In collaboration with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy hosted on 16 October a discussion between parliamentarians, academics, and the public as part of the IPU's 139th assembly which gathered about 1000 Members of Parliaments in Geneva.
The event, titled "What can MPs do to sort fact from fiction in the age of fake news?", focused on how to define and identify fake news, understand its relationship to democratic politics, and consider what, role democratic oversight of the press might play in tackling it.
Joined by Chris Matheson (Member of Parliament, United Kingdom), Thembisa Fakude (Head of Research Relations at the Al Jazeera Center for Studies), and moderator Heba Aly (Director of IRIN News), Hirschman Centre faculty member Anna Leander and visiting fellow Wainer Lusoli offered their insights. Anna Leander insisted on the human element underlying the production of news, and pointed out the diversity of contemporary news sources, such as citizen journalists, beyond a traditional press that might be subject to democratic oversight - an indicator both of robust popular political engagement and the scale of the challenge of grappling with fake news. Wainer Lusoli spoke of the actions taken at the EU level to support the responsible production and use of news in a politically-fragmented context across the continent. In particular, the European Commission is aiming to put pressure on tech giants and develop a code of conduct to promote fair and transparent information.
The role of Parliaments was further discussed at the Graduate Institute’s lunch briefing on 23 October with Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the IPU. The talk was moderated by Christine Lutringer, executive director of the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy. Martin Chungong reflected on more than three decades of professional life to promote democracy worldwide. He shared his experience and knowledge of Parliaments and commented on some key resolutions adopted by the IPU General Assembly, which functions as a testing ground for new ideas and initiatives.
