Fostering Trust in the Digital Age – A Call for Collective Action

OPERAS Publishes Report

on Disinformation and Trust

OPERAS, the research infrastructure dedicated to open scholarly communication in the social sciences and humanities, has published a landmark report titled “Fostering Trust in the Digital Age”. Featuring 27 papers from the TrustOn2024 Workshop and a session at the Science Summit at the 79th United Nations General Assembly, this report brings together insights from experts on combating disinformation and strengthening trust in science and digital ecosystems.

Trust in a Complex Digital Landscape

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the challenges of disinformation and the erosion of public trust have reached critical levels. The rise of digital platforms and artificial intelligence, while offering tremendous potential, has also enabled the proliferation of false and misleading information on an unprecedented scale. 

OPERAS plays a vital role in addressing these challenges. By prioritising the quality of scholarly content, providing trust-based services, and fostering knowledge transfer, OPERAS actively ensures information integrity and fosters reliable access to accurate information. This building of a foundation of trust is essential not only for academia but for the broader public sphere.

A Call for Collective Action

The disinformation crisis is not an isolated issue—it is a collective challenge that requires global solutions. Whether addressing climate change, public health, or social justice, we will not succeed if disinformation continues to undermine public trust and democratic processes. As this report illustrates, tackling disinformation requires innovative solutions, participatory governance, a human-centered approach and a community to support it.

In addressing disinformation and building trust in the digital age, the TrustOn2024 Workshop report is organised into three distinct yet complementary tracks: infrastructure, science, and mediation. Each track offers a unique lens through which to tackle these critical issues, recognizing that solutions must be multi-faceted and interconnected to effectively combat disinformation.

Through the diverse range of perspectives presented in this report, we aim to contribute to the global dialogue on fostering trust in the digital age. The insights gathered here are intended to inspire concrete actions and foster international collaboration. Together, we can build a more resilient and equitable digital ecosystem, one that empowers individuals, upholds the truth, and supports sustainable development for all.

The full report is now available for download. OPERAS invites stakeholders, policymakers, and the global community to engage with these findings and take part in shaping a future founded on trust.

Contributors:

Agata Gurzawska

Alejandra Michel

Amir Banifatemi

Carolina Moreno-Castro

Chris de Loof

Christophe Calvin

Evelien Dhollander

Frederik Temmermans

Gaël Van Weyenbergh

Guigone Camus

Hannes Lowagie

Hendrik Berghäuser

Isabel Mendoza-Poudereux

Jörg Lehmann

Julija Baniukevic

Kevin Leonard

Mario Scharfbillig

Matei Mancas

Mathilde Dorcadie

Mei Lin Fung

Nelson H. da Silva Ferreira

Panagiotis Monachelis

Pierre Mounier

Reda Cimmperman

Susanna Fiorini

Sven Lieber

Sy Holsinger

Thomas Parisot

Tine Ravn

Valentina Tirloni

Véronique Stoll

Contact & Editors:

Scientific Coordination:

Suzanne Dumouchel, Partnership Coordinator OPERAS, suzanne.dumouchel[at]operas-eu.org  

Communication: 

Marlen Töpfer, OPERAS Communication Manager, communication[at]operas-eu.org

Lorena Caliman, OPERAS Content and Communications Specialist, communication[at]operas-eu.org

Carol Delmazo, OPERAS Service Marketing and Community Outreach Officer, carol.delmazo[at]operas-eu.org