The 40-person expert group will advise the European Commission on all issues arising in relation to the spread of false information across traditional and social media and on how to cope with its social and political consequences.
It meets for the first time in Brussels on Monday 15th January.
Rae was invited to join the Group by the Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, Roberto Viola.
Commenting on his appointment, Rae said: “We have seen the widespread damage that can be done by the willful dissemination of false information on social media platforms.
“I look forward to meeting and exchanging views with my colleagues on the Expert Group as we advise the European Commission on dealing with this complex challenge, which has major social and political consequences for citizens.”
The group is chaired by Professor Madeleine de Cock Buning of Utrecht University. Other members are:
Markovski, Veni | ICANN |
Bechmann, Anja | Digital Footprints / Digital society |
Nielsen, Rasmus | Reuters Institute for Journalism Oxford |
Raag, Ilmar | Media executive |
Jimenez Cruz, Clara | El Objetivo de Ana Pastor |
Frau-Meigs, Divina | Sorbonne Nouvelle University |
Pollicino, Oreste | Bocconi University |
Vaisbrode, Neringa | Communication adviser |
Rozukalne, Anda | Riga Stradings University |
Bargaoanu, Alina | University of Bucharest |
Turk, Ziga | University of Ljubljana |
Curran, Noel | EBU |
Gniffke, Kai | ARD |
Schwetje, Sonja | RTL Group |
Nieri, Gina | Mediaset |
Stjarne, Hanna | Sveriges Television |
Polák, Juraj | RTVS |
Whitehead, Sarah | Sky News |
Goyens, Monique | BEUC |
Steenfadt, Olaf | Reporters sans frontières |
Sundermann, Marc | Bertelsmann & Co |
Von Reppert-Bismarck, Juliane | Lie Detectors |
Mantzarlis, Alexios | IFCN Poynter |
Salo, Mikko | Faktabaari |
Dzsinich, Gergely | ICT law |
Riotta, Gianni | Journalist |
Niklewicz, Konrad | Civic Institute |
Wardle, Claire | First draft |
Dimitrov, Dimitar | Wikimedia |
MacDonald, Raegan | Mozilla Firefox |
Lundblad, Nicklas | |
Stephen Turner | |
Richard Allan | |
Gutierrez, Ricardo | European Federation for Journalists |
Leclercq, Christophe | EurActiv |
Lemarchand, Grégoire | AFP |
Rae, Stephen | Independent News and Media |
Fubini, Federico | Journalist |
van Wijk, Wout | News Media Europe |