ESMH regularly publishes articles on topics related to science and new technologies that provoke a lot of media attention and that are important in the European context. Most importantly, the articles are written with the help of science writers in journalistic style and always provide the opinion of one or more scientists on the topic. The publications are accompanied by a selection of links to related information and with a focus on European research and knowledge in the field.
Articles
George Markopoulos : “We trawl through social media because that is where the most heated debates are happening right now.”
George Markopoulos is Associate Professor at the Department of Linguistics of the School of Philosophy National and Kapodistrian, at the University of Athens. He participated in the ESMH event Virality and influencers in digital communication on 3 April in the European Parliament.
AI could boost journalism with smart tools
Artificial intelligence could be used in the newsrooms and journalists should be trained and prepared for the impact on communication. Experts think that AI can both free journalists from doing the boring stuff and can give them clever new tools for doing things they could never do before. But in the wrong hands, the same technology can also be used to spread disinformation.
ESMH : Science and Practice of Virality on Social Media
What drives virality on social media platforms? And how the European message can be conveyed more effectively?
Kristof Varga : “Content does not make things viral. People do.”
Kristof Varga is a Consultant on policy development and social media and formerly Director of the Public Division at Bakamo.Social. He participated in the ESMH event Virality and influencers in digital communication on 3 April 2019 in the European Parliament.
Online disinformation during elections : researchers in Europe team up to monitor and analyse the situation
As has been the case for many recent national elections, the European Parliament elections are also facing the challenges of online disinformation. The European Commission is making an extra effort to push giant tech companies to implement a voluntary code of conduct against disinformation. European researchers are preparing the first studies on the topic.
Michael Bossetta : “We need more research into what are the best technological structures to facilitate meaningful dialogue”
Michael Bossetta is social media expert, political and data scientist at the University of Copenhagen and podcaster. He participated in the ESMH event Virality and influencers in digital communication on 3 April in the European Parliament.
The promise and limitations of technological solutions to disinformation
How useful can machine-learning be in dealing with vectors of disinformation such as deep fakes or bots, and what are the implications of AI-powered fact-checking and deprioritising systems for media pluralism and freedom of expression?
Towards a democratically upgraded artificial intelligence
AI challenges democracies but democratic institutions, especially in the EU, are not mere bystanders and are in the process of supporting AI and providing a legal framing, through education and regulation.
Autonomous cars : will roads be safer if algorithms replace human drivers?
Research on autonomous cars has received a boost from the European Parliament, but the technology still raises many questions. Can it be safe and ethical? Will it totally eliminate the need for human drivers? And, of course: when will this happen?
Scott Brennen : “We live in a kind of post-truth age where science facts are doubted”
Scott Brennen from the Oxford Martin Programme on Misinformation, Science, and Media investigates how changing media structures and technologies are shaping the scientific information and scientific misinformation.