False words, failing democracies? A global comparative analysis of institutional vulnerability to political misinformation
Short description
Disinformation has become one of the greatest threats to democracy in our time. False or misleading claims are being spread to an ever greater extent by political actors via social media, often as part of a deliberate strategy to undermine political opponents, manipulate public opinion, and weaken trust in societal institutions. But why are some democracies affected more than others? And what is it that enables certain societies to resist?
About the research
This research project examines the global spread of political disinformation by constructing a unique global database of posts from more than 3,600 political parties in 190 countries on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and X/Twitter. Using advanced language models and AI-based tools, we identify and analyze false information, investigate the themes on which it is based, and trace how it spreads between countries, parties, and platforms.
The goal is to understand how factors such as media freedom, political polarization, party structure, and platform design influence democratic vulnerability. The project combines data-driven analysis with qualitative interpretations to identify patterns, narratives, and strategies behind the spread of disinformation.
The project contributes not only a unique global database of political disinformation, but also new knowledge about what builds up—and breaks down—democratic resilience. This research helps inform how societies can strengthen their institutions to protect themselves against disinformation in a time when digital platforms increasingly shape political discourse.
Participating researchers
Anton Törnber (Principal investigator), University of Gothenburg
Petter Törnberg, University of Amsterdam
Juliana Chuerri, University of Amsterdam