AI, Cybersecurity, and Disinformation: Experts Discussed How to Protect Society

However, the key challenge is not only the adoption of new technologies but also the ability to bring important topics directly into local communities. The cooperation model presented by Associate Professor Kateřina Kočí is based on a straightforward principle: VŠE provides expert content, methodological support, lecturers, and educational materials, while libraries contribute venues, technical facilities, and direct connections to local communities. Children and young people represent a particularly important target group, for whom interactive workshops have been developed, combining discussions, simulation games, and other engaging activities. The Faculty of International Relations covers topics such as democracy, human rights, and the position of the Czech Republic within the EU. The Faculty of Informatics and Statistics focuses on critical thinking in the context of artificial intelligence and on identifying digital threats.

Universities, Critical Thinking, and AI

In his keynote address, Pavel Hnát, Vice-Rector for Education and Quality Assurance at VŠE, cited the idea: “In an age where machines are getting better at being machines, humans have to get better at being more human.” Building on this thought, he stressed that critical thinking, ethical decision-making, collaboration, communication, creativity, adaptability, and self-reflection are among the key competencies of the 21st century. According to Hnát, value is not created in isolation but emerges through human interaction and in environments that encourage dialogue and shared learning.

A European Perspective: Regulation and Strategic Communication

Věra Jourová, former Vice-President of the European Commission, devoted her presentation to European digital regulation and the communication of European institutions. She recalled the origins of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as a response to rapid digitalization without clearly defined rules and pointed out that similar legislation has since been adopted in many democratic countries. She also emphasized the need for clearer communication of the EU towards its citizens, as well as a stronger focus on issues that people genuinely consider important.

A panel discussion featuring Viktor Daněk, Eva Húsková, and Klára Rundová focused on communicating European issues and strengthening public trust in the EU. Eva Húsková, Director of the European Affairs Communication Department at the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic, opened the discussion by noting that public attitudes toward the EU in the Czech Republic are not as negative as is often portrayed in international comparisons. She also highlighted the importance of strategic communication and tailoring messages to different audiences.

Viktor Daněk, Deputy Executive Director of the Institute for European Policy EUROPEUM, argued that a substantial amount of communication effort is directed either at people who are already convinced or at those who are unlikely to be persuaded. He stressed the importance of reaching citizens outside major urban centres, many of whom do not perceive European integration through direct personal experience. According to Daněk, communication should therefore focus on issues such as quality of life, security, and economic prosperity.

Klára Rundová, Head of the Communications Section at the Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic, highlighted the structural challenges involved in communicating European affairs. In her view, the complexity of EU decision-making processes is difficult to reconcile with today’s fast-paced media environment. Social media platforms tend to reinforce polarization, while reality is often far more nuanced. Low levels of trust in domestic institutions, she argued, frequently spill over into perceptions of European institutions as well.

Countering Cyber Threats in Practice: NÚKIB and the Czech Police

Martina Ulmanová, Deputy Director of the National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB), Strategic Affairs and Cooperation Division, challenged common misconceptions about cybersecurity. She emphasized that cyber incidents are rarely caused solely by technological failures; rather, they arise at the intersection of people, processes, and technology. Attackers exploit inattention, time pressure, and natural human trust. Effective protection therefore depends not only on technical solutions but also on designing systems that take human error into account.

The importance of everyday habits was further emphasized by Irena Adler Pavelková, Director of the Training and Education Department at NÚKIB. According to her, cybersecurity rests on three pillars: the decisions people make in everyday situations, the development of small but effective security habits, and the gradual strengthening of resilience through simple, consistently reinforced practices.

David Kovář, Lieutenant Colonel at the General Crime Department of the Criminal Police and Investigation Service of the Police Presidium of the Czech Republic, addressed current risks related to the online exploitation of children. Among the most common threats, he identified sexual extortion on gaming platforms, sextortion, and openly accessible groups on social media. At the same time, he pointed out that, unlike many offline crimes, online offences often leave digital traces that can help investigators identify perpetrators through cryptocurrency tracking and international cooperation. Parents, he stressed, play a crucial role in prevention, yet many still underestimate the reality of these threats. His key recommendations were straightforward: talk openly with children at an early stage, teach them to protect their digital footprint, and respond calmly and sensitively if an incident occurs.

SEUDIPO: The Conference is Just the Beginning

The SEUDIPO Conference thus provided a broad platform for discussion on information resilience, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, European integration, and public trust in institutions. At the same time, it demonstrated that libraries can play a vital role in strengthening societal resilience as natural centres of education, community engagement, and public dialogue.

The SEUDIPO Conference is part of an educational initiative led by the Faculty of International Relations (FIR) and the Faculty of Informatics and Statistics (FIS). Its aim is to strengthen the resilience of Czech society to contemporary threats and to promote active, informed, and responsible citizenship, particularly within the Czech and European context. You can read more about the SEUDIPO project here (Czech only).