The role of social media in the spread of disinformation

Disinformation as an industrial-scale problem Oxford University's Programme on Democracy and Technology, housed within the Oxford Internet Institute (OII), helps us understand how digital technologies, particularly social media, influence democratic processes. Researchers examine the systematic use of disinformation, often deployed by states or political actors to manipulate public opinion, which can sometimes undermine democratic institutions. With over 80 countries facing these challenges, social media platforms have become central to political discourse. Yet, they've also become vulnerable to exploitation by various actors who seek to distort information flows and erode trust in democratic governance. The programme's primary aim is to develop a framework to analyse the scale of disinformation, along with the tactics and consequences in digital environments. Researchers investigate how automated systems are leveraged to shape political outcomes, often with the complicity of platform