Event Context
An in-person event on “Disinformation and its impact on democratic processes” was held on April 26, 2022 from 16:30 to 18:00 CEST. The event took place at the International IDEA’s Headquarters located at Strömsborg 1 in Stockholm (by invitation only) and was live-streamed and recorded.
As one of the key priorities for its chairship of International IDEA, Canada is focusing on the challenges created by disinformation – those that affect governments and societies, including marginalized and vulnerable groups as well as CSOs.
This public event was aimed at encouraging a discussion on how disinformation is contributing to democratic decline globally, and how governments can respond and build resilience to disinformation. Case studies from Sweden, Myanmar and Canada were discussed and compared to illustrate the wide impact disinformation tactics can have in different contexts.
Opening words were delivered by Jason LaTorre, Canadian Ambassador to Sweden, with closing words given by Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General, International IDEA. Panellists included Serge Blais, Executive Director, Information Integrity Lab at the University of Ottawa, Mikael Tofvesson, Head of Operations at the Swedish Psychological Defence Agency, and Thin Lei Win, Award-winning Journalist from Myanmar, Rome-based. The discussion were moderated by Alberto Fernandez Gibaja, Senior Programme Officer on Technology and Politics, Public Policy at International IDEA.