Wednesday 29 October 2025, 11am-12noon (GMT)

Explore how disordered discourse – misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation – evolves into self-sustaining belief systems that distort reality and erode trust in democratic processes.

Drawing on real-world examples, from vaccine conspiracies to election denial, we’ll introduce the Dimensions of Disordered Discourse framework, identifying the elements, systemic drivers, agents, and developmental stages that enable harmful narratives to flourish. It also examines how these narratives achieve Discourse Absolutism, where correction becomes impossible, and how they achieve institutional capture, embedding distorted beliefs into governance, law, and media.

Gain a deeper understanding of the underlying structural, psychological, and technological forces behind today’s crisis of epistemic legitimacy—and what can be done to restore the ideals of verification, deliberation, and accountability at the heart of democratic discourse.

Guest chaired by

John Scott (info), Managing Director, Wildpark Security Consultancy

Presented by

Eliot Higgins (info), Founder and Creative Director, Bellingcat