Dr Julia Ebner

Trust in science, the media, and democracy have been dwindling in recent years. But in this new era of misinformation and distrust, the private sector has been a rare source of hope. In this keynote, Julia addresses questions such as: What drives the enemies of science and democracy? Why are we more susceptible to conspiracy myths and disinformation in a world of growing uncertainty? And what can companies and institutions do to reverse this trend and restore trust?

In this keynote, Julia explores the risk of systematic disinformation campaigns enabled by emerging technologies. From Large Language Models (LLMs) and deepfakes to Decentralised Autonomous Organisations in the Metaverse, she outlines the threats these innovations pose to organisations, both in terms of reputation and security, while discussing how they can mitigate the impacts of such campaigns on their brand, employees, or operations.

Leveraging her experience at a counter-extremism think tank and her undercover work infiltrating over a dozen extremist groups spanning diverse ideologies, Julia offers insights into how extremists worldwide have adeptly broadened their influence through advanced technologies. She reveals how these innovations have drawn younger generations into extremism through the gamification of communication and shaped politics by entering surprising coalitions.

Incels. Anti-vaxxers. Conspiracy theorists. Neo-Nazis. Once relegated to the political fringes, these groups’ ideas are now heard in conventional media or even parliaments. Drawing on her undercover investigations for Going Mainstream, Julia examines why extreme ideas have gained traction, how conspiracy theories are spreading at unprecedented rates, and how disenfranchised individuals, united by a shared sense of grievance and distrust of institutions, are increasingly shaping mainstream discourse.