Ferdinand emphasizes dangers of fake news to democracy

Director of the Institute of Governance and Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean Augustine Ferdinand has emphasised the dangers of fake news in undermining democratic systems, media, and state institutions.

Augustine Ferdinand delivering his remarks at the GCTF Forum in St Lucia.

Ferdinand made the point while delivering remarks as a panellist at the 2023 Global Coordination and Training Media Literacy Forum (GCTF) organized by the Embassy of Taiwan in Saint Lucia, the US Embassy in Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, the OECS, and the Government of Saint Lucia.

He cited the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal and its impact on the Brexit campaign in the United Kingdom. Cambridge Analytica used Facebook data to target voters with misinformation through advertisements. It also fabricated sex scandals and manipulated false information to sway voters in other ways.

Ferdinand also emphasized the significance of media literacy in developing critical thinking skills and enabling individuals to recognise manipulation and untrustworthy information and sources.

During his presentation, Ferdinand stressed the importance of the Caribbean region developing a Caribbean Regional Code of Practice for media entities, and investing in AI fact-checking technology through various regional organisations and institutions, to combat fake news and misinformation.

He identified this as being especially important considering the dangers demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine-related issues, where some citizens believed the COVID-19 virus was a hoax, or that the COVID-19 vaccines were unsafe.

The GCTF forum was held on Friday, November 17, 2023, at the Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort in Castries, Saint Lucia, and held under the theme “Constructing Democratic Resilience in the Face of Misinformation and Disinformation.”

Amongst the attendees were journalists, experts in various fields of endeavour, government officials, ambassadors including Taiwan’s ambassador to St Vincent and the Grenadines – Fiona Huei Chun Fan, and representatives of non-governmental organisations.

The forum was expected to provide a venue for stakeholders, policymakers, and experts to collaborate on strategies to strengthen democratic resilience and share best practices.

The Global Cooperation and Training Framework provides global and regional training and capacity building. The GCTF promotes peace, prosperity, and long-term development, as well as a free, open, and rules-based global order.