Fact-free information

Information

In partnership with the Scottish Youth Film Foundation

What is misinformation and how it is substantiated in politics? Will rhetoric and propaganda always be a part of democracy, and what role do critical thinking and fact-checking play in an AI-generated world? Voters and political campaigners can access a mass of media in seconds. Identifying political facts from political lies in variety, volume and velocity is very difficult to do. It is not clear what misinformation is and how it is substantiated, since one side's facts can be the other side's lies. Should we accept that rhetoric and propaganda will always be a part of democracy, or do we conclude two things can be true at the same time and objective truth is an impossible standard to reach?

Panellists
Rachel Amery is The Scotsman's political correspondent based in the Scottish Parliament. She is a multimedia journalist covering Scottish politics, is author of The Steamie morning politics newsletter and contributes to The Scotsman's award-winning political podcast The Steamie. Rachel also freelances as a political commentator for the BBC and STV.

Mark Frankel works as the Head of Public Affairs for Full Fact, the UK's leading independent fact checking organisation. In this role he oversees the charity's advocacy, policy and communications work. Prior to joining Full Fact Mark worked for over 25 years as a journalist, media trainer and lecturer.

Scott Mackay is the co-founder founder of the Scottish Youth Film Foundation which was founded 11 years ago in West Lothian. What started as a single local project, has now become a national charity. The Scottish Youth Film Foundation is currently developing several private projects in film, education and AI.