As the global community continues to grapple with the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Atlantic Council is open for business. Our business, meetings, and events, however, are occurring virtually. For more information, please read an update from our President and CEO.
Please join the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) and Ukraine Crisis Media Center on Wednesday, May 20th, at 8:00 EDT (14:00 CEST) for a 360/Virtual event focused on how the COVID-19 crisis has influenced the information environment in Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine.
As the novel coronavirus has swept the globe, Eastern European countries have displayed unique responses to the pandemic. Governmental actions range from the strict quarantine measures in Ukraine to selective restrictions without a full-scale lockdown in Belarus.
COVID-19 has made Eastern Europe increasingly vulnerable to internal and external actors exploiting the crisis through disinformation and propaganda. Foreign and domestic actors have been sowing mistrust towards state institutions and officials, criticizing either too soft or harsh measures, and diminishing the dangers of the pandemic by providing unproven methods to protect from coronavirus. In one instance, a false narrative circulated in Ukraine and Moldova claimed that the U.S. biological laboratories are developing bioweapons in both countries. This 360/Virtual event will gather experts from Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine to discuss the unique disinformation campaigns in each country during the pandemic and explore recommendations to build resilience against this ‘infodemic.’
Speakers
Corina Cepoi
Chief of Party
Internews in Moldova
Liubov Tsybulska
Head, Hybrid Warfare Analytical Group
Ukraine Crisis Media Center
Roman Osadchuk
Research Assistant, Digital Forensics Research Lab
Atlantic Council
Andrei Yeliseyeu
Research Director
East Center
Facts and how we can work together to counter and build resilience against disinformation are more imperative today than they’ve ever been. 360/Virtual is a series of online discussions, hosted by the DFRLab, which brings together experts, decision makers, and our global community of Digital Sherlocks for interactive discussions focusing on the most pressing challenges of the day.
Co-hosted in partnership with:
The Eurasia Center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia in the East.