In 2001, Jack G. Shaheen published Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People. In an analysis of over 900 films with Arab and Muslim characters from 1896 to 2000, he showed how moviemakers represented Arabs as heartless, uncivilized, religious fanatics akin to the worst...
In 2016, widespread misinformation fueled hate-filled public debate in the United Kingdon and was a major contributor to the outcome of the Brexit referendum. Since then, the country’s decision to leave the European Union has had very negative economic consequences, resulting in lower productivity, less...
Videos of Elon Musk promoting dubious investments. Popular news anchors advertising all manner of products. Seemingly plausible news articles bearing bylines of known journalists. Welcome to the world of AI-enabled misinformation and disinformation that has rapidly spiraled into the new normal. Over 11,000 business leaders in 113...
In Britain over 20 years ago a large group of local postmasters were prosecuted for fraud. Many were convicted, some jailed, most lost jobs and incomes. Why? Because the Horizon computer system, used to manage their financial accounts was thought incapable of error. Only later,...
A recent webinar co-organized by WACC and the World Council of Churches on the churches’ role in misinformation and disinformation highlighted the dilemmas all of us face to effectively challenge lies online, whether deliberately created or inadvertently shared. Fact-checking has become one of the essential fronts...
The need to prioritize education and build community was highlighted during a webinar on 5 December that explored how churches have been involved in disinformation or misinformation, and what they can do to prevent this in the future. Hosted by WACC and the World Council of...
A webinar co-organized by WACC and the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 5 December will explore how churches can seek and serve the truth in the age of social media and digital communication. The virtual event “Seeking and serving the truth? What role do churches...
Against the backdrop of the horrific Israel-Hamas conflict, WACC partner the CDAC Network invited reflection on the theme “Communication in conflict: can we safeguard information in the age of AI?” with an inspiring public forum on 15 November in London.The gathering spotlighted the need for...
Local voices and community-led climate action — rights-based and sustainable — hold the key to global climate solutions, concluded panelists at WACC’s most recent Conversation Circle. The online discussion “Local Climate Voices: The Missing Link to Real Climate Action?” on 11 October offered members and partners...
