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CIS-A2K/Events/WikiConverse India Calls/Disinformation and Misinformation in Wikimedia projects

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The upcoming community engagement call is going to be about Disinformation and Misinformation in Wikimedia projects which is a part of WikiConverse India calls to engage and involve Wikimedians in this initiative.

Event details

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The call is going to happen on 19 January 2023 (Friday) at 6 PM IST. The speaker(s) from Wikimedia Foundation’s Trust & Safety team are going to discuss various aspects of their work and Disinformation & Misinformation in Wikimedia projects.

Safe space policy

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Please read carefully and follow the Universal Code of Conduct (UCOC) during the event. You can find the link in here.

Schedule
Date & Time Discussions Speakers
19 January 2024, 6:00 - 7:30 PM (IST) Introduction to the Trust & Safety team and its work
What does the T&S Disinformation team do?
Share work, case studies
Threats to open knowledge projects
Disinformation and possible challenges

Abhas Tripathi

Meeting details

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  • Topic: Disinformation and Misinformation in Wikimedia projects
  • Date: 19 January 2024
  • Time: 6:00 PM
  • Join Zoom Meeting
    • Meeting ID: 863 0293 0752
    • Passcode: 230241
  • Etherpad Link: here

Report

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WikiConverse India Call - Disinformation and Misinformation in Wikimedia Projects

The WikiConverse India Call on Disinformation and Misinformation in Wikimedia projects featured a comprehensive discussion led by Abhas Tripathi from the Trust & Safety team. The session aimed to provide insights into the team's work, the challenges posed by disinformation, and strategies to address these issues.

The agenda encompassed various key points, beginning with an introduction to the Trust & Safety team's role and responsibilities. Abhas shared the team's focus on dealing with emergencies, addressing repeated harassment, and mitigating the impact of false information, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between misinformation and disinformation.

The discussion delved into the common targets of disinformation, covering topics such as political disinformation, historical negationism, election disinformation, and suppression of communities. Abhas elaborated on disinformation behaviour on Wikipedia, citing examples like sockpuppetry, biased sources, false claims without sources, and unwarranted user blocking.

Disinformation was identified as a critical area of concern, given the rapid dissemination of information. The session emphasized the need for a nuanced approach to disinformation, considering factors such as community dynamics, platforms, methods (including the use of bots), and adherence to guidelines.

The report also touched upon the Wikimedia Foundation's approach to disinformation. The Trust & Safety team focuses on community integrity, conducting virtual sessions to address behaviour over content and ensuring that the information provided on Wikimedia projects is not tainted by false information. The team also emphasized the importance of power balance and community empowerment, encouraging adherence to the Universal Code of Conduct (UCoC) and content guidelines.

In conclusion, the WikiConverse India Call provided valuable insights into the challenges posed by disinformation in Wikimedia projects and outlined strategies to address these issues. The session underscored the collaborative efforts needed to maintain the integrity of information on Wikimedia platforms and empower communities to self-govern in the face of disinformation.