Austria in the fight against fake news: Schools become media guards!
Austria in the fight against fake news: Schools become media guards!
In Austria, a Bulgaria has currently been exposed as a Russian agent, an incident that is concerned with the discussion about rising fake news and disinformation. As Krone reports, the recent government agreement already includes measures to start in the education sector. The focus is on promoting media literacy, which is to be implemented not only in schools, but also in adult education.
The planned measures include free access to digital media offers for students. In addition, a strategy is being developed to better protect children and adolescents on the Internet and to strengthen the responsibility of digital platforms with regard to combating fake news.approach to combat disinformation
disinformation is now seen as part of hybrid warfare, which means that the fight against false news is considered an essential part of the national defense. Federal spokesman Colonel Michael Bauer addressed Pro-Russian propaganda on his X-account, followed by 25,000 users. This is in accordance with the expansion of the development plan 2032+ of the Ministry of Defense, which focuses on the defense against hybrid threats.
Austria also participates in European initiatives such as the "Rapid Alert System" to combat disinformation. The Federal Army is planning training for basic military servants who aim to promote the recognition of disinformation. The intelligence services of the army observe the developments in both the European and in the global context. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner has already requested extended powers for secret services in order to be able to identify threats faster.
democracy and the rule of law strengthen
In view of the challenges of disinformation, the Federal Chancellery has launched a core group called Fimi. This group deals with the detection and communication of threats caused by false news. State Secretary Alexander Pröll emphasizes the need to sensitize the public and to promote international cooperation in dealing with disinformation. This is in accordance with the goals of strengthening democracy education and promoting the culture of discussion.The context for these measures is reinforced by historical examples of disinformation and propaganda. The discussion about the "Fall Lisa" in Germany, which caused an outcry in 2016, recalled how disinformation can turn into social tensions. Russian state media then reported a supposed crime that was used as evidence of refugee crime, while the police quickly exposed the allegations as wrong. In view of these developments, the endeavor of Austria to work more actively on combating disinformation is of growing importance.
The efforts to regulate digital platforms and the strategy for media literacy are part of a comprehensive answer to the ongoing threat from fake news, which can affect not only national security, but also the integrative values of European societies. The Bundeswehr and other government agencies are ready to deal with the challenges and to educate the population about the dangers of disinformation in order to protect the integrity of democracy and the rule of law.
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| Ort | Österreich |
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