The Holberg Debate 2017: "Propaganda, Facts and Fake News" with J. Assange, J. Pilger & J. Heawood

Holberg Prize・2 minutes read

The Holberg Prize is considered equivalent to the Nobel Prize in various fields and aims to elevate their importance in society. This year's Holberg debate focuses on propaganda, facts, and fake news, exploring challenges posed by new communication technologies and the impact on democracy and decision-making.

Insights

  • The Holberg Prize is considered equivalent to the Nobel Prize in arts, humanities, social science, law, and theology, aiming to elevate the status of these fields in society.
  • The Holberg debate, focusing on propaganda, facts, and fake news, highlights the challenges posed by new communication technologies like the internet and social media.
  • The event features prominent speakers like John Pilger, Jonathan Heywood, and Julian Assange, discussing the impact of propaganda and manipulated information on democracy and decision-making.
  • Artificial intelligence, surveillance capitalism, and the power dynamics of social media platforms like Google and Facebook pose significant challenges to traditional media, human behavior, and global power structures.

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Recent questions

  • What is the Holberg Prize and its significance?

    The Holberg Prize is a prestigious award equivalent to the Nobel Prize, recognizing outstanding contributions in arts, humanities, social science, law, and theology since 2004. It aims to elevate the status of these fields and raise awareness of their importance in society.

  • Who are the speakers at the Holberg debate?

    The Holberg debate features prominent speakers like John Pilger, Jonathan Heywood, and Julian Assange, discussing the impact of propaganda, facts, and fake news on democracy and decision-making. The event aims to stimulate academic and public discourse on critical societal issues within the fields of the Holberg Prize.

  • What are the concerns regarding surveillance capitalism?

    Surveillance capitalism involves collecting vast amounts of information from individuals through free services like Google search engine and Android phones, creating profiles for advertisers. This data is used to train artificial intelligence systems, like Google Translate, enabling them to mimic human behavior and influence individuals on a large scale. The manipulation of search rankings and demonetization of critical content on platforms like YouTube showcase the impact of surveillance capitalism on human behavior.

  • How has the media influenced public opinion historically?

    The media has played a significant role in shaping public opinion throughout history, with concerns arising over the potential for new media platforms to challenge existing power structures. The historical role of the media in shaping public opinion and the potential for new media platforms to challenge existing power structures have caused concern among established institutions and media outlets.

  • What challenges does journalism face in the modern era?

    Journalism faces challenges in the modern era due to the disruption of the advertising-based business model of traditional media by the internet and social media. The new public sphere raises concerns about the manipulation of information, the power dynamics of gatekeepers, and the need for citizens to address these challenges.

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Summary

00:00

Holberg Debate: Propaganda, Facts, and Fake News

  • The Holberg debate is organized by the Holberg Prize in collaboration with the Fritt Ord Foundation and Norwegian PEN, supported by the University of Bergen and the Bergesen Foundation.
  • The Holberg Prize is considered equivalent to the Nobel Prize in fields like arts, humanities, social science, law, and theology, awarded annually since 2004.
  • The purpose of the Holberg Prize is to elevate the status of these fields and raise awareness of their importance in society.
  • This year's Holberg debate focuses on the theme of propaganda, facts, and fake news, exploring the challenges posed by new communication technologies like the internet and social media.
  • The debate aims to stimulate academic and public discourse on critical societal issues within the fields of the Holberg Prize.
  • The debate is named after Ludvig Holberg, a prominent figure in the Enlightenment era, known for his contributions to arts, humanities, and social issues.
  • The event features prominent speakers like John Pilger, Jonathan Heywood, and Julian Assange, discussing the impact of propaganda and manipulated information on democracy and decision-making.
  • Practical details of the event include two sessions with Julian Assange joining via video link, followed by speeches from the other panelists and Q&A sessions.
  • Audience participation is encouraged, with guidelines for asking questions during the sessions to ensure relevance and efficiency.
  • The debate highlights the historical role of the media in shaping public opinion and the potential for new media platforms to challenge existing power structures, causing concern among established institutions and media outlets.

23:41

Threats to Establishment Power in Information Age

  • Existing establishments, including the press, view social media and small publishers as threats to their power.
  • Populist forces challenge the grip of establishment in many countries.
  • Fear of losing power leads to calls for greater control over information spreading.
  • Pressure on Facebook and Google to control information flow to prevent populist outcomes.
  • Facebook and Google intervened in the French election to prevent the spread of fake news.
  • Concerns arise over who determines what constitutes fake news.
  • Silicon Valley companies intervened in the French election to influence the outcome.
  • WikiLeaks sources are not state actors, denying allegations of conspiring with Russia or Trump campaign.
  • WikiLeaks encourages anonymous Dropbox use for sources, regardless of their origin.
  • Cambridge Analytica, a UK firm, claims to create psychological profiles for influencing elections and commercial markets.

46:14

"AI Threatens Humanity Through Surveillance Capitalism"

  • Artificial intelligence poses a significant threat to humanity, surpassing even climate change due to its capacity for manipulation and deception.
  • Human behavior and information, documented extensively online, are utilized to train artificial intelligence systems, leading to the emergence of surveillance capitalism.
  • Surveillance capitalism involves collecting vast amounts of information from individuals through free services like Google search engine and Android phones, creating profiles for advertisers.
  • Artificial intelligence systems, like Google Translate, are trained using this data, enabling them to mimic human behavior and influence individuals on a large scale.
  • The manipulation of search rankings by Google and demonetization of critical content on platforms like YouTube showcase the impact of surveillance capitalism on human behavior.
  • The shift towards mass individual targeting by digital super states through AI poses a significant challenge as it operates at a scale that traditional media cannot match.
  • The changing global power dynamics, with the decline of the United States' dominance, contribute to the chaos and resistance against established systems.
  • The need for investigations into events like 9/11 is discussed, with emphasis on current conspiracies and power dynamics that shape the truth.
  • The nature of power allows for exceptions to laws and the manipulation of legal systems to maintain control and authority.
  • Instances of legal manipulation and disregard for international rulings, like in the case of Julian Assange, highlight the abuse of power and the challenges faced by individuals against established systems.

01:08:06

"Predictable laws combat injustice in corrupt systems"

  • The law is inherently corrupt, but predictability in laws can help individuals structure their lives to avoid injustice.
  • A cliff is used as an example of injustice, as it is unfair but predictable, allowing people to avoid it.
  • WikiLeaks has a strong record of accuracy in publishing authentic documents, unlike establishment press that may not publish full documents for forensic assessment.
  • Liberal democracies are prone to fake news due to the importance of controlling information in people's heads.
  • Fake news has become a catch-all term, used by various sides, leading to increasing separation between groups.
  • Truth is expensive to create, and automation of distorted information poses a challenge in combating fake news.
  • The internet and social media have transformed the global public sphere, with Google and Facebook having significant influence over internet traffic.
  • The new public sphere lacks gatekeepers but is controlled by algorithms that determine content visibility and reach.
  • Journalism faces challenges in the new public sphere, with the advertising-based business model of traditional media being disrupted.
  • The new public sphere raises concerns about the manipulation of information, the power dynamics of gatekeepers, and the need for citizens to address these challenges.

01:28:29

"Challenges in Journalism and Media Regulation"

  • Conflict between news owners, advertisers, and journalists since the 19th century
  • Development of rules for journalism in the early 20th century to uphold truthfulness
  • Various forms of media regulation in Europe to ensure truthfulness in journalism
  • Importance of journalism in society and the potential loss if journalism norms disappear
  • New public sphere's problem with propaganda, blurring lines between news, advertising, and propaganda
  • Privacy concerns in the new public sphere due to personal data sharing with companies
  • Need for a private sphere to support the public sphere and ensure freedom of expression
  • Trust collapse leading to cynicism in the new public sphere, hindering collective action
  • Call for regulation in the new public sphere to create a level playing field for information sharing
  • Importance of distinguishing between different types of content and protecting privacy in the public sphere

01:48:55

Media's Collusion in Promoting False Narratives

  • The Prime Minister of Great Britain, David Lloyd George, shared a secret with the editor of the Manchester Guardian, CP Scott, during the First World War, stating that if people knew the truth, the war would stop.
  • The mainstream media has been ruled by a principle of censorship by omission since the BBC's founding, with Lord John Reith writing propaganda for the Tory government during a general strike in 1945.
  • The New York Times correspondent WH Lawrence lied about the effects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, claiming there was no radioactivity, setting a standard for collusion in journalism.
  • The media colluded in falsely reporting that the Russians and local communists took control of Guatemala when, in reality, the United States violently overthrew the country's democratically elected government.
  • Researchers at the University of the West of England found that out of 304 BBC reports on Venezuela, only three mentioned positive policies introduced by the democratically elected government of Hugo Chavez.
  • The media, including BBC, The Guardian, The Times, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, are criticized for burying the flawed democracy of Venezuela that inspired many and gave hope to the poorest people.
  • The media played a significant role in grooming Western public opinion for an illegal assault on Yugoslavia in the 1990s, leading to the destruction of the country.
  • The media's role in promoting the invasion of Iraq in 2003 based on fabricated news about Saddam Hussein's links to al-Qaeda and weapons of mass destruction is highlighted.
  • The media's complicity in promoting fake news to justify the invasion of Libya in 2011, including fabricating stories about Gaddafi planning genocide, is discussed.
  • The media's role in perpetuating fake news and propaganda, particularly in demonizing certain leaders and countries while ignoring atrocities committed by others, is emphasized.

02:13:33

Revolutionizing journalism for truth and accountability.

  • Journalism needs a new language and spirit to encourage ground-up reporting, challenging terrorism, extremism, and fake journalism.
  • The rise of public relations masquerading as journalism must be confronted, along with the obsession with consumerism over personal liberation.
  • Identity politics has overshadowed collective movements against war, social injustice, and inequality, emphasizing the need to reclaim the issue of class.
  • Political censorship is increasing, threatening a free internet and pushing dissent underground as liberal democracy shifts towards corporate dictatorship.
  • Mainstream and social media should not become the facade of this new order and must face direct action.
  • Whistleblowers have always existed, but platforms like WikiLeaks have amplified their impact, making them more visible and protected.
  • Change in media regulation often occurs when media owners fear harsh state crackdowns, leading to self-regulation to avoid stricter measures.
  • A plural marketplace for ideas and information is crucial, requiring collaboration between citizens, the state, and civil society to verify information.
  • Citizens have unprecedented access to information through the internet, empowering them to verify the validity of information themselves.
  • The credibility of international media can be questioned, especially in situations like Burma, where false democracy and reputational damage are prevalent.

02:35:54

"Redefining Media Narratives: A Call for Nuance"

  • Emphasizes the need to move away from simplistic good versus evil narratives in media discussions, advocating for more nuanced and human approaches to address challenges effectively. Suggests creating spaces for dialogue between influential figures in traditional and modern media to foster consensus on the social responsibilities of the media.
  • Urges Western societies to reflect on their self-congratulatory attitudes and imperialistic perspectives, emphasizing the importance of understanding history to comprehend the present and future. Encourages a shift towards self-reflection rather than focusing on external enemies, aiming to redefine debates and terms to promote open and informed discussions.
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