Disinformation in the City

What does rising disinformation mean for cities?

Cities are increasingly faced with the consequences of concerted disinformation campaigns. These erode city capacity to address collective challenges including climate change, public health, and social cohesion. Yet disinformation research and response have been focused on the national and international realms. This research project understands how disinformation impacts cities, and how they can best collaborate to respond.

Disinformation and misinformation are nothing new in cities globally, with a long history of both sharing inaccurate information – misinformation, and concerted fabrications that are deliberately misleading – disinformation. From antisemitic campaigns to 9/11 conspiracies, there have been examples of disinformation throughout modern history. However, during the past decade, disinformation has exploded in both prevalence and impact.

City Response Playbook

Profile picture of Daniel Pejic

Daniel Pejic

21st Century City Leadership Cluster Co-Lead
Profile picture of Mario Peucker

Mario Peucker

Principal Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities Victoria University
Profile picture of Helen Sullivan

Helen Sullivan

Dean, College of Asia-Pacific The Australian National University
Profile picture of Matteo Bonotti

Matteo Bonotti

Associate Professor, Politics & International Relations Monash University
Profile picture of Zim Nwokora

Zim Nwokora

Associate Professor, Politics and Policy Studies Deakin University

Outputs

Trijsburg, I. (2024) Cities must act quickly to challenge disinformation-fuelled violence, Pursuit Magazine, The University of Melbourne.

Trijsburg, I. & Peucker, M. (2023) How disinformation is undermining out cities, Pursuit Magazine, The University of Melbourne.

Costello, P. & Trijsburg, I. (2024) Combatting Disinformation in Cities, GMF Insights, German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Nwokora, Z., Trijsburg, I., Bonotti, M., Pejic, D., Peucker, M. & Sullivan, H. (2024) Disinformation in the City: Issues, Actors and Responses, ADI Policy Briefing Papers, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation.

Pejic, D. (2024) Playbook to help fight disinformation on migrants, 360 Info.

Nwokora, Z. (2023) Ignore, Rebut and Embrace: How to shut down conspiracies, 360Info.

Peucker, M. (2023) Going beyond Fact Checking to tackle conspiracies, 360Info.

Trijsburg, I. (2023) The disinformation deluge targeting women and gender-diverse people, 360Info.

Trijsburg, I., Idris, I. & Peucker, M. (2023) Disinformation in the City: The challenges facing Australian and Indonesian local governments, Monash Lens, Monash University.

ABC Radio: Big Ideas (Thursday 26 October, 2023) Speakers: Ika Idris, Zim Nwokora, Mario Peucker, Ika Trijsburg, Daniel Pejic, Susan Carland.