In volatile conflict zones such as Gaza, Ukraine, Kashmir and India-Pakistan, journalism today faces a relentless twofold assault that endangers the safety of reporters and threatens the stories they seek to share. On the one hand, journalists endure direct physical violence and repression at the hands of occupying or warring powers, such as Israel’s bombings, arrests and communication blackouts, which aim to silence first-hand eyewitness reporting from Gaza. On the other hand, digital platforms impose a more subtle but equally insidious form of suppression. Across regions like Gaza, Ukraine, and Kashmir, journalists face a twofold threat: physical violence from conflict actors and digital silencing via opaque algorithmic systems. This dual-layered erasure — both physical and digital — systematically obstructs global audiences from accessing comprehensive, truthful accounts of ongoing wars and occupations.
This session will explore how journalists, independent media networks and civil society organisations are resisting the combined pressures of wartime censorship and algorithmic suppression. The discussions will focus on exposing wartime digital censorship, amplifying marginalised voices from conflict zones and establishing resilient storytelling infrastructures that can withstand these challenges. The session will highlight how war reporting from Gaza, Ukraine, Kashmir and the India–Pakistan region is filtered, manipulated or erased by global digital platforms. Participants will also explore collaborative efforts to protect press freedom, promote ethical journalism and challenge dominant narratives that distort complex realities. The session will emphasise fostering cross-border solidarity and safeguarding journalism in both the physical and digital realms.
Discussion Themes:
- How can journalists in conflict zones like Gaza, Ukraine, and Kashmir protect the integrity and visibility of their stories amid battlefield risks and algorithmic suppression?
- How do social media algorithms prioritise certain war narratives—such as those from Gaza, Ukraine, and India-Pakistan—while marginalising others? How does this shape global perceptions, and what strategies can challenge this dynamic?
- What strategies and forms of international support can protect journalists who are deliberately targeted by war criminals for exposing human rights abuses?
- How can media ecosystems build resilience against digital censorship and algorithmic manipulation during wartime?