The fourth edition of Tech Park Talks by Sofia Tech Park will take place on 31 October 2024

Technology in the battle against fake news and misinformation is the theme of the episode, which is produced in partnership with Out Loud Foundation

The new edition of Tech Park Talks - The Guardians: Science and Technology Protecting The Truth will focus on one of the most pressing and important issues of modern society - fake news and online misinformation, as well as on the role of science and technology in preventing the spread of malicious information and counteracting its effects.

The fourth episode of Sofia Tech Park's technology, business and science series- Tech Park Talks will take place on 31 October 2024 at 19.00 in the Innovation Forum "John Atanasoff" of the Science and Technology Park.

Leading Bulgarian specialists in cybersecurity, information and communication technologies, journalists and media experts will be speakers at the event:

• Georgi Sharkov PhD - Head of the Cybersecurity Lab at Sofia Tech Park, Director of the European Software Institute Center Eastern Europe and member of the Advisory Board of the Bulgarian Association of Software Companies - BASCOM;
• Antoaneta Nikolova - communications expert and journalist with extensive experience in international and European affairs, media legislation and online regulations, Director of the Advisory Board of the Balkan Free Media Initiative (BFMI);
• Nikolay Nikolov - multimedia journalist and filmmaker exploring the new frontiers of visual content at The New York Times;
• Nikolay Nikolov - multimedia journalist and filmmaker exploring the new frontiers of visual content at The New York Times;
• Dobroslav Dimitrov - Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Bulgarian Association of Software Companies (BASCOM) and Chairman of the Bulgarian Employers Association Innovative Technologies (BRAIT);
• Krasimir Kotsev - cybersecurity specialist, founder and CEO of one of the most successful Bulgarian cybersecurity companies SoCyber and the startup Kikimora.io;
• Vladislav Venev - Director of Information and Communication Technology Security at bTV Media Group, expert in information and cyber security with over 20 years of experience, lecturer and presenter, member of the Bulgarian Association "Corporate Security"​ (BACS) and the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2);
• Polya Alexandrova - journalist and PR manager, Head of Corporate Communications at Philip Morris Bulgaria.

Moderator of Tech Park Talks The Guardians: Science and Technology Protecting The Truth will be the host of 120 minutes on bTV, Svetoslav Ivanov.

In the high-tech era, it is crucial that the public is familiar with methods for identifying fake news, techniques for recognizing manipulative texts and visuals, and the most effective technological and other tools for countering disinformation. The aim of Tech Park Talks I The Guardians: Science and Technology Protecting The Truth is to put the topic high on the agenda and to discuss it systematically and consistently at expert level in order to preserve public trust in traditional and new media and to ensure that citizens receive reliable, trustworthy and truthful information without the risk of being misled and manipulated. Among the highlights of the format will be the topic of how contradictory data creates misconceptions that affect wide swathes of society around the world, creating information chaos and uncertainty, and whether professionals in one of the new professions of the 21st century - fact-checkers - are effectively countering online misinformation.

In the context of the rapidly evolving technology and global information overload, Tech Park Talks will also address the topic of cybersecurity, which is essential for the protection of personal data and other growing threats in the online space.

Tech Park Talks is a series of motivational, educational, informative and discussion events aimed at creating a platform for dialogue between professionals from different industries, encouraging the sharing of knowledge and expertise.

The co-organizers of the format are Out Loud Foundation and Ivan Radev Studio.

Media partners of Tech Park Talks are bTV Media Group. Bulgarian News Agency, 24 Chasa.

The event is supported by Philip Morris Bulgaria and is intended for people over 18 years of age.

The initiative is part of Sofia Tech Park's participation in the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) under the InnoForward project №101052626, co-funded by the European Commission.

Link for free registration: https://bit.ly/3Y5CGDU