How civilians can help in a crisis – New formats, new solutions?

In the digital age, individuals have access to an abundance of information. While many express concerns about the risks that the internet entails, it also provides ordinary citizens access to data and social networks like never before. In theory, we no longer have to solely rely on information provided to us by governments and corporations with an agenda. A challenge is how to leverage this information. The war in Ukraine, for instance, has demonstrated how ordinary citizens can provide reliable information even before the international media does.

In the upcoming event, we will delve into questions such as (a) why the independent collection and analysis of information is important for society, (b) how members of society can be recruited for these tasks, and (c) the opportunities and challenges of volunteering, especially in the Swiss context. In collaboration with the DSI Community Democracy, DSI Community Cybersecurity, and CYREN^ZH, this event will discuss new formats about how civilians can help in a crisis. Our speakers are:

Lennart Maschmeyer (ETHZ, Center for Security Studies) will be talking about the need for independent data and how the Toronto-based “Citizen Lab” project has made crucial contributions towards evidence-based research on security matters since 2001.

Raphael Perret (studiozb, Truth Detectives) will delve into the potential of harnessing the skills and motivation of gamers, a community totaling more than 3 billion individuals globally, for the purpose of collecting and analyzing information.

Sigrid Haunberger (ZHAW Soziale Arbeit) will provide us with insights into the Swiss volunteering landscape.

Melanie Knieps (CYREN^ZH) will moderate the event, with the goal of fostering an active debate between the speakers and the audience to explore how citizens in Switzerland can leverage information in a crisis.

• Raphael Perret und Anja Reiß (studiozb, Truth Detectives)
• Lennart Maschmeyer (ETHZ, Center for Security Studies)
• Sigrid Haunberger (ZHAW Soziale Arbeit)
• Moderation: Melanie Knieps (CYREN^ZH)

The inputs will be from 17:00 to latest 18:30. Of course we’ll invite you to a small apéro after the event. Help stop Food Waste and register until 4. October 2023.