Beyond the Headlines: Strengthening Roma Communities Against Disinformation
BUCHAREST, Romania – On May 6th, the Roma Education Fund Romania held an important debate centered on “Resilience to Disinformation in the Context of Roma Communities.” The event, hosted at REF Romania’s headquarters in Bucharest and streamed live, provided a platform for a detailed analysis of how disinformation and propaganda impact Roma communities.
The aim of the discussion was to pinpoint effective strategies, both theoretical and practical, to empower Roma individuals in navigating today’s complex information landscape. Participants explored the specific challenges Roma communities face due to the spread of fake news, while also considering their inherent strengths and resources.
The conversation focused on critically assessing current methods of combating disinformation and brainstorming innovative approaches to strengthen cognitive and social resilience within these communities. The impact of false narratives and advanced manipulation technologies, such as deep-fakes, was also a key point of discussion.
The panel featured notable experts and community advocates:
- Attila Biro, co-founder of “CONTEXT,” an investigative platform.
- Alin Banu, executive director of “Roma for Democracy Romania”
- Valentin Ioan Negoi, the host and the creator behind the historical project RomStoria.
“The conference on resilience to fake news within Roma communities was an extremely important event, especially considering the current socio-political climate in Romania and not only. Through this discussion, we aimed to understand the mechanisms for combating disinformation and how Roma communities can ensure they do not fall victim to fake news. Unfortunately, Roma communities are consistently targets of false information, and accurate information is crucial for protecting ourselves from such attacks” – Valentin Negoi, the host of the event. He also emphasized the vital nature of this dialogue in understanding and addressing the nuanced effects of disinformation on Roma communities. The live broadcast ensured that the insights and potential solutions generated reached a wider audience. This event marks a significant step in developing tailored strategies to support the resilience of Roma communities in the face of an evolving information environment.
