Fake News! The term has been gaining more and more notoriety in public debate, whether due to its ability to spread like wildfire because of social media or its alleged power to sway public opinion. Debates in Brazil also have picked up the pace as the elections approach. But what about the international context? To address the topic, FGV’s EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance (FGV EPGE) will welcome the Consul General of Germany, Klaus Zillikens, for the lecture “Fake News in the international context”, on May 22, at 2 p.m., held at FGV’s Cultural Center (Praia de Botafogo, 186. Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro/RJ).

The event is part of the “Contemporary Themes” series and will discuss the effects of new information transmission technologies across different countries. The foreign guest will talk about how lies – a phenomenon as old as humanity itself – are now portrayed as “Fake News” as social media become increasingly popular, and their growing influence on public debate.

“More and more people are using these sources to get information about what’s going on in today’s very particular world. And what’s most important: people follow mainly networks, blogs or influencers that only confirm their own bias. All other information, TV news, headlines and national debates go unnoticed or are deliberately ignored. A growing number of people have taken to this trend, only considering the news that pleases them. Science speaks of bubbles and filters to refer to this phenomenon”, said Zillikens.

Over the course of his lecture, the German diplomat will talk about international cases that were influenced by the dissemination of fake news, such as the conflict between Russians and Ukrainians in Crimea and the refugee crisis in Europe, and what measures can be taken in the long and short term to address the spreading of fake news.

Go to the website for more information and to register.