The Government has announced the establishment of a new “multi-stakeholder working group” which has been tasked with developing a counter-disinformation strategy for the state. The group are expected to publish that strategy by the end of this year.
Disinformation is generally defined as misleading or incorrect information which is deliberately used to influence a group or population.
As part of its work the group will “review existing media literacy initiatives in Ireland,” “identify tools and mechanisms to address disinformation,” and “identify ways to better coordinate national efforts to counter organised campaigns of manipulation of internet users in Ireland.” The group will also “Identify measures to support innovation in fact-checking.”
Minister for Media Catherin Martin said that she welcomed the establishment of the group and that the government knows that “disinformation is complex and damaging.”
The Minister said that the new group would “bring together key stakeholders across Government, industry, academia and civil society to develop an overarching Strategy to promote a joined-up approach that aims to reduce the creation and spread of false and harmful material.”
The group will hold a public consultation sometime later this year.
The full membership list of the new group consists of:
Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Department of an Taoiseach
Department of Justice
An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Electoral Commission)
Department of Environment, Climate and Communications/National Cyber Security Centre
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Department of Foreign Affairs
Department of Health
Department of Education/Webwise
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland/Coimisiún na Méan (Media Commission)
Press Ombudsman
Media Literacy Ireland
Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo)/EDMO Ireland
Irish Council for Civil Liberties
Libraries Association of Ireland
Loading ...