How do societies deal with disinformation in the age of artificial intelligence? And what can Europe learn from Taiwan, one of the world’s “hottest zones” for online manipulation and fake news? On Tuesday 11 November (09:00–10:00), the China Knowledge Network hosts a knowledge session with Professor Florian Schneider, Academic Director of the Leiden Asia Centre and Professor Modern China at the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies.
Earlier this year, Schneider spent six months in Taiwan as a visiting scholar at the Department of Political Science of National Taiwan University, where he conducted research for the project Fake Factory: Disinformation and Learning Machines in Taiwan. His study explores how people in Taiwan think about and respond to disinformation in the context of AI – and what lessons this might hold for Europe. According to Schneider, Taiwan shows that panic is not the answer. While technological tools matter, the real key lies in strengthening AI literacy, media education, and digital skills. Above all, human trust and social connection remain essential to counter disinformation – whether in politics, health information, or public debate.
During this session, Professor Schneider will share his main findings and reflections from the field, and discuss what these insights could mean for policymakers, journalists, and researchers in Europe. It’s an opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and exchange ideas on how we can build more resilient information environments.
