How to counter the misinformation that deceives and incites Americans

Academic experts from the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies convened to analyze how rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and social media create complex societal challenges and drive intense technological competition among global superpowers.

In a collaborative study with Meta, Stanford University researchers led by Professor Jennifer Pan discovered that most deceptive social media networks operating during the 2020 election were actually profit driven scams that relied on ordinary users to spread their misleading political content.

A study published by Stanford University professor Jennifer Pan and her colleagues reveals that deceptive social media networks reached millions of voters during the 2020 election because ordinary users reshared the content, demonstrating that combating misinformation requires understanding the behavior of the people who amplify it.