BazTech - Yadda

1

Disinformation and Polarization in the Online Debate During the 2020 Presidential Election in Poland

Domalewska Dorota

Safety & Defense

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2021

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1

14--24

EN

The deliberate manipulation of public opinion, the spread of disinformation, and polarization are key social media threats that jeopardize national security. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of the content published by social bots and the polarization of the public debate on social media (Twitter, Facebook) during the presidential election campaign in Poland in 2020. This investigation takes the form of a quantitative study for which data was collected from the public domains of Facebook and Twitter (the corpus consisted of over three million posts, tweets and comments). The analysis was carried out using a decision algorithm developed in C# that operated on the basis of criteria that identified social bots. The level of polarization was investigated through sentiment analysis. During the analysis, we could not identify automated accounts that would generate traffic. This is a result of an integrated action addressing disinformation and the proliferation of bots that mobilized governments, cybersecurity and strategic communication communities, and media companies. The level of disinformation distributed via social media dropped and an increasing number of automated accounts were removed. Finally, the study shows that public discourse is not characterized by polarization and antagonistic political preferences. Neutral posts, tweets and comments dominate over extreme positive or negative opinions. Moreover, positive posts and tweets are more popular across social networking sites than neutral or negative ones. Finally, the implications of the study for information security are discussed.

2

Counteracting Threats to Societal Security at School: A Polish Way Towards Multicultural Education

Domalewska Dorota

Safety & Defense

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2020

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1

31--47

EN

As Poland is becoming a more attractive destination for immigrants, Polish schools need to develop relevant solutions that can assist the integration of immigrant students into Polish society. The objective of this study is threefold. Firstly, the paper aims to discuss the role of schools in counteracting threats to societal security resulting from increased migration. Secondly, the study investigates immigration policy and educational solutions in Poland. Finally, we evaluate educational solutions implemented in schools to facilitate the integration of immigrant children, their safety, as well as discuss the difficulties and advantages resulting from the presence of foreign students in Polish schools. The study shows that schools play a special role in educating young people about societal values, personal safety and societal security. Educational solutions aiming at immigrant integration need to be investigated in the context of multidimensional legislation on immigration. The findings of the quantitative analysis relate to the solutions adopted by Polish schools that assist the integration of foreign students. They also shed light on the problems and benefits of having heterogeneous classes. Most schools in Poland offer foreign students a number of educational opportunities related to Polish language acquisition, academic performance (e.g. remedial lessons) and social integration. Inability to speak Polish is the greatest problem at schools, which is the root cause of other complex problems, such as foreign students’ falling behind with schoolwork, slower pace of the lesson, and discipline problems.

3

The role of social media in emergency management during the 2019 flood in Poland

Domalewska Dorota

Security and Defence Quarterly

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2019

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Vol. 27, No. 5

32--43

EN

Objectives: The aim of this article is to discuss the role of social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter, during the floods that took place in Poland in May 2019. The following research questions guided the study: (1) How is social media used by different actors at various stages of the disaster management cycle? (2) To what extent were social networking sites used during the 2019 floods in Poland? Methods: The study employed social media analytic tools to analyze social media data published on Facebook and Twitter qualitatively and quantitatively in the period from 1 March to 10 June 2019. Results: Social Media is used during emergencies by various actors for different purposes: emergency services use it to broadcast weather alerts and situational updates; authorities communicate weather alerts and offer assistance; mass media outlets share up-to-date information; individual users connect and share their experiences of the disaster as well as express political views; organizations spread general comments, situational updates and political comments. Conclusions: Despite several drawbacks, such as the chaotic spread of messages, their unreliability and the politicization of the news- feed, social networking sites support disaster management. Therefore, they should be incorporated as an additional communication channel during emergencies.

4

Immigrant integration policy and practices in Poland

Domalewska Dorota, Żakowska Marzena

Security and Defence Quarterly

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2019

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Vol. 25, No. 3

3--14

EN

Objectives: Globalization, open borders and population movements, especially from war torn countries, have brought a new set of chances and challenges to every modern state. Since its accession to the European Union in 2004, Poland has been experiencing a steady transformation from a country producing emigrants to a destination country for a growing number of immigrants. The aim of the article is to discuss the impact of immigration on policymaking at the national level with emphasis on the legal status of immigrants and integration policy issues. Furthermore, the paper aims to initiate scientific discussion on migration integration policy and a complex system of migration policy and management. Methods: The study uses critical analysis of secondary sources: literature and sectoral policies in areas such as the labour market, education, and welfare pointing out benefits offered to immigrants. Results: The analysis presents immigration integration policies and practices adopted and implemented in Poland. Conclusions: The research leads to the conclusion that the number of immigrants in Poland will significantly increase by 2030. Therefore, it is urgent to develop comprehensive migration management system in Poland, which will regulate the status of immigrants paying close attention to resolving integration policy issues.