Australia’s electoral system isn’t immune to US-style conspiracy theories

Australia should build trust in the electoral system through awareness campaigns to educate the public on the voting process, how their votes are counted and the steps being taken to ensure systems are secure.

Fighting fake news with humour

A range of approaches is required to limit the production and dissemination of questionable content, and officialdom needs to change the way it communicates in the digital age, including the use of humour.

Tackling disinformation on social media platforms

The speed with which falsehoods can outpace truth and spread around the world has been noted since the 18th century, but the Republican spin campaign to dispute the 2020 Presidential election result has again highlighted the role of social media platforms in spreading – or limiting – ‘fake news’.

The struggle for truth in the era of deep-fakes

When our senses are drowned in a flood of dubious images how will we make the truth more resilient to maintain stable governance, trust in institutions and faith in the evening news?

New handbook helps citizens to debunk fake news

The battle against fake news has gained a powerful new weapon, with leading experts across the globe penning a free new handbook describing the best ways to combat misinformation.

Is News Corp bad for democracy?

A strong regulatory code to ensure that news media cover a wide range of political perspectives, assess them independently, and promote informed public debate would usefully complement restrictions on any one company being allowed to dominate the market.

The government, rather than Google, could subsidise good journalism

Google and Facebook could soon be forced to pay local commercial media organisations for sharing their content on digital platforms. Making these massive digital platforms pay Australian news publishers might be good politics, but it is odd economics.

A zebra among horses

Netflix is often criticised as a Hollywood-style entertainment behemoth crushing all competition and diminishing local content but a QUT academic says that’s a simplistic view.

Better than a thousand words

Dr Cameron Edmond looks at three narrative visualisations that effectively articulate COVID-19 public health messages.

Will Facebook pull news from its Australian site?

Facebook has announced it will ban publishers and people in Australia from sharing local and international news on Facebook and Instagram if a proposal to force tech giants to pay for news becomes law.

Rethinking data and consent

People may consent to the use of their personal data, without being sufficiently aware or informed of the nature and extent of potential implications.

Could the new ‘tech tax’ save journalism?

Australia could be the first country to support journalism by diverting profits from Facebook and Google using competition law.