The information insurgency

Democracies must highlight the virtues of their systems and rally against autocratic and authoritarian movements around the world by giving citizens the tools they need to protect themselves from disinformation.

Updating broadcast policy

Media policy needs reform, not tinkering, to prioritise Australian interests and voices over the commercial needs of broadcasters and streaming giants.

Truth in political advertising

Will Australia’s media do better at cracking down on falsehoods and misinformation this election? The signs aren’t good so far.

Balancing your ‘hope budget’

Maintaining hope in the face of endless bad news isn’t about ignoring reality – it’s about facing it strategically and staying engaged without succumbing to apathy or drowning in despair.

eSafety in Australia

A new eSafety report reveals serious gaps in how the global tech industry is tackling terror and violent extremism.

The battle for the internet

Democracies and authoritarian states are battling over the future of the internet in a little-known UN process which may decide whether the internet remains open or shifts control firmly into the hands of governments.

Cuckoo in the nest

While deception is often thought to be unique to social systems, its origins are in biology as an evolved survival tool, to aid both prey and predators.

Dark ads and democracy

Political inaction and big-tech’s reluctance to protect users from ad-powered misinformation campaigns leave Australians vulnerable to a murky world of digital misinformation going into the Federal election.

Fact!

Many lament social media companies dropping independent fact-checking but perhaps ‘false-checking’ is a more honest and achievable target.

Draining the swamp

Delia Rickard’s report on social media regulation calls for tougher action by government, regulators and tech platforms, but the reluctance of government and companies to address the issue may be the largest hurdle to overcome.

Don’t be fooled

The upcoming federal election will see an influx of deepfakes, doctored images, and tailored narratives that blur the line between fact and fiction.

Analysing social media ‘clusters’

Analysing social trends, disaster responses or customer insights using large language models to organise short text clusters just got easier thanks to a new project at Sydney University.