Ursula von der Leyen Advocates for 'Pre-bunking' Misinformation at Copenhagen Democracy Summit
Von der Leyen thinks citizens of EU countries should be vaccinated against wrongthink 🔗
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, proposed at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit that misinformation should be treated like a virus, advocating for a method called "pre-bunking" to prepare citizens against false information. This approach involves exposing individuals to weakened forms of misinformation to build mental resistance. Critics express concern over the potential psychological manipulation involved in such methods, highlighting von der Leyen's past controversies, particularly regarding her handling of COVID-19 vaccine agreements with Pfizer. As her term nears its end, she appears to be attempting to bolster her popularity through social media campaigning, despite lacking direct election support from citizens.
What is "pre-bunking" according to Ursula von der Leyen?
Pre-bunking is a strategy that involves exposing people to weakened forms of misinformation to help them develop mental resistance against false news.
Why do critics oppose von der Leyen's approach to misinformation?
Critics are concerned that methods like pre-bunking could lead to psychological manipulation and mind control, potentially implanting subliminal messages while engaging with such tools.
What controversies surround von der Leyen's term as President of the European Commission?
Von der Leyen has faced criticism over her handling of COVID-19 vaccine agreements with Pfizer, particularly regarding transparency and the large quantities of vaccine doses ordered for the EU population.