Paris, France – Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President, Brad Smith, asserted on Saturday that Russia has been disseminating “disinformation” regarding the situation in the Middle East, particularly amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict. Smith made these remarks during an international peace forum in Paris when questioned about the role of the tech giant in promoting peace.
Smith highlighted the efforts of Microsoft and its counterparts in combating disinformation, utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop technological tools for detecting manipulated content. He specifically cited instances of Russian disinformation campaigns, such as discouraging people from getting the Covid vaccine and the current situation in the Middle East.
“We are getting very good at identifying a Russian campaign,” Smith stated, emphasizing the role of technology platforms in addressing disinformation. He outlined three options available to such platforms: doing nothing, deleting the content, or re-labeling and flagging modified content. Smith noted the absence of societal consensus on the appropriate actions for companies in this context.
The Paris Peace Forum took place amid escalating global conflicts, with the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East ongoing for over a month. The forum aimed to address these challenges and promote international cooperation for peace.
In a related development, French President Emmanuel Macron, in an interview with the BBC on the sidelines of the peace forum, condemned Hamas attacks while urging Israel to cease bombing civilians in Gaza. He expressed concern over the loss of lives, particularly among children, emphasizing the need for a halt to actions causing resentment.
