Strengthening Resilience Against Disinformation

In a collaborative effort with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dublin, an upcoming event on disinformation features a distinguished panel of experts set to address critical challenges in media integrity and information security.

The event, which will begin earlier than usual, brings together high-level officials and specialists from both Norway and Ireland to share insights on combating disinformation in an increasingly complex media landscape.

Norway’s Minister of Culture and Equality, Lubna Jaffrey, will headline the panel. Minister Jaffrey oversees critical portfolios in Norway’s government that intersect with media policy and public information – areas that have become increasingly important as digital disinformation becomes more sophisticated and widespread.

Joining Minister Jaffrey is Mari Velsand, Director General of the Norwegian Media Authority. The Authority plays a pivotal role in Norway’s media ecosystem, responsible for regulating broadcasting and certain aspects of the press. Under Velsand’s leadership, the organization has developed strategies to address disinformation while balancing freedom of expression considerations that are central to Nordic democratic values.

The Irish perspective will be represented by Martina Chapman, who serves as National Coordinator at Media Literacy Ireland. Chapman’s organization has been at the forefront of promoting critical media consumption skills across Ireland, working with educational institutions, media outlets, and community organizations to build resilience against misleading information.

Rounding out the panel is Angelika Sharygina, an AI and Information Integrity Advisor whose research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence and information security. As both a founder and researcher, Sharygina brings expertise in how emerging technologies can both create new vectors for disinformation and potentially offer solutions for detection and prevention.

This event comes at a particularly relevant time, as European nations grapple with coordinated disinformation campaigns targeting democratic processes, public health initiatives, and social cohesion. Norway and Ireland, like many Western democracies, have faced growing challenges in protecting their information spaces while maintaining open societies.

The Nordic approach to addressing disinformation has attracted international attention for its emphasis on public education and media literacy rather than restrictive content regulations. Norway’s model combines regulatory frameworks, educational initiatives, and public-private partnerships to build societal resilience against false information.

For Ireland, which faces many similar challenges, the opportunity to exchange perspectives with Norwegian counterparts could inform evolving approaches to media policy and digital literacy. Both countries maintain strong commitments to press freedom while recognizing the need to address malicious information operations.

The event is expected to cover a range of topics, including the role of social media platforms in amplifying disinformation, the impact of artificial intelligence on creating and detecting misleading content, and strategies for strengthening public trust in legitimate information sources.

Particular attention may be given to recent developments in regulatory approaches, including the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which imposes new transparency and accountability requirements on digital platforms regarding content moderation and algorithmic amplification.

The collaboration between Norway and Ireland on this issue reflects a growing recognition that disinformation represents a transnational challenge requiring coordinated responses and shared learning across borders.

For policymakers, media professionals, and civil society representatives attending the event, the diverse expertise of the panelists offers valuable insights into both technical and social aspects of addressing disinformation in democratic societies.

As both countries continue to refine their approaches to information integrity in an increasingly complex media environment, this exchange represents an important opportunity to strengthen bilateral cooperation on a challenge that affects the foundations of democratic discourse and decision-making.