The #COVID19 pandemic has revealed how actors in the information space respond to times of crisis.

We asked five leading experts for their insights into what the present crisis reveals about mis- and disinformation

“Like the coronavirus, censorship knows no borders and can wreak havoc. News and information manipulation is a major obstacle to human progress. It restricts free will and destroys the ability to discern.” — Cédric Alviani @RSF_EECA

@GrahamBrookie @DFRLab: While we build on our understanding of the infodemic, we face the spread of mis- and disinformation by small and large actors alike who seek geopolitical, ideological, and economic gains

@Sarah_G_Cook @freedomhouse: The CCP uses specific tactics on social media platforms and in mainstream foreign media to manipulate public perception around its role in the coronavirus pandemic

“The Kremlin is never one to pass up a crisis like this, and so we're observing Russian-backed purveyors of disinformation spreading narratives about what they describe as the West's lackadaisical response.” — @wiczipedia @TheWilsonCenter

@BostonJoan @ShorensteinCtr: Search engines and platforms prioritize cheap and free information—an information curation strategy that is “antithetical to handling knowledge needed to serve the globe during the pandemic.”

@peterkreko @Pol_Cap: The spread of disinformation majorly harms public understanding of the pandemic, and responsible stakeholders should take specific steps to address these harms

Read these experts' full responses to our latest Big Question: https://bit.ly/3euIHCK