At our recent event at the University of British Columbia (UBC), we had the pleasure of welcoming Prof. Dr. Thorsten Quandt, media researcher from the University of Münster, for a public lecture and discussion on this timely and complex topic.

Prof. Quandt, who has been studying digital communication, social media dynamics, and online extremism for many years, gave a striking talk entitled “Lies, Hate, Chaos: How Disinformation Threatens Democracy.” He traced how far-right movements exploit digital platforms—from Telegram to TikTok—and how seemingly harmless platforms have become vehicles for radical narratives.

The afternoon concluded with a lively discussion with the audience, revealing not only widespread concern about disinformation, but also a strong demand for deeper understanding and media literacy.

If you weren’t able to attend in person, you can now watch the full talk on our YouTube channel.