Presentation
The digitisation of the information and content distribution sector is transforming ‘influence’ practices. In times of peace and war alike, the development and control of news narratives and ‘framing’ is a long-standing component of international relations. The digitisation of public debate has considerably changed political communication and propaganda practices. AI is being used more and more frequently in this context. Because of attempts at foreign interference in public debate and electoral competition, or disinformation campaigns deployed in theatres of war, particularly during external operations such as in Mali, the digitisation of public debate has led public authorities to conceive of and operationalise the ‘semantic layer’ of cyberspace as a new space of conflictuality.
Following on from last year’s seminar on ‘AI, information and democracy’, the workshop aims to offer a sociological perspective on these phenomena and the public policy initiatives to which they give rise. The workshop is based on an empirical research approach and collective surveys. The aim will be to choose an investigative theme linked to the issues involved in the ‘weaponisation’ of social networks for the purposes of influence, and to construct a research question and an investigative strategy to answer it. The workshop will take place over six 2-hour sessions (January-March) between mid-January and the March 2025 debate. The sessions will be organised around discussion of current surveys, compulsory reading and external speakers. The final objective is to write research papers that may be published.
Lecturer :
Maïlys Mangin (MCF Science politique, Université Toulouse Capitole / chercheuse associée au CIENS).
Provisional schedule of sessions :
The workshop will take place over 6 2-hour sessions (January-March) between mid-January and the March 2025 debate. The sessions will be organised around discussion of current surveys, compulsory readings and external speakers.
Further details to follow.