Targeted women & LGBTQ+ –
on gender-based disinformation and countermeasures
12 October 2022, 5 – 6 p.m. CEST
via Microsoft Teams
Russia’s disinformation campaign against German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, has shown how distorted quotes are used to deliberately deceive the public. But not only women of public office are subject to digital attacks. For years, women and LGBTQ+ persons have been subject to discrimination online because of their gender or sexual orientation. Increasingly, hateful and defamatory language online is followed by physical violence offline. This is an attack on the fundamental values of our liberal democracy, on our security and the ability to participate in the public debate.
In our Online Info Session, Helena Schwerheim, Senior Digital Policy and Research Manager at ISD Germany, will present recent findings on the spread of gender-based disinformation – flanked by an introductionary keynote speech by Dr Maria Giovanna Sessa, Senior Researcher at EU DisinfoLab. A panel discussion on possible countermeasures, moderated by Huberta von Voss, Executive Director at ISD Germany, will conclude the event.
The event will be held according to the Chatham House Rule to encourage an open and free exchange.
Programme
5 p.m. Welcoming remarks: Huberta von Voss, Executive Director, ISD Germany
5.10 p.m. Introduction to gender-based disinformation: Dr Maria Giovanna Sessa, Senior Researcher, EU DisinfoLab
5.20 p.m. Elections, health crises or war: How women and LGBTQ+ become targets of disinformation campaigns: Helena Schwertheim, Senior Digital Policy and Research Manager, ISD Germany
5.30 p.m. Panel discussion with Q&A: Dr Maria Giovanna Sessa, Helena Schwertheim, Moderation: Huberta von Voss
