Deconstructing the Israel-Hamas disinformation war

The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative and Digital Forensic Research Lab invite you to join us for a public event on “Deconstructing the Israel-Hamas Disinformation War” on Thursday, November 16, 2023, from 12:30 – 2:30 PM ET.  

The October 7 Hamas terror attack and subsequent Israeli invasion of Gaza have been accompanied by a globe-spanning information conflict. Please join us for two panel discussions on how disinformation, digital war propaganda, and social media platform policies have collided to help shape public perception of the crisis. 

 The first panel discussion “Mapping the Israel-Hamas Information Conflict” will examine the ongoing crisis, the fog of war has permeated social media platforms, leading to widespread confusion and creating numerous opportunities for disinformation actors and war propagandists. What does this information conflict look like? How can it be measured? And how should everyday social media users navigate a conflict where falsehood lies around every corner and the truth remains so hard to find? 

This conversation will be followed by “Trust and Safety in Times of Violence.” Panelists will dive into how during the first stages of the Israel-Hamas war, social media platforms have navigated urgent and often competing policy demands. These include ensuring the safety of users in conflict areas, abiding by applicable national and international laws, reducing the spread of false or misleading content, and protecting global freedom of expression. How should tech company policymakers approach this complex challenge? And what should they consider in the weeks and months ahead? 

This conversation will be broadcast on YouTube, Zoom, Twitter, and Facebook. Register above to join us online. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to attend. The event is open to members of the press and will be on the record.

Speakers

Alessandro Accorsi
Senior Analyst, Social Media and Conflict
International Crisis Group

Olga Belogolova
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Center for Security Studies (CSS), Georgetown University

Dan Brahmy
CEO & Co-founder
Cyabra

Emerson Brooking
Resident Senior Fellow
Digital Forensic Research Lab, Atlantic Council

Julie Owono
Executive Director
Internet Without Borders
Member
Oversight Board (Meta)

Dina Sadek
Middle East Research Fellow
Digital Forensic Research Lab, Atlantic Council

Shayan Sardarizadeh
Journalist
BBC Verify

Moderators

Elizabeth Dwoskin
Silicon Valley Correspondent
Washington Post

Emerson Brooking
Resident Senior Fellow
Digital Forensic Research Lab, Atlantic Council