The latest in combatting disinformation

Since starting The Disinformation Project we have studied the history of disinformation, previous US efforts to counter it, the technology that drives it, the psychology that makes it so darn effective, and the simple behaviors that aware citizens can employ to blunt its effects. This piece by Calder Walton in the Texas National Security Review is one of the best articles we have seen on the topic.

Nieman Lab research emphasizes how #disinformation is tricky for kids. #medialiteracy #education Is important. As are civics and critical thinking skills. We believe raising awareness thru student led chapters is the best approach. Empower teens to explore the problem and deploy their own solutions. Don’t tell them what to think. Empower them to think for themselves. Let’s build a better digital future.

This article from Canadian think tank CIGI discusses #disinformation on #socialmedia as a systems problem. Content moderation and fact checking (tags, flags, etc) have limited effect and potentially damaging unintended consequences. We see the problem as a system with user education and awareness a big — but not the only — part of the solution. 

The U.S. Department of State Global Engagement Center produces excellent reports on Russian state sponsored #disinformation. We aim to make these accessible to teens. Raise awareness to build a better digital future.

Findings from this Harvard Kennedy School study show that a strong sense of community and shared purpose of the group is the basis for effective grassroots efforts and strategies to build collective resilience to misinformation, which offer a model for combating misinformation in ways that move beyond the individual context to incorporate shared community values and tactics.

Watch this CSIS conversation on the future of online communications and the role of social media platforms in a democratic society.

CISA’s Mis-, Dis-, and Malinformation (MDM) team is charged with building national resilience to MDM and foreign influence activities. Through these efforts, CISA helps the American people understand the scope and scale of MDM activities targeting elections and critical infrastructure, and enables them to take actions to mitigate associated risks. The MDM team was formerly known as the Countering Foreign Influence Task Force (CFITF).

Misinformation is a grave threat to science. This report, generated by an international group of leading scientists and education researchers, outlines the nature of that threat along with why it is important and how it can be addressed.

This guide is focused on fostering greater understanding among adults of the nuts and bolts of our democratic republic and how individuals can and must hold institutions accountable and move us toward a more perfect union. Reinvigorating civics knowledge and civic skills has become a national and economic security imperative. This guide is for civics experts and content providers developing or adapting civics resources to engage adults in their workplaces and their communities.