The CONNECT University session on "Fake News and Cyberattacks" explored the elections world and raised awareness on two areas: Fake News and disinformation and Cyber security threats. The debate mainly focused on how fake news and online disinformation influence the vote and discussed about cybersecurity solutions for electoral systems, offering trustworthy and transparent solutions for a digital society. The challenges for a comprehensive strategy on election cybersecurity were presented, raising awareness of the importance of cybersecurity on ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of information.

Transparency of the information used in political communication is essential. A cyber-attack might lead to stolen data that can be used in influencing the process of decision-making, withdrawing the legitimacy of the real news. Cyber-attacks can facilitate the distribution of disinformation, and destabilise elections worldwide, representing an ever growing threat to our democracy and stability.

During the session the European Commission experts presented the Compendium on cyber security of election technology, offering in a transparent manner tools and techniques to harden cyber security of an election process.

Agenda:

Moderator: Anni Hellman, Deputy Head of Unit, I4 Media Convergence and Social Media

10:00-10:10 Welcome speech by Paolo Cesarini, Head of Unit I4 Media Convergence and Social Media

10:10-10:30 Presentation by Cristina Frutos López, Head of European Operations - Election Solutions, Indra

10:30-10:45 Keynote speech by Despina Spanou, Director for Digital Society, Trust and Cybersecurity DG CONNECT, European Commission

10:45-11:00 Presenting the Compendium on cyber security of election technology by Leonardo De Vizio, policy officer, Cybersecurity & Digital Privacy Policy, DG CONNECT, European Commission

11:00-11:30 Q/A session

11:30-11:45 Conclusions by Anni Hellman, Deputy Head of Unit, I4 Media Convergence and Social Media

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