NATO and its members are facing a growing threat in the form of disinformation campaigns that can be traced back to authoritarian regimes and their proxies. Much of this “weaponized” information seems aimed at weakening confidence in member governments and in the alliance itself. While Russia poses the most immediate threat, China and others are also engaged in these antidemocratic campaigns. One important step in countering Mis- Dis- and Mal-Information (MDM) is measuring the public’s awareness of the threat. This is difficult because efforts are increasingly sophisticated, subtle, and coordinated. To counter this threat, NATO and its members must measure and build public awareness of MDM, communicate NATO’s importance (particularly to youth), and pursue forward-looking, evidence-based, and trust-based policymaking.
This event will kick off a four-part series to build public awareness of MDM, communicate NATO’s importance (particularly to youth), and pursue forward-looking, evidence-based, and trust-based policymaking. Informed by their professional experiences and backgrounds, this panel will discuss issues MDM issues that affect NATO countries and put forth actionable findings and policy recommendations on how NATO can combat, counter, and explain MDM threats.
