Deborah M. Collier

Categories
EDUCATION & INFORMATION STRATEGY

How to Combat Information Warfare

Fake News Versus Fact
Fake News And Facts Concept

The only credible opponent to Information Warfare is truth!

Information warfare is used in politics, in war and is sometimes found in unscrupulous corporate competition. It’s a mechanism by which information and the mechanism to deliver that information is used to gain competive advantage over an opponent.

In politics, information or news about an opponent is presented from a negative angle, and may include untruths. The media, viewers and social network users are targeted and manipulated into believing and sharing that information. It’s particularly prevalent leading up to general elections. In both times of peace and war, information warfare is used by opposing countries to destablise countries and weaken economies. It may even be used to ensure a president acting in the favour of another country or region is elected. As a hyperthetical example, a country wishing to destabilise and break up the largest economy in the world, in order to increase it’s own domination and power, may manipulate online media (through both inaccuracies and untruthful propaganda), to ensure a target ally has a leader in power that it favours. In the bleakest of scenarios, it could be a far right extremist leader, or one that will make other leaders and their network extremely wealthy.

The business world is heavily regulated, and on the whole, business leaders are continually evolving to more conscientious and ethical practices – with a focus on humanity. Individuals have been known to use information warfare to hurt others, but this kind of information is also heavily regulated under ‘defamation’ and other laws. Individuals on social networks are learning, but are still not clear on what is legal and what is illegal, and are gently adjusting toward cultural shifts. Additionally, the laws and levels of enforcement differ around the globe.

Whatever the information battle, readers, viewers and listeners – the general public, needs to be equipped with the know-how to recognize and disseminate that information – information that could be harmful, or information used as a distraction away from a more serious political or government issue, for example.

The solution lies in both education and empowerment, as well as cultural evolution. That is, education about how to recognize, ignore or respond to information warfare and negative content, as well as a cultural shift in what we as humanity accept as harmful, unethical or illegal information.

I work for two educational organisations, a leading government backed education management organisation, and the Digital Skills Authority. Both are educating and informing either commercial or individual learners about information warfare and digital ethics.

The continued effort across education and in society, through diminished public acceptance, will hopefully deter publishing of untruths in the media and online. This can ultimately only lead to an improved more socially conscious, compassionate and collaborative society.

In support of the tech giants decision to remove harmful content and content providers: “Both media and technology platforms have a responsibility to the public to ensure that fake news is not spread”…”If they are seen to be allowing such content that hurts others, or incites violence or causes other concerns, then that’s not good for their reputation”. Deborah Collier, Channel 4 News 8th August 2018

Categories
DIGITAL & TECHNOLOGY

How Has Digital Integrated Business with Humanity?

Digital Business Humanity
Global Digital Business Integrated with Humanity

Through social media conversation, humanity has become an integrated extension of business. What does this mean for enterprises, workers and society?

Businesses operate as machines with humans at the helm, however businesses have become more and more people led than machine led, while artificial intelligence plays it’s part. In addition, the growth of social media conversation, and user-generated content, has impacted how businesses now interact with the public. Essentially, as social networks, technology and devices have become an extension of our individual selves, the general public and its conversation have become an extension of businesses (and other organizations). Business and entrepreneurship are integrating with humanity.

Business and Consciousness

Consciousness and conscience in business, have always existed to some degree. Here are some examples of ethical business, as well as areas that are evolving toward the age of ‘Conscious Business’):

  • Business practices that support rather than harm the environment, through green initiatives and conservation (for example)
  • Philanthropy from profit (as we are seeing from founders of highly profitable organizations including tech giants and social networks)
  • Human development, for example: Equal opportunities; Mental health, safety and well-being in the workplace; Flexible working conditions and supporting family life
  • Research, development, production and solutions that help humanity and the planet
  • Partnership with suppliers operating, offering or delivering ethical solutions
  • Strategic partnerships with charitable initiatives that help human development through education, employment and well-being for people from all areas of society
  • Marketing budgets used ethically, as well as in partnership with organizations and charities supporting humanity, (for example sponsorship and education)

Socially conscious brands are looking at ways they can integrate with and support society. They understand that true success happens when businesses support or work with initiatives and organizations that support humanity. Business success may be measured ultimately in profit, (as well as positive brand awareness and public perception), however one of the greatest achievements from ‘Conscious Capitalism’ or ‘Conscious Business’ is the joy and motivation it inspires in a workforce. According to psychological and scientific research, individuals gain the same feeling of satisfaction from doing a good deed, as they do from being given money. We can imagine how that level of motivation, combined with positive business activities, can support successful enterprise, the community and ultimately humanity. ‘Conscious Business’ should be at the heart of any strategy.

Extract from Deborah’s article Conscious Business: 2020 and Beyond (published on Linkedin Sept 18th 2019)

About the Author
Deborah is a futurist and business leader with over 20-years experience, across multi-industry consultancy, education, publishing and media. She is President & Chief Information Marketing Officer at Digital Skills Authority

Categories
DIGITAL & TECHNOLOGY ECONOMY, BUSINESS & COMMERCE LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE STRATEGY, INNOVATION & CREATIVITY

Could Digital Save the Global Economy?

Digital Economy Coronavirus
Global epidemics and economic impact - Can Digital Boost Global Economy?

According to a number of newspaper articles and media outlets, ‘The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’,  an intergovernmental economic organisation with 37 member countries, has reported that the global economy is likely to suffer the worst slump in a 100-years with the UK the worst affected by Covid-19 damage. 

It may be some time before things return to normal, when social distance measures and travel restrictions are no longer required.   In the meantime, businesses and organisations must look at alternative models for driving the economy, boosting investment and employment.  As someone who has led businesses, with a heavy footprint in the knowledge economy, and an early career consulting and training on digital business and e-commerce, I have watched buying habits increase from high-street to e-commerce, digital business innovation and the growth of citizen-to-citizen commerce through online marketplaces, and developed a suite of certification programs for individuals and employees, which have been used by leading organisations around the globe.

Coronavirus has literally catapulted e-commerce and the necessity of both digital business and digital practices to the forefront.  In 2020, I expanded The Certificate in Online Business with a skilled team of professionals, inclusive of a rebrand to the Digital Skills Authority.  I believe and hope that the industry’s global ‘Digital Skills Authority’ will be an important ingredient in enabling the global Digital Economy.  I am deeply passionate about making a difference to our world. This may just be the vehicle to do so, and hopefully leave a lasting and ever growing legacy.

Please expect more insight, article and opinion on the Digital Economy in the months to come, and in particular on The Certificate in Online Business and Digital Skills Authority web sites.

Categories
FUTURE & HUMANITY

Inspiring Toward Utopia

Toward Utopia
Toward Utopia

As a knowledge-seeker, educator, thinker, and collaborator, I am interested in what humanity can do as a collective as a society, as well as when you bring together brilliant minds, innovators and experts. ‘Utopia’ is an ideal that means something different to each and everyone of us, but for those with high emotional intelligence and empathy, it is fuelled by compassion, liberty and harmony (with appropriate regulation and governance in place). When I conceived ‘Toward Utopia’, I was developing a concept that would bring together a collective of thinkers, to consider and challenge all aspects of society, technology, innovations and practices, to see whether these would lead us to a happy and improved world or a degenerated society. The last decade has been significantly challenging for many, and as such we all needed and do still need hope, so as part of that I created the movement, focused on community and collaborative ideas from the general public.

Social media and technology, which have become an extension of our human selves, have fuelled our evolution, progress and risks. Technological advancements are moving at an exponential rate, and I wanted us to think about how those are impacting our culture and way of life.

From a media perspective, I wanted to develop something both positive and evergreen that would have a continous need, that could grow and expand, and leave a lasting positive legacy.

Through the vehicle of Toward Utopia, thinkers, innovators and leaders discuss and debate the past, present and future of:

  • science, technology, digital innovation and AI
  • government, society and culture
  • human psychology & mental health
  • health and medicine
  • environment and the planet
  • our lifestyle
  • the universe
  • entertainment
  • and more…

Toward Utopia fits with my work as a futurist and strategic thinker, however, my work to date, aside from my own employment, has been focused on supporting entrepreneurship and innovating, the progress of organisations and generating employment through education and certifications. It has traversed multiple industries, which has been strategic, problem solving and creative, but also with a heavy focus on organisatonal strategy, commerce, business, product, education and information.

‘Toward Utopia’ is something different. It’s creative, it’s intellectual, it’s collaborative, it’s high-impacting, it’s challenging and it’s multi-faceted. ‘Toward Utopia’ is my passion and I hope it will become the passion of others too!

About the Author
Deborah Collier is a futurist, strategic education and business leader and executive producer of high-end TV / Film productions.