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How is NATO responding to disinformation on COVID-19? (International Version)

Natochannel

May 13, 2020 | 1:57

Synopsis
The COVID-19 pandemic is serving as a breeding ground for disinformation, according to NATO scientists. Ritu Gill from the ‘Digital and Social Media Assessment for Effective Communication and Cyber Diplomacy Research Task Group’, which is part of the NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO), explains how NATO is responding to disinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic. The STO generates and capitalises on a leading-edge science and technology programme of work, delivering results and advice that advance the defence capabilities of Allies, partners and NATO in support of the three core tasks of collective defence, crisis management and cooperative security. The research task group is represented by scientists from NATO Allies Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States as well as from Singapore. This footage includes soundbites from an online interview with Dr Ritu Gill, Defence Scientist at Defence Research & Development Canada.
Teaser
Learn how NATO is responding to disinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Transcript
AUDIO DESCRIPTION --MUSIC-- --SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) — Dr Ritu Gill, Defence scientist, NATO research task group “There is a tonne of disinformation out there and the pandemic serves as a golden platter to be able to use it to put out any narratives.“ --SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) — Dr Ritu Gill, Defence scientist, NATO research task group “In essence we see that it represents the first major global health event in which digital platforms are playing a critical role in the dissemination of information, which includes disinformation and misinformation.” --SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) — Dr Ritu Gill, Defence scientist, NATO research task group “In the information environment we see that there is an anti-West, anti-NATO narrative. Not all disinformation merits a response so ignoring it can actually be very effective because it doesn’t give that piece of disinformation attention, traction and credibility.” --SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) — Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General “I believe that the best response to disinformation and propaganda is free and independent press, is the work of journalists. When they ask the difficult questions, then disinformation and propaganda will never succeed.” --SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) — Dr Ritu Gill, Defence scientist, NATO research task group “The purpose of our research task group is to examine how digital platforms impact influence operations, so in this particular case it would be helping to identify the actors that propagate disinformation, identifying where the dominant narratives are in the information environment and importantly, developing counter strategies to effectively combat disinformation building up an audience’s