19 Mar 2023

Natolin Nests Conference: "How to Navigate Society and Politics in the Digital Age. Implications for Europe"

From 10:00 till 16:30
Winter Garden
Natolin (Warsaw) Campus

On Sunday, 19 March 2023, the Natolin Media and Disinformation & Digital and Security Nests organised the conference:

"How to Navigate Society and Politics in the Digital Age. Implications for Europe"

Watch our video highlights from the conference below:

The full recording of the event may be viewed here

In the framework of the conference, Natolin Students were given the opportunity to conduct interviews with conference speakers. Listen below to the interviews by our students!

  • Interview with Ms Katarzyna SUMISŁAWSKA, Stratcom Lead on Awareness Raising about Disinformation, EEAS, by Mr Rodrigo SILVA.

  • Interview with Dr Piotr ARAK, Director of the Polish Economic Institute, by Ms Enikő DEÁK.

  • Interview with Dr Agnieszka LEGUCKA, Polish Institute of International Affairs, by Ms Anastasiia KAPRANOVA.

PROGRAMME OF THE CONFERENCE:

The keynote remarks were delivered by Mr Jakub KALENSKÝ, European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, and introduced by Mr Adam REICHARDT, Mentor of the Media and Disinformation Nest. The conference was divided as follows:

Session I - "Understanding the Information War" (11:15-13:00)

Introduction: Ms Mariam GOGITIDZE, College of Europe in Natolin student

Moderation: Ms Ibtissem Sarra BOUMESLOUT, College of Europe in Natolin student

The war in Ukraine has been going on for over one year(as of March 2023). And while the physical battles are taking place on the battlefield in Ukraine, the information war takes place without boundaries. What’s more, this information war affects all of us. Propaganda, disinformation, influence operations, and active campaigns are all aimed at societies in Europe in order to shift the mood and support of Ukraine. How can we recognize them and fight back in the information sphere?

The panel examined the following questions:

  • How do propaganda and disinformation work in the current context? What methods are used to create and spread disinformation narratives, and what tools can we utilize to minimize them as social media users?
  • What are the policy and high-level approaches to countering disinformation? How does the EU/NATO approach disinformation? 
  • What are the political and geopolitical ramifications of Russia’s information war on Ukraine and against the West? What about other actors - what might be the aims of other powers active in the information sphere (e.g. China, Iran), and how effective are they in using disinformation against western audiences?

Speakers

  • Ms Katarzyna SUMISŁAWSKA, Stratcom Lead on Awareness Raising about Disinformation, EEAS
  • Dr Agnieszka LEGUCKA, Polish Institute of International Affairs
  • Dr Anton NAYCHUK, Head of the East European Council

Session II "A European digital sovereignty: a must or an illusion?" (14:30-16:30)

Introduction: Mr Pau ÁLVAREZ ARAGONÉS, College of Europe in Natolin student

Moderation: Mr Jean KOSTRZEWSKI, College of Europe in Natolin student

Digital transformation has a profound impact on the geopolitical landscape in the world. It raised questions about the state’s sovereignty, security, and defense and the resilience of western democracies. The debate in Europe about different aspects of digital sovereignty has been building over recent years at both the EU level and the level of individual Member States. As the largest single market and as a regulatory power, is the EU doomed to succeed or fail?

The panel examined the following questions:

  • What are the key elements of an EU digital sovereignty?
  • The Commission and the member states: who’s driving the agenda?
  • How is the EU seen by key global players, i.e. the US and China?
  • EU digital agenda as a foreign policy tool

Speakers

  • Dr Simona R. SOARE, Research Fellow with the International Institute for Strategic Studies
  • Dr Piotr ARAK, Director of the Polish Economic Institute
  • Dr Olaf OSICA, Mentor of the Digital and Security Nest

Photo gallery from the conference: 

19.03.2023 - Natolin Nest Conference: How to Navigate Society and Politics in the Digital Age

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