Thursday, May 8, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET -
Via Zoom
Digital Dictators: Confronting Authoritarian Narratives in the MENA Region
by Middle East Democracy Center
In an era where authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to disseminate disinformation and suppress dissent, the integrity of independent journalism faces unprecedented challenges. From AI-generated deepfakes to sophisticated bot networks, these regimes are manipulating public perception to entrench their power.
On the heels of World Press Freedom Day, join the Middle East Democracy Center's Democracy Matters Initiative for a conversation on combating disinformation and propaganda by authoritarian regimes in the MENA region and strategies for empowering independent media and reporting. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria have witnessed how state-sponsored narratives can skew public perception and policy.
This virtual event will bring together journalists and online activists to discuss how to strengthen independent media and social media activism to amplify democratic narratives and factual reporting, and push back against authoritarian tactics, such as the misuse of AI to manipulate information.
This event will be held in Arabic. The virtual discussion is part of the Democracy Matters Initiative’s work exploring ways to counter anti-democratic actors.
Speakers:
Cathrine Abuamsha, Democracy Matters Initiative Advisory Group Member, MEDC Palestinian lawyer specializing in international law and human rights
Heba Alkadri, Syrian journalist and expert on women’s rights, refugees, and data journalism in the MENA region
Mohamed Najem, CEO, SMEX
Expert on digital rights and freedoms in the Arab worldModerator: Abdelrahman Ayyash, Senior Policy Manager, MEDC