Invitation | Talk by Dr. Mazher Hussain on ways to counter online hate @ Lamakaan on July 26, 5pm
COVA Network
Greetings from U.S. Consulate Hyderabad!
We invite you to a talk by Dr. Mazher Hussain, Founder and Executive Director of COVA, on the journey of conceiving and creating the COFI Networks to counter online hate and also to share how one can partner with COFI Networks International. The talk will take place on July 26, 2017 from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Lamakaan, Banjara hills, Hyderabad.
The online media is being increasingly used for hate campaigns to spread misinformation aimed to create distrust and alienation between different communities that result in hostilities and lead to violence. COVA (Confederation of Voluntary Associations) with support from the U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad has initiated the Countering Online Fanatic Indoctrination (COFI) Networks in 6 countries of South Asia and 4 countries of Far East.
The aim of COFI Networks is to enlist religious scholars, academics, media professionals, social activists and youth well versed in religious and social issues with progressive ideologies as partners. These partners are then provided with the required technical skills to enable them to handle a range of social media platforms and tools, through specially designed training programs including TechCamps and BootCamps. Equipped with the required technical skills in handling social media, these partners will then be able to effectively counter online hate and propaganda (against different religious groups and communities) in social and mainstream media spaces both as individuals and also through organized groups called COFI Networks that are being formed in different cities and countries. Currently there are 140 partners from 8 countries and from 5 cities of India. The team aims to have 300 Partners in COFI Networks in 5 cities of India and 5 other countries by end 2017.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: July 26, 2017 (Wednesday)
Time: 17:00 – 18:30
Venue: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills (Location on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/XwtAs4)
Best,
Public Affairs Section
U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad
Paigah Palace, 1-8-323, Chiran Fort Lane
Begumpet, Secunderabad-500 003
Telangana, INDIA
