The role of artificial intelligence in the spread and combating of the risk of disinformation and hate speech, which gains a new dimension every day, was discussed at the event “Combating Disinformation and Hate Speech within the Framework of Artificial Intelligence,” organized by the Istanbul Bar Association IT Law Artificial Intelligence Working Group. The event, moderated by Attorney Celil Aktaş, was enhanced by the opening speech of Attorney Fehmi Ünsal Özmestik, Chairman of the Istanbul Bar Association IT Law Commission, and the presentation of speaker Attorney Esra Özgür.

The event began by emphasizing that contemporary human beings live constantly connected to the network and have become practically dependent on information, making the risk of disinformation and hate speech greater than ever before. In the presentation, which was mostly interactive, the concepts of disinformation and hate speech were first explained, and it was noted that digital platforms have made these risks more serious. It was stated that this stems from the interaction-focused operation of digital platforms and their exploitation of people’s cognitive biases to increase engagement. In this context, attention was drawn to the fact that content that triggers negative emotions such as fear, anger, and anxiety tends to find more space on digital platforms.

The proliferation of artificial intelligence tools and their integration into platforms were discussed as adding a new dimension to the problem. It was noted that AI-generated visuals have high credibility, and even when not entirely credible, they make disinformation more effective. Therefore, it was emphasized that such technologies are an effective tool for malicious content. Conversely, it was stated that AI plays a significant role in detecting content constituting disinformation or hate speech and intervening rapidly. However, it was also noted that AI tools are not yet successful in detecting all deepfake content or bot accounts. The reason for this was stated to be insufficient resource allocation to this area.

In light of all this, it was stated that information technologies are neutral by their nature, and what matters is how they are used. Against the increasing risk of disinformation and hate speech under the influence of AI, emphasis was placed on the need to develop **AI literacy**, an **ethical and transparent approach**, and to implement regulations compliant with these. Finally, it was observed that technology companies are at the center of this discussion, linking the issue to the broader debate on **technofeudalism**.

To access the recording of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40d39g_y7QU

Av. Celil AKTAŞ, LL.M.