Great Power Competition with a focus on Influence Operations Against India

This project targeted the critical issue of digital mis/disinformation in India, proposing actionable policy solutions in alignment with the U.S. Department of State’s Global Engagement Center. Through extensive research on India’s mis/disinformation landscape and regulatory environment, the team has developed technical and user-focused proposals that could also benefit other digitally evolving nations.

Research activities included key informant interviews with stakeholders from civil society, technology sectors, and government across India, ensuring that the recommendations reflect the actual conditions of India’s digital ecosystem. These insights are vital for understanding the human impact of misinformation and the frameworks for content moderation. The results aim to guide major digital platforms in improving their mis/disinformation countermeasures and enhancing digital media literacy, while also informing U.S. diplomatic strategies to support these efforts.

The project's outputs, including detailed policy memos, demonstrate high quality and significant potential implications for international and public affairs. The proposals include developing AI tools for the early detection of hate speech and election-related misinformation on platforms like Telegram. Furthermore, the team proposed innovative solutions for content moderation that cater to India’s diverse linguistic needs, which are applicable to other diverse regions. Overall, this project adds valuable perspectives to the discourse on technology and regulation during elections, relevant to over 50 countries voting in 2024. The strategies not only enhance tools for mis/disinformation management but also introduce new analytical dimensions and cultural exchanges, offering a robust and replicable model for addressing global digital mis/disinformation challenges.