International Delegation from the Federal Foreign Office visits Weizenbaum Institute
As part of an informational tour organized by the Goethe-Institut at the invitation of the Federal Foreign Office, an international delegation of journalists and media professionals visited the Weizenbaum Institute to learn about disinformation in times of democratic decline.
Weizenbaum researchers shared key insights from their work, with Principal Investigator Jeannette Hofman addressing the impact of disinformation—both from internal and external sources—on political processes and the challenges for traditional media and journalism.
Researchers Elizaveta Kuznetsova and Martha Stolze presented their research on “FIMI, algorithmic bias, and the spread of gendered disinformation”, highlighting key narratives in Russian propaganda and new social data science methods like algorithmic auditing.
Jakob Ohme introduced the work of the Digital News Dynamics research group, discussing the promises and challenges of data-driven research. He showcased innovative methodologies like data donations and elaborated on the group’s efforts to improve researcher access to data through the DSA40 Data Access Collaboratory.
The visit fostered discussions on the evolving landscape of disinformation and the role of research in countering its effects on democratic societies.