Pedro Sanchez: «The‘ fake news' question the very foundation of democracy »

In one of the most disputed electoral campaigns of democracy, the President of the Government, Pedro Sanchez, has agreed to speak with Nobbot about disinformation. fake news are going to be one of the keys with which the parties and the government itself will have to fight during these days.

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These may come from outside or from within, generated on many occasions by the political parties themselves or by their supporters, it does not seem that it will be easy to curb this tsunami of bulls that is coming, although the Government is already working on it.p>

-According to the latest Eurobarometer data, 80 percent of Spaniards are restless about false news, four points above the European average.To what extent do they pose a danger to national security?

Disinformation and the fake news constitute a great challenge for European democracies.This is a reality that is present in our days, and which has been observed with special virulence in recent electoral processes.The diffusion of fake news is especially serious for several reasons: first, because it generates an uninformed or poorly informed citizenship.New media and social networks favor the publication and dissemination of information that is not verified, nor verified These contents, moreover, easily reach our closest networks of contacts and, generally, we receive them with a greater predisposition to believe them as long as they reach us from a family member or acquaintance.Secondly, because it can attack the stability of our economic actors and, therefore, destabilize a country.In addition, they go against the very foundation of democracy.It is serious that some political actors seek to obtain electoral network by spreading lies, but it is equally serious to detect interference from other actors or other countries in electoral processes.

"Freedom of expression must be guaranteed"

-The Government has activated a unit against misinformation in the face of 28-A.It will have members of the Department of National Security and the Secretary of State for Communication, as well as experts from different ministries.Should all parties in that unit be represented?

The unit created by the Government is the most apt to maintain vigilance and respond to possible interference.It is part of the Government's powers and, therefore, the teams that compose it perform the necessary functions to ensure security of citizenship.The Government is working to combat disinformation, always guaranteeing the freedom of expression of citizens.

-The EU has advised to create a similar unit for the European elections.Do you think Spain is more vulnerable than other countries to misinformation?

Spain is as vulnerable as any country in our environment, especially due to the fact that multiple electoral processes are held this year, but it is also true that we are preparing for this challenge.The Government is working to ensure that security in This election is guaranteed.

"A better informed citizenry is freer"

-A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) states that the fake news engage, generate more interaction and are shared even more.And, even more, political information, is it on the way to disappear, to become an urban legend?

We consider that a better informed citizenry is a freer citizenship.As I said, the diffusion of the fake news questions the very foundation of democracy.Therefore, we cannot resign ourselves to accept the dissemination of hoaxes and lies as something natural of the communication flows of the 21st century.Truthful political information is more than necessary.

"Early detection of disinformation is important"

-How could fake news be prevented without falling into the eternal debate between prior censorship and the fundamental right to freedom of expression?

It It could act in various ways to prevent its dissemination.First, with sufficient resources for the early detection of disinformation, with more specialized personnel and better analysis tools.A permanent surveillance system would also be necessary for possible attacks, and design a coordinated response to them.Apart, it would be necessary to ensure coordination and a good system of communication of alerts to European institutions.

"The collaboration of private platforms is essential"

-And would you count on the help of the big digital managers?

It would be necessary to mobilize private platforms to collaborate in the blockade of the fake news .And, of course, sensitize the citizenship on this issue.More specifically, in the field of elections, We believe that work must be done to avoid threats to parties and institutions or to the computer system that collects the vote count.

-Facebook is already counting on Maldita.es or Newtral for its external data verification program in Spain.Should it also have the participation of all parties?

I insist that collaboration with private platforms is essential.In social networks, content that does not go through a previous review, or a process of contrast or verification can be published and disseminated.There is a concern inherent in the electoral process itself.surely we share all the parties, however, the Government has provided due guarantees on protection against interference during the upcoming elections.

"There may be external interference"

-Let's talk about possible foreign interference.Which countries may be interested in destabilizing politics based on dark interests? What interests can they have?

The European Union, in the Action Plan against Disinformation, acknowledges having detected interference from Russian sources, but we do not know or rule out that more could occur.

-How would this destabilization occur?

Imagine, for example, that a campaign is activated with false rumors concerning some of our most relevant companies or economic sectors, with the aim of favoring other sectors or foreign economic actors.The rapid diffusion of these fake news Thanks to new technologies, it can generate dire consequences for the economy of the countries.

-There are fake news that do not come from outside, but are generated by the political parties themselves or people very close to them.There are cases on a daily basis.Should we encourage more portals digital to prevent these hoaxes?

The work of these verification portals helps, without a doubt, to detect this type of false news.However, in addition to these external portals, governments must be able to guarantee levels of detection and rapid and efficient action, as well as a close collaboration with the European institutions in this area.

Cover image | lamoncloa.gob.es

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