What is disinformation?

As part of the training program, a session devoted to the phenomenon of disinformation was led by Sywar Ayachi, master's student in Information Sciences. The speaker approached this concept in a multidimensional manner, emphasizing that disinformation is not limited to the simple dissemination of erroneous information, but refers to the intentional production of content intended to manipulate, influence or direct public opinion. She recalled that this type of content can spread extremely quickly through social networks, websites, blogs and instant messaging applications, with the very structure of the digital ecosystem amplifying this speed of diffusion. Ms. Ayachi also drew attention to the major risks that disinformation poses to contemporary societies: alteration of the perception of reality, manipulation of public opinion, deepening of social polarizations and potential attack on democratic processes. He particularly underlined that, in periods of crisis or during sensitive political situations, the accelerated circulation of unverified information can significantly disrupt individual and collective decision-making mechanisms. The event then focused on the essential methods for effectively combating disinformation. In this regard, several approaches have been detailed: - Information verification techniques (analysis of the date, content, consistency of the source, as well as visual verification methods), - Analysis of sources and evaluation of their reliability, - Strengthening media literacy, - Developing critical thinking skills, and - The use of fact-checking platforms and technological tools, particularly those based on artificial intelligence. Participants were thus introduced, through practical demonstrations, to the analysis steps to follow when confronted wi