Policy Solutions for Online Mis/Disinfor

While 2016 may have been the wake-up call, it is clear that what scholar Joan Donovan calls “the weaponization of the misinformation machine” has only gotten worse since then. The political, social, and psychological damage caused by the intensive dissemination of online mis/disinformation has been profound. However, much has been learned about how to address the problem, so we will emphasize understanding the role of Big Tech in circulating and profiting from online mis/disinformation and what policies/regulations are in play. This semeste,r we are paying particular attention to the aftermath of the 2024 election landscape and the  strange post-truth  environment we find  ourselves  in.  

The first part of this course will focus on understanding mis/disinformation online. What exactly is it? Why should we care? What are the implications for Democracy? Who is the cast of characters creating mis/disinformation online? After we’ve understood  these topics we will examine  the fixes being proposed and tried globally. We will consider both the demand and supply side of the problem  and  national context shapes the solutions  being tried. We will look  at the pros  and   cons  of efforts  to  promote responsible news consumption, enhance media literacy, fact-checking, and new regulations. Along the way, we will also discuss content moderation, platform liability, disclosure requirements for election advertising, and support for journalism.  

 Students who take this class will develop an understanding of:  

• The problem of online misinformation and disinformation— who is putting it online and what are their interests?  
• Familiarity with the universe of solutions that are being tried and the pros and cons of each approach