Disinformation threatens global elections – here’s how to fight back

Scientists estimate that for every 100,000 people targeted with specific political ads, several thousand can be persuaded.

Stephan Lewandowsky, Chair of Cognitive Psychology, University of Bristol • conversation
Feb. 15, 2024 ~9 min

Disinformation is often blamed for swaying elections – the research says something else

Most studies suggests that fake news is more likely to enhance existing beliefs and views rather than radically change voting intentions of those who are undecided.

Magda Osman, Principal Research Associate in Basic and Applied Decision Making, Cambridge Judge Business School • conversation
Jan. 26, 2024 ~8 min


Early and mail-in voting: Research shows they don't always bring in new voters

Compared with past midterms, voter turnout among young people jumped in 2022 – but it was still below 30%.

Jan Leighley, Professor of Government, American University School of Public Affairs • conversation
Dec. 6, 2022 ~5 min

The mathematics of human behaviour: how my new model can spot liars and counter disinformation

Mathematical model suggests information processing lies at the heart of decision making.

Dorje C Brody, Professor of Mathematics, University of Surrey • conversation
June 26, 2022 ~8 min

The power to save the planet is inside us all – how to get past despair to powerful action on climate change

How well people exercise their agency will determine the severity of global warming – and its consequences.

Michael E Mann, Director, Earth System Science Center, Penn State • conversation
March 1, 2022 ~9 min

5 types of misinformation to watch out for while ballots are being counted – and after

Election misinformation typically involves false narratives of fraud that include out-of-context or otherwise misleading images and faulty statistics as purported evidence.

Renee DiResta, Research Manager of the Stanford Internet Observatory, Stanford University • conversation
Nov. 6, 2020 ~11 min

How to be a good digital citizen during the election – and its aftermath

That "friend of a friend" post you're thinking about sharing on social media could make you an unwitting accomplice in a disinformation campaign.

Kolina Koltai, Postdoctoral Researcher of Information Studies, University of Washington • conversation
Oct. 30, 2020 ~8 min

Ransomware can interfere with elections and fuel disinformation – basic cybersecurity precautions are key to minimizing the damage

A ransomware attack on election-related government computers in a Georgia county raises the specter of more disruptions for Election Day voting and vote tabulation.

Richard Forno, Senior Lecturer, Cybersecurity & internet researcher, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
Oct. 29, 2020 ~11 min


Estonia is a 'digital republic' – what that means and why it may be everyone's future

Estonia has digitised 99% of its public services.

Ali Shahaab, PhD Candidate, Distributed Ledgers / Blockchain Technology, Cardiff Metropolitan University • conversation
Oct. 7, 2020 ~8 min

Defending the 2020 election against hacking: 5 questions answered

Russian agents reportedly placed malware in U.S. voter registration systems in 2016 and are actively interfering in the 2020 election. Here's the state of election cybersecurity.

Douglas W. Jones, Associate Professor of Computer Science, University of Iowa • conversation
Sept. 14, 2020 ~7 min

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