Civil Society’s Responses to Disinformation in Contexts of Polarization

The project investigates the role of civil society in countering digital disinformation. We focus on crucial political moments, such as elections and referenda, and on contexts of high polarization, to understand how civil society addresses current challenges to democracy. Building upon previous research, this project zooms in on moments of stark political polarization, where disinformation has presumably had significant effects on democratic processes and outcomes. We pursue case studies of the 2022 constitutional plebiscite in Chile and the 2016 peace referendum in Colombia, aiming to advance our understanding of the strategies used by civil society organizations in combating disinformation and to contribute to the body of research on disinformation in Europe and the United States.

The project runs from 2023 to 2024 and is funded by WZB seed money.