This project examines the audio-visual aspects of misinformation, including photos and film clips that are stripped of important contextual information, mock-ups, and what have been termed “deepfakes” during the 2024 election campaigns in Belgium, France, the UK and the US. The project analyses the mainstream media representations of the role of AI and Deepfakes on these elections and compares this with an analysis of instances of audio-visual misinformation gathered during these campaigns. The results of these analyses will be corroborated with in-depth interviews with experts in the four countries.
Read the report here.
The project aims to:
- Archive and analyze audio-visual disinformation (including deepfake propaganda) circulating on social media in a range of Western democracies during upcoming election campaigns in three countries.
- Understand the wider circulation of audio-visual disinformation within Western democracies, including possible crossover into more traditional media environments and political discourse.
- Assess possible responses to mitigate the potential harms of audio-visual disinformation and protect democratic processes.
The team is headed by Dr Nick Anstead and Prof. Bart Cammaerts, working with Research Assistants Leiyuan Tian, Stephanie Rodriguez, Carla Poulaert, and Kate Baeckelmans.