current government
it was corruption the current government
it was corruption the current government in Slovakia is going from
in Slovakia is going from
in Slovakia is going from one corruption scandal to another again
one corruption scandal to another again
one corruption scandal to another again many problem has been unresolved
many problem has been unresolved
many problem has been unresolved there are many regions which are
there are many regions which are
there are many regions which are underdeveloped education system has been
underdeveloped education system has been
underdeveloped education system has been under finance it is much easier to
under finance it is much easier to
under finance it is much easier to manipulate dissatisfied people than
manipulate dissatisfied people than
manipulate dissatisfied people than happy people but now I’d like to be a
happy people but now I’d like to be a
happy people but now I’d like to be a little bit more optimistic I think this
little bit more optimistic I think this
little bit more optimistic I think this information propaganda and manipulation
information propaganda and manipulation
information propaganda and manipulation online poses an immense threat to our
online poses an immense threat to our
online poses an immense threat to our society but I also believed West is much
society but I also believed West is much
society but I also believed West is much more innovative and it can advance much
more innovative and it can advance much
more innovative and it can advance much faster than the other side which is
faster than the other side which is
faster than the other side which is getting much more predictable for us
getting much more predictable for us
getting much more predictable for us there are solutions we just have a lot
there are solutions we just have a lot
there are solutions we just have a lot of homework to do first high awareness
of homework to do first high awareness
of homework to do first high awareness is crucial according to research people
is crucial according to research people
is crucial according to research people who understand the logic of the
who understand the logic of the
who understand the logic of the manipulative techniques and of
manipulative techniques and of
manipulative techniques and of propaganda are then more likely to
propaganda are then more likely to
propaganda are then more likely to become resistant to it once they’re
become resistant to it once they’re
become resistant to it once they’re exposed to it the high where Nisour in
exposed to it the high where Nisour in
exposed to it the high where Nisour in the society is very important so they
the society is very important so they
the society is very important so they understand so everybody understand this
understand so everybody understand this
understand so everybody understand this is harmful for us so that politicians
is harmful for us so that politicians
is harmful for us so that politicians and policymakers are talking about it
and policymakers are talking about it
and policymakers are talking about it openly acknowledge the problem and
openly acknowledge the problem and
openly acknowledge the problem and condemn the source this is important
condemn the source this is important
condemn the source this is important it’s also important that the media and
it’s also important that the media and
it’s also important that the media and the civil society it is investigating
the civil society it is investigating
the civil society it is investigating this so who is behind it what are their
this so who is behind it what are their
this so who is behind it what are their motives who’s organizing it and why and
motives who’s organizing it and why and
motives who’s organizing it and why and if they’re they are breaking the law
if they’re they are breaking the law
if they’re they are breaking the law then there should be illegal actions but
then there should be illegal actions but
then there should be illegal actions but at the same time we are focusing on the
at the same time we are focusing on the
at the same time we are focusing on the problem itself we should also think
problem itself we should also think
problem itself we should also think about what it exploits on the ground and
about what it exploits on the ground and
about what it exploits on the ground and I gave you examples from from Donbass
I gave you examples from from Donbass
I gave you examples from from Donbass from Slovakia and I can come up with
from Slovakia and I can come up with
from Slovakia and I can come up with many more understanding that the
many more understanding that the
many more understanding that the disinformation is exploiting our own
disinformation is exploiting our own
disinformation is exploiting our own weaknesses is crucial if you want to
weaknesses is crucial if you want to
weaknesses is crucial if you want to come up with a strategy that is the
come up with a strategy that is the
come up with a strategy that is the least complex and comprehensive because
least complex and comprehensive because
least complex and comprehensive because if we don’t make our society’s
if we don’t make our society’s
if we don’t make our society’s resilience we will remain vulnerable to
resilience we will remain vulnerable to
resilience we will remain vulnerable to manipulation forever
manipulation forever
manipulation forever today in my mostly come from Russia and
today in my mostly come from Russia and
today in my mostly come from Russia and Isis but the same methods can be used
Isis but the same methods can be used
Isis but the same methods can be used tomorrow by anybody
tomorrow by anybody
tomorrow by anybody by terrorists by extremists by populace
by terrorists by extremists by populace
by terrorists by extremists by populace by politicians anybody in the world of
by politicians anybody in the world of
by politicians anybody in the world of Internet and social media it is very
Internet and social media it is very
Internet and social media it is very easy to manipulate people to spread a
easy to manipulate people to spread a
easy to manipulate people to spread a harmful idea through Internet and only a
harmful idea through Internet and only a
harmful idea through Internet and only a strong educated and confident society
strong educated and confident society
strong educated and confident society can withstand information attacks and
can withstand information attacks and
can withstand information attacks and look at the countries where for example
look at the countries where for example
look at the countries where for example this information is less effective
this information is less effective
this information is less effective Finland itself is a case in point
Finland itself is a case in point
Finland itself is a case in point Finland is under immense disinformation
Finland is under immense disinformation
Finland is under immense disinformation attacks every day but it’s able to
attacks every day but it’s able to
attacks every day but it’s able to withstand it much better than other
withstand it much better than other
withstand it much better than other countries and there are a number of
countries and there are a number of
countries and there are a number of reasons for this first there’s this high
reasons for this first there’s this high
reasons for this first there’s this high awareness so so the society in Finland
awareness so so the society in Finland
awareness so so the society in Finland they talk about this this phenomenon
they talk about this this phenomenon
they talk about this this phenomenon quite a lot politicians government civil
quite a lot politicians government civil
quite a lot politicians government civil society media but the high wordless is
society media but the high wordless is
society media but the high wordless is only part of a bigger picture
only part of a bigger picture
only part of a bigger picture Finland’s got one of the best
Finland’s got one of the best
Finland’s got one of the best educational system in the world it’s got
educational system in the world it’s got
educational system in the world it’s got the third lowest corruption in the world
the third lowest corruption in the world
the third lowest corruption in the world according to Transparency International
according to Transparency International
according to Transparency International it got very effective local governments
it got very effective local governments
it got very effective local governments and stable business climates so as you
and stable business climates so as you
and stable business climates so as you can see there is a lot we need to do
can see there is a lot we need to do
can see there is a lot we need to do this there are there are many things
this there are there are many things
this there are there are many things there is no one solution that will solve
there is no one solution that will solve
there is no one solution that will solve the problem and it’s also it’s also not
the problem and it’s also it’s also not
the problem and it’s also it’s also not one or the other we need to do all at
one or the other we need to do all at
one or the other we need to do all at the same time and it really starts with
the same time and it really starts with
the same time and it really starts with the education because the IT revolution
the education because the IT revolution
the education because the IT revolution and the new technologies they have
and the new technologies they have
and the new technologies they have changed the way we communicate the way
changed the way we communicate the way
changed the way we communicate the way we learn the way we get the information
we learn the way we get the information
we learn the way we get the information then the way we talk to each other but
then the way we talk to each other but
then the way we talk to each other but our educational system has been not able
our educational system has been not able
our educational system has been not able to adapt to this change very few schools
to adapt to this change very few schools
to adapt to this change very few schools are teaching media literacy or critical
are teaching media literacy or critical
are teaching media literacy or critical thinking we also need to start asking
thinking we also need to start asking
thinking we also need to start asking ourselves like why people are losing
ourselves like why people are losing
ourselves like why people are losing trust in democracy in Western values and
trust in democracy in Western values and
trust in democracy in Western values and how we can rebuild this trust are we
how we can rebuild this trust are we
how we can rebuild this trust are we teaching those values are we talking
teaching those values are we talking
teaching those values are we talking about them with the young people
about them with the young people
about them with the young people I was born in Slovakia during communism
I was born in Slovakia during communism
I was born in Slovakia during communism I better run or nothing I was too little
I better run or nothing I was too little
I better run or nothing I was too little I don’t know what it feels like to live
I don’t know what it feels like to live
I don’t know what it feels like to live in a country where I can’t share my
in a country where I can’t share my
in a country where I can’t share my ideas or where I can’t travel to a
ideas or where I can’t travel to a
ideas or where I can’t travel to a different country I don’t know but I
different country I don’t know but I
different country I don’t know but I should understand the difference between
should understand the difference between
should understand the difference between democracy and dictatorship and also
democracy and dictatorship and also
democracy and dictatorship and also thing each of us here can contribute
thing each of us here can contribute
thing each of us here can contribute just the fact that I’m standing here
just the fact that I’m standing here
just the fact that I’m standing here today at this stage means that we
today at this stage means that we
today at this stage means that we already made a step forward so tomorrow
already made a step forward so tomorrow
already made a step forward so tomorrow maybe you can talk to your friends to
maybe you can talk to your friends to
maybe you can talk to your friends to your family about what you heard today
your family about what you heard today
your family about what you heard today and maybe you can talk to your uncle who
and maybe you can talk to your uncle who
and maybe you can talk to your uncle who believes in conspiracy theories but
believes in conspiracy theories but
believes in conspiracy theories but please don’t approach him with anger or
please don’t approach him with anger or
please don’t approach him with anger or I don’t fight with them because if you
I don’t fight with them because if you
I don’t fight with them because if you do it if you do it with disdain or anger
do it if you do it with disdain or anger
do it if you do it with disdain or anger you’re gonna shut the discussion at the
you’re gonna shut the discussion at the
you’re gonna shut the discussion at the beginning you’re not gonna achieve
beginning you’re not gonna achieve
beginning you’re not gonna achieve anything try to be more understandable
anything try to be more understandable
anything try to be more understandable try to find a common ground with the
try to find a common ground with the
try to find a common ground with the people of different opinions or
people of different opinions or
people of different opinions or different beliefs and also I hope
different beliefs and also I hope
different beliefs and also I hope tomorrow you will think twice before you
tomorrow you will think twice before you
tomorrow you will think twice before you share a provocative article or some
share a provocative article or some
share a provocative article or some article from a dubious websites because
article from a dubious websites because
article from a dubious websites because I think these little steps can actually
I think these little steps can actually
I think these little steps can actually help the problem they can prevent
help the problem they can prevent
help the problem they can prevent conspiracies from spreading in one last
conspiracies from spreading in one last
conspiracies from spreading in one last thing the goal of this information is to
thing the goal of this information is to
thing the goal of this information is to not just this information it’s also the
not just this information it’s also the
not just this information it’s also the goal of extremists it’s the call of
goal of extremists it’s the call of
goal of extremists it’s the call of populist politicians one president
populist politicians one president
populist politicians one president actually right now is to divide and
actually right now is to divide and
actually right now is to divide and polarize societies is to make us less
polarize societies is to make us less
polarize societies is to make us less tolerant is to is to make us believe
tolerant is to is to make us believe
tolerant is to is to make us believe that some group or minority or a person
that some group or minority or a person
that some group or minority or a person is worse than we are they try to turn us
is worse than we are they try to turn us
is worse than we are they try to turn us against each other it don’t let that
against each other it don’t let that
against each other it don’t let that happen
happen
happen thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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