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The report presents findings from a survey of 289 experts studying 54 countries, defining the information environment as the aggregate of physical, social, and digital surroundings influencing communication. Key findings highlight a consensus that the availability of accurate information is the most critical feature of a healthy environment, while social media platforms and politicians are viewed as the primary threats. The report notes significant disparities based on regime type: experts in democracies are more concerned with foreign interventions and climate misinformation, whereas those in autocracies emphasize threats from local governments and state-backed media. Over half of the experts predict the information environment will worsen in 2024, citing data access and funding as primary research barriers.

The 2023 IPIE Expert Survey identifies the availability of accurate information and diversity of voices as critical features of a healthy information environment. Experts across different political regimes consistently view social media platforms and politicians as the primary threats to this environment, with specific concerns regarding the lack of accountability for social media companies and the risks of poorly designed AI-powered content moderation. The report argues that improving the global information environment requires a shift in focus toward enhancing technical infrastructure and data accuracy over the development of new content moderation policies.

The report analyzes 43 studies from 18 manuscripts published between 2006 and 2022 to assess how digital platforms can combat misinformation. It finds that content labeling and corrective information both significantly improve users' ability to perceive the accuracy of information, though results vary by topic and design. The analysis highlights a heavy reliance on USA-based samples and a high level of heterogeneity in social science research, suggesting a need for more standardized measures and diverse geographic data.

The International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) analyzed 4,798 peer-reviewed publications to determine which design solutions mitigate misinformation. While a systematic review of 588 empirical articles endorsed four strategies, a meta-analysis of 43 experiments validated only two: content labeling and corrective information. The report highlights significant gaps in research, noting a lack of standardized definitions, insufficient data from technology firms, and a heavy bias toward English-language studies focused on Western countries.

The 2023 IPIE expert survey of 289 researchers reveals that information accuracy and diversity of voices are the most critical features of a healthy information environment. Social media platforms and politicians are identified as the primary threats globally, though specific concerns vary by regime type: experts in autocracies highlight national governments and state-backed media, while those in democracies emphasize foreign interference and climate science misinformation. A significant majority of researchers (72%) cite the lack of platform data access as the main barrier to understanding the information environment, and 54% predict further degradation of the environment in 2024.

The 2023 expert survey by the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) highlights a global consensus on the necessity of accurate information and diversity of voices for a healthy information environment. Experts identify social media platforms and politicians as primary threats, with specific concerns regarding the lack of accountability for platform owners and the inadequacy of AI-driven content moderation. The report notes a divergence in perceived threats based on regime type: experts in autocracies emphasize threats from national governments and state-supported media, while those studying democracies are more concerned with foreign interference and climate science misinformation. A significant majority of researchers (72%) cite the lack of access to platform data as the primary barrier to improving the understanding of the global information environment.

The 2023 IPIE expert survey of 289 researchers reveals that while reliable information and diversity of opinion are seen as hallmarks of a healthy information environment, social media platforms and political actors are viewed as primary threats across different governance regimes. Experts highlight significant failures in AI-driven content moderation and a critical lack of platform data access for researchers. The report notes a divergence in perceived threats: those studying autocracies emphasize national governments and state media, while those studying democracies are more concerned with foreign interference and climate-related disinformation.

The 2023 IPIE expert survey of 289 researchers across 54 countries identifies the availability of accurate information and diversity of opinion as critical for a healthy information environment. The report highlights social media platforms and politicians as primary threats, while noting that experts in authoritarian regimes fear domestic governments more than those in democracies, who are more concerned with foreign interference. A significant majority of researchers cite the lack of access to platform data as the main obstacle to improving the understanding of the global information environment.

The 2023 IPIE expert survey identifies the availability of reliable information and diversity of voices as critical for a healthy information landscape. Social media platforms and politicians are viewed as primary threats across all government types, though specific concerns vary: experts on autocracies highlight state-led manipulation, while those focusing on democracies emphasize foreign interference and climate misinformation. A significant majority of researchers cite the lack of access to platform data as the primary obstacle to understanding the global information environment.

The 2023 IPIE expert survey identifies the availability of accurate information and diversity of voices as critical for a healthy information environment. Social media platforms and politicians are cited as the primary threats globally, with specific divergences between autocracies (focused on government control) and democracies (concerned with foreign interference). A majority of experts believe the information environment will worsen in 2024, citing a lack of platform data access as a major research barrier.

The IPIE 2023 expert survey of 289 researchers reveals that accurate information and diversity of voices are the most critical elements of a healthy information environment. Social media platforms and politicians are identified as the primary threats globally, though specific concerns vary by regime type: experts in autocracies highlight state-led media and local governments, while those in democracies emphasize foreign interference and climate misinformation. A significant majority of researchers (72%) cite a lack of system data access as a major barrier to understanding the global information environment, and 54% predict the situation will worsen in 2024.

The report identifies a growing scientific consensus that content labeling and corrective information are effective at reducing the impact of disinformation on user perceptions. While other strategies like content moderation and media literacy are plausible, their effectiveness remains uncertain. The document emphasizes a critical need for more transnational, multilingual research and standardized metrics to improve the global information environment.

The IPIE analyzed 4,798 peer-reviewed publications to evaluate strategies for improving the global information environment. A scientific consensus has emerged that content labeling and corrective information are effective in reducing the influence of disinformation on user opinions. While other strategies like content moderation and media literacy are discussed, their effectiveness remains uncertain due to a lack of empirical data and standardized metrics. The report emphasizes the need for more diverse, multi-lingual research and better access to real-world data from tech companies to improve policy development.

The report examines the information asymmetry between social media platforms and public interest researchers, identifying technological, legal, and ethical barriers to data access. It evaluates existing mechanisms such as transparency reporting, API access, and crowdsourced data donations, while analyzing the impact of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) and GDPR. The authors recommend the creation of an independent intermediary body to vet researchers and the alignment of international standards to ensure a safe, transparent, and evidence-based approach to studying the societal impacts of digital platforms.

The document defines various forms of information disorder—misinformation, disinformation, malinformation, and information manipulation—and explains their impact on political work, such as the undermining of public debate and the defamation of politicians. It provides a framework for establishing monitoring environments using OSINT tools, a methodology for evaluating incidents via the ABCDE-Framework and a priority matrix, and a set of strategic communication (StratKom) recommendations ranging from reactive measures like debunking to proactive strategies like prebunking and resilience building.

The report examines the challenges and opportunities for researchers accessing social media data, focusing on the tension between data privacy and the public interest. It analyzes current tools like APIs and transparency reports, evaluates the impact of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), and proposes the creation of an independent intermediary body to manage researcher accreditation and data access across liberal-democratic states.

The report examines how 'decentralized', 'generative', and 'immersive' technologies are being exploited by malicious actors to spread hate and disinformation. It highlights the role of the Fediverse and Web3 platforms like Odysee in creating extremist echo chambers, the capacity of Large Language Models (LLMs) to generate persuasive misinformation and toxic content, and the potential for Extended Reality (XR) to enable severe emotional manipulation and virtual crimes. The authors argue for updated regulatory frameworks, including the EU AI Act and Digital Services Act, and emphasize the need for international coordination, safety-by-design, and new taxonomies for virtual harms.

The document identifies technological, ethical, legal, and fragmentation barriers that inhibit public interest research on smaller and medium-sized platforms. It argues that current regulatory frameworks, such as the EU's Digital Services Act, primarily target very large platforms, leaving a gap in oversight for smaller platforms that may still pose significant risks. The author provides recommendations for platforms to standardize data access, for policy-makers to introduce legal 'safe harbours' for researchers, and for the research community to collaborate on tools and ethical frameworks.

The report identifies a growing online mis- and disinformation ecosystem in Ireland, where far-right actors have transitioned from pandemic-related conspiracy theories to targeting immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community. Based on an analysis of over 13 million posts, the study finds that social media platforms are failing to enforce community guidelines, allowing harmful content to proliferate. Twitter (X) is the most active platform, while Telegram serves as a key hub for organization. The research highlights that online disinformation fuels offline hostility and violence, including vigilante-style attacks and protests. It recommends stronger platform regulation, algorithmic transparency, and increased data access for researchers.

The report analyzes 12 social media platforms and various fundraising mechanisms used by actors in the Irish mis- and disinformation ecosystem. It finds that Twitter (X) is the most popular platform for these activities, while Telegram has seen exponential growth as a hub for original content and Russian state-backed media. Mainstream platforms like Facebook and Instagram show a shift in focus from COVID-19 health misinformation toward anti-immigration narratives. Alternative platforms such as Gab, Gettr, BitChute, and Rumble are used to host more explicit hate speech, including Holocaust denial and neo-Nazism, often serving as storage for content that would be banned on mainstream sites. Additionally, the report identifies 41 entities using 27 different donation platforms, including Stripe and PayPal, often in violation of the platforms' terms of service regarding hate speech and disinformation.