Dubai: Two sessions on virtual warfare and social media’s impact will be included in the Arab Media Forum (AMF) taking place in Dubai on May 20 and 21.
AMF is being held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at Mina A’Salam resort at Madinat Jumeirah.
The sessions follow this year’s AMF theme, “The Future of Media Starts Today.”
The first session, “Virtual warfare”, looks into the changes and developments occurring on the internet, and information and communication technologies (ICT). AMF organisers said these developments are changing the concepts of war and national security for nations.
“Virtual warfare is as dangerous as conventional wars,” AMF said in a statement. “The ability to attack and neutralise communications networks of the enemy has become central to how capable an army is. This warfare affects the backbone of media that relies on such ICT networks.”
The session’s moderator is Dr Ali Al Kheshaiban, a writer in Saudi Arabia’s Al Riyadh Newspaper.
The second session, being held under the theme “New Media: New Phenomena”, discusses the growing effect of social media. This trend, fuelled by social media celebrities who have huge numbers of followers, has “considerably influenced content disseminated through social media networks amongst youth.”
MBC’s Ola Al Fares will moderate the session, with participation of young faces that had proven strong presence and attracted a lot of attention on the various social media platforms.
Online registration to AMF is now open via arabmediaforum.com
