What are the potential risks or unintended consequences of counter-disinformation interventions?

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


  • 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

    Lead research organisation: London School of Economics and Political Science

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on Media Literacy and Digital Skills, which are related to the issue of counter-disinformation interventions.

  • 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

    Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses the issue of harmful content online, which is related to the risks of counter-disinformation interventions.

  • 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

    Lead research organisation: SWAY AS LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    Partially relevant as it addresses disinformation and information pollution, but does not specifically focus on counter-disinformation interventions.

  • 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

    Lead research organisation: University of Glasgow

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on addressing the spread of misinformation online, which is relevant to the risks of counter-disinformation interventions.

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