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RESEARCH EVENTS
WHISTLING AT THE FAKE: THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF WHISTLEBLOWERS IN COUNTERING DISINFORMATION
This section of the website includes the description of the research events organized within the WHISTLING AT THE FAKE project. In particular, the project includes two thematic roundtables, a poster competition, a professional podcast as well as a final international conference.
THEMATIC ROUNDTABLE SESSIONS
EVENT OVERVIEW
The thematic Roundtable Sessions bring together distinguished guests from academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, as well as law firms, and the researchers associated with WHISTLING AT THE FAKE.
During each event, which will be opened to everyone and held online on Zoom, our esteemed panelists will be engaged in a close discussion and exploration of a series of select topics under the direction of the chair, Prof. Diane Ring, who is Interim Dean of Faculty, Professor of Law and the Dr. Thomas F. Carney Distinguished Scholar at Boston College Law. The audience the opportunity to find out more about the topics covered during the Roundtable and interact with our distinguished guests through the Q&A interface.
The Roundtable Sessions pursue the following project-related aims:
• Knowledge-exchange: promoting an exchange of knowledge between the project researchers, external researchers, and crucial stakeholders aiming at generating a better understanding of mis/disinformation and the role played by whistleblowers and other knowledgeable insiders in countering fake or misleading news.
• Peer discussion and feedback: stimulating academic and professional discussion around the topics of the project and obtaining peer feedback on the project findings and methods.
• Dissemination: informing the academic community, practitioners, and other relevant stakeholders about the first findings of the project and sharing with them both progress and challenges.
Roundtable Discussion Session 1 - 28th of January 2022, 3:00-6:30 pm (GMT)
Disinformation and the Private Sector
Moderator:
• Diane Ring – Interim Dean of Faculty and Professor of Law at Boston College Law School
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Panelists:
• Sarah “Poppy” Alexander – Lawyer and Partner at Constantine Cannon LLP
• Karim Amer – Film Producer and Director
• Maurizio Bianchini – Associate Professor of Business Law at University of Padova
• Martin Bright – Investigative Journalist
• Branislav Hock – Senior Lecturer in Economic Crime at the University of Portsmouth
• Mary Inman – Lawyer and Partner at Constantine Cannon LLP
• Joseph A. McCahery – Professor of International Economic Law at Tilburg University
• Daniel T. Ostas – Professor of Business Ethics at the University of Oklahoma
• Ryan Smerek – Associate Professor in Organizational Change Program at Northwestern University
• Claire Warlde – Professor of the Practice at Brown University; Director of First Draft News
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SESSION 1 - EXPLORING THE PHENOMENON
• Dissemination of misleading information through active/passive behaviors or indirect means.
• Methods or techniques used to spread mal/mis/disinformation.
• Legal relevance of mal/mis/disinformation.
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SESSION 2 - MAL/MIS/DISINFORMATION AND CORPORATE POWER AND WEALTH
• Economic interests and spread of disinformation.
• The role of social media platforms in spreading mal/mis/disinformation.
• Contaminated research.
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SESSION 3 - SPECIAL ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• COVID-19 pandemic and mal/mis/disinformation.
• Whistleblowers unveiling mal/mis/disinformation in the private sector.
• Potential strategies to counter mal/mis/disinformation.
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Roundtable Discussion Session 2 - 25th of February 2022, 3:00-6:30 pm (GMT)
Disinformation and the Public Sector
Moderator:
• Diane Ring – Interim Dean of Faculty and Professor of Law at Boston College Law School
Opening Presentations:
• Grant Turner – Chief Financial Officer of the US Agency for Global Media Media, Whistleblower
• Robert MacLean – Former US Air Marshal, Whistleblower
• Kevin Chmielewski – Former US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Appointee, Whistleblower
Panelists:
• Maurizio Bianchini – Associate Professor of Business Law at University of Padova
• Rawan Damen – Director General of Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism
• Jesse Eisinger – Pulitzer Prize Winner, Investigative Journalist, and Senior Editor ProPublica
• Samantha Feinstein – Staff Attorney and Director of the International Program at GAP
• Goran Georgiev – Analyst, Security Program, at the Center for the Study of Democracy
• Safa Ghnaim – Associate Program Director at Tactical Tech
• Mary Inman – Lawyer and Partner at Constantine Cannon LLP
• Mary Maguire – Senior Lecturer in Law at Manchester Metropolitan University
• Lord Prem Sikka – Member of the UK House of Lords, Emeritus Professor at the University of Essex and Sheffield
• Donato Vozza – Lecturer in Criminal Law at the University of Roehampton
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SESSION 1 - MAL/MIS/DISINFORMATION AND DEMOCRACY
• Mal/mis/disinformation and populism. Exploring the consequences and risks in democratic countries.
• Spreading mal/mis/disinformation to win political elections or to support a certain political agenda, view, or action.
• Lack of independence of media. Government attacks on journalists. Smear campaign and misuse of media coverage.
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SESSION 2 - MAL/MIS/DISINFORMATION AND THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
• Absence of transparency and abuse of classification procedures. Failure to publish information of public relevance.
• How mal/mis/disinformation can be used to obfuscate conflicts of interest (e.g., revolving door) in the public area.
• Scientific integrity, right to education, conflicts of interest, and corruption.
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SESSION 3 - SPECIAL ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• COVID-19 pandemic and mal/mis/disinformation.
• Whistleblowers unveiling mal/mis/disinformation in the public sector.
• Potential strategies to counter mal/mis/disinformation in the public sector.
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