This lecture examines the role of the internet in the denial of the Armenian Genocide, focusing on how both the Turkish state and non-state actors utilize digital platforms to spread misinformation and distort the historical facts surrounding the 1915 events. It contrasts methods of genocide denial in traditional printed materials with strategies employed in the digital realm, emphasizing the unique features of the internet that make it an effective tool for the dissemination of false narratives. The lecture investigates key online platforms—including websites, social media, and digital forums—used by pro-Turkish actors to promote denial and revisionism, and explores how these efforts contribute to the global distortion of history. By analyzing these tactics, the lecture aims to highlight the dangerous implications of digital propaganda and the ways in which it perpetuates historical amnesia, undermining efforts toward justice and recognition of the Armenian genocide.
Born and raised in the Old City of Jerusalem, Bedross Der Matossian is a Professor of Modern Middle East History and the Hymen Rosenberg Professor in Judaic Studies at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He is the author, editor, and co-editor of seven books. His most recent edited volume, Denial of Genocides in the Twenty-First Century, was published by the University of Nebraska Press in 2023.