What are the direct impacts of the harms of online mis/disinformation and what types of online mis/disinformation are most harmful? How do these impact individuals, wider society and the democratic process (whether physical, psychological health, civil unrest, UK security, elections)?

Background

Although there is already material evidence on the types of serious harms individuals encounter online, there still remain a number of emerging harms, where the evidence base is still yet to mature (e.g. epilepsy trolling, online animal abuse). SOH would like to close this significant gap in understanding the impact of encountering different types of serious harms online and understanding the best approaches to measuring the impact of the Online Safety legislation.

SOH highlights the importance of Media Literacy in the digital age and asks for further studies to uncover barriers to engagement as well as the effectiveness of DSIT programmes. This issue closely relates to Counter-Disinformation interventions, which requires evidence for its effect on bystanders, topic specific disinformation and what tools can be used to combat this issue.

Research on Safety Technology would greatly develop SOH’s understanding of the relationship that DSIT online safety objectives have with the technology market today. A primary focus lands on improving Age Assurance (AA) measures. This includes ensuring transparency and assessing opportunities for the sector.

Next steps

If you are keen to register your interest in working and connecting with DSIT Digital Technology and Telecoms Group and/or submitting evidence, then please complete the DSIT-ARI Evidence survey - https://dsit.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cDfmK2OukVAnirs.
Please view full details: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology-areas-of-research-interest/dsit-areas-of-research-interest-2024

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

DSIT Areas of Research Interest 2024 GOV UK

Related UKRI funded projects

  • Digital Knowledge: A New Framework for Digital Epistemic Virtues

    We are increasingly in the grips of an information epidemic, which the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic - and the spread of health misinformation online along with rising distrust of experts - has only served to highlight with ...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on understanding the impact of encountering different types of serious harms online and the best approaches to measuring the impact of online safety legislation.

  • An innovative, AI-driven application that helps users assess/action information pollution for social media content.

    Sway is a UK-based social media safety technology SME with a core project team of Mike Bennett (CEO and serial entrepreneur), Daniela Fernandez (CXO and entrepreneur) and Alan Simpson (CTO and digital transformation stra...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses the impacts of online mis/disinformation on individuals, society, and the democratic process, providing tools to evaluate and reduce information pollution.

  • AI4TRUST: AI-based technologies for trustworthy solutions against disinformation

    Increasing evidence shows that disinformation spreading has non-negligible impact on our society at individual and collective levels. From public health to climate change, it is of paramount importance to timely identify...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on AI-based technologies to combat disinformation, providing trustworthy elements to extinguish disinformation outbreaks and support media professionals and policy makers.

  • Digital Wildfire: (Mis)information flows, propagation and responsible governance

    The rapid growth of social media platforms such as Twitter has had a significant impact on the way people can connect and communicate instantaneously with others. The content that users put onto social media platforms ca...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses the spread of misinformation online, the impact on events, and the need for responsible governance of social media.

  • Rethinking Media Literacy and Digital Skills in Europe (REMEDIS)

    Over the past decade, we have witnessed major transformations in access to digital media platforms in Europe. However, navigating this digitally mediated world can be challenging as it requires operational, social, conte...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on media literacy and digital skills, which are related to understanding and combating online misinformation, but does not directly address the impacts of online mis/disinformation.

  • Safe Internet surfing with an intelligent child-centred shield against harmful content

    The Internet provides high exposure to malicious content with direct impact on children's safety. Illicit, violent and pornographic material to name a few. The Internet is also an enabler for cyber victimisation such as ...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

  • Governing Democratic Discourse: Social Media, Online Harms, and the Future of Free Speech

    Social-media networks have been weaponised. Through these platforms, bad actors have incited terrorism, stoked racial hatred, peddled deadly disinformation on how to cure Covid-19, and persuaded teenagers to commit suici...

    Funded by: UKRI FLF