‘The stakes couldn’t be higher’: social media, disinformation, and the survival of democracy

by Danica Damplo, Universal Rights Group NYC Blog BORRAR, Blog BORRAR, Contemporary and emerging human rights issues BORRAR, Democracy, Hate speech BORRAR, Prevention, accountability and justice BORRAR, Thematic human rights issues, Universal Rights Group NYC BORRAR

On 11 June United States Presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden posted the following tweet : He accused Facebook of failing to enact any real reforms to combat disinformation on its platform, with his campaign releasing an open letter for people to sign emphasising the role that disinformation – spread on Facebook – could have on the coming 2020 presidential election …

¿Está el COVID-19 probando ser el ‘talón de Aquiles’ de los líderes populistas del mundo?

by Marc Limon, Executive Director of the Universal Rights Group Democracy, Thematic human rights issues

Mayo 27 de 2020, Ginebra El ascenso de líderes populistas alrededor del mundo, con su particular marca Orwelliana de políticas post-verdad, ha sido una de las tendencias geopolíticas determinante de los últimos cinco años. Desde Trump hasta Orban, de Bolsonaro a Johnson, y de Erdogan a Modi, estos políticos parecen llevarse todo por delante. A pesar de esto, ¿quizás finalmente …

Is COVID-19 proving to be the ‘Achilles’ heel’ of the world’s populist leaders?

by Marc Limon, Executive Director of the Universal Rights Group Beyond the Council BORRAR, Beyond the Council BORRAR, Blog BORRAR, Blog BORRAR, Contemporary and emerging human rights issues BORRAR, Democracy, Human rights institutions and mechanisms, Thematic human rights issues

The rise of populist leaders around the world, with their particularly Orwellian brand of post-truth politics, has been one of the defining geopolitical trends of the past five years. From Trump to Orban, Bolsonaro to Johnson, and Erdogan to Modi, these politicians have seemed to carry all before them. Yet perhaps they have finally met their match in COVID-19? Although …

Derechos humanos y democracia: ¿una relación en dificultades?

by Dr. Andrew Fagan, Director, University of Essex, Human Rights Centre By invitation, Democracy, Thematic human rights issues

El seminario web Right On del último miércoles consistió en un análisis de expertos sobre la democracia y el Estado de Derecho en el contexto de la pandemia de COVID-19. Hacia el final de una discusión muy atractiva, se invitó a la audiencia a participar en una encuesta. Introducida como una pregunta del “abogado del diablo”, se les preguntó: ¿son los regímenes …

Human rights and democracy: a relationship in trouble?

by Dr. Andrew Fagan, Director, University of Essex, Human Rights Centre Blog BORRAR, Blog BORRAR, By invitation, By invitation BORRAR, Democracy, Thematic human rights issues

Last Wednesday’s RightOn webinar consisted of an expert analysis of democracy and the rule of law amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Towards the very end of a highly engaging discussion, the audience were invited to participate in a poll. Introduced as a ‘devil’s advocate’ question, they were asked: are authoritarian or democratic regimes best placed to respond to the pandemic? Given that …