16.10.2019.
SOA Director in panel discussion on fake news and disinformation during the European Commission's Security Symposium
On 15 October 2019, SOA Director Daniel Markić took part in panel discussion on fake news and disinformation as part of the European Commission's 14th Annual Security Symposium.
Mr. Markić shared the floor with Madeline de Cock Buning, Chairwoman of the HLEG on Fake news and Disinformation, Alastair Macdonald, Reuters Bureau Chief in Brussels and prof. dr. Iryna Gurevych from Department of Computer Science at Technical University in Darmstadt. The discussion was moderated by Shada Islam, Director of Policy in the Friends of Europe think-tank.
Mr. Markić stressed the complexity of hybrid threats and disinformation campaign and presented the panel with the role of security and intelligence system in their prevention, identification and suppression. SOA Director cited adjustments the Republic of Croatia made through the concept of homeland security to respond to new security challenges such as hybrid threats. They call for strengthening the resilience of the entire society, close inter-departmental cooperation, involvement of outside actors such as the academia and private sector as well as intense international cooperation, especially through NATO and EU framework. To illustrate disinformation operations, Mr. Markić mentioned the case of fake news spread by the media and certain officials of a neighboring country, claiming that SOA had been encouraging terrorism on their territory. Further details on this case may be found in SOA’s most recent Public Report.
The Symposium also included speeches by Sir Julian King, European Commissioner for Security Union, Dick Schoof, Director-General of the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Services (AIVD), Paraskevi Michou, Head of Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission, Lucille Rolland, Head of Central Service of Territorial Surveillance, Bart Somers, Mayor of the City of Mechelen, prof. dr. David Betz from the London King's College and Gunther H. Oettinger, European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources.
European Commission’s Security Symposium is an annual event that brings together representatives of all EU institutions and agencies (EUROPOL, FRONTEX etc.) as well as security experts.


