Impact of digital disinformation unpacked in new research brief series

9 April 2025

In today’s hyper-connected world, digital disinformation operations ('disinfo-ops') have become a persistent and deeply disruptive force—shaping narratives, distorting public debate, and undermining trust in institutions. Our new four-part series of research briefs written by Steven J. Barela, offers a multi-dimensional analysis of disinfo-ops, beginning with their mechanics and impact on the information ecosystem, and progressing through legal implications under international law and international humanitarian law. It concludes by highlighting emerging regulatory responses, particularly within the European Union, and the potential for more effective and evidence-based global governance.

Bringing together insights from law, policy, and technology, the series calls for a coordinated and rights-respecting response—one that emphasizes transparency, accountability, and cross-sector collaboration to protect democratic values and uphold the integrity of digital spaces.

Digital Disinformation Operations: Part I – Synthetic Forces vs. Humans and Human Rights (download)

The first report in our in a four-part series, unpacks the mechanics of digital disinformation operations (“disinfo-ops”) and their impact on the online information ecosystem. It explores how synthetic interference—driven by bots, inauthentic actors, and algorithmic amplification—distorts public discourse, suppresses genuine voices, and manipulates opinion formation. While disinformation has long been a tool of influence, its scale, speed, and precision in the digital era introduce new threats to democratic participation, human rights, and societal trust. The report challenges the notion that freedom of expression must conflict with efforts to mitigate harm, arguing instead that inauthentic activity undermines the conditions necessary for genuine human engagement and informed opinion. Framing disinformation as a form of information pollution, the report calls for structural reform: proposals include the adoption of authentic pseudonyms to ensure online interaction remains human-driven and expanded access to platform data for independent research. By establishing these foundations, this first installment sets the stage for a strategic, rights-based response to restore integrity and trust in digital spaces.

Digital Disinformation Operations: Part II – Charting the International Legal Frameworks (download)

Building on Part I of this series, this report examines the legal complexities of digital disinformation operations (disinfo-ops) and their implications for international law. It explores how these campaigns challenge principles of sovereignty, non-intervention, and self-determination while exposing persistent gaps in attribution and accountability. The fragmented legal response is not necessarily the result of inconsistent enforcement—it reflects the structural mismatch between existing legal paradigms and the novel nature of disinfo-ops. They are often designed to exploit those areas of law that remain underdeveloped or ill-suited to address low-intensity digital interference. To address these challenges, the report advocates for a holistic legal approach, emphasizing the need for empirical data and interdisciplinary collaboration. Without transparent access to platform data, efforts to regulate and counter disinformation remain hindered. The report underscores that evolving international law must be grounded in factual evidence to effectively combat digital manipulation and preserve the integrity of the information ecosystem.

Digital Disinformation Operations in Armed Conflict (download)

This Info-Brief examines the growing use of digital disinformation in armed conflicts and its implications under international humanitarian law and human rights. While deception has long been an accepted tactic in warfare, false narratives about evacuation routes, safe zones, or humanitarian access can lead to life-threatening consequences and erode the trust essential for effective relief operations. The report shows how both state and non-state actors exploit disinformation to escalate violence, destabilize societies, and delegitimize humanitarian actors and journalists. Although international humanitarian law permits certain ruses of war, it struggles to account for digital interference that deliberately targets civilians rather than combatants. As the boundaries between military and civilian information spaces continue to blur during armed conflict, the Info-Brief calls for greater transparency from platforms and structured access to data for independent researchers, to help protect information integrity and uphold humanitarian protection.

European Union Data Access for Study of Digital Disinformation Operations (download)

This new Info-Brief highlights how the European Union’s evolving regulatory suite opens the door to a more evidence-based international response. By mandating structured, privacy-preserving data access for vetted researchers, these instruments enable systematic study of the scale, precision, and societal impact of digital disinformation.These dimensions have, until now, remained unmeasured. But this access offers more than academic insight—it creates space for meaningful collaboration between international lawyers and data scientists. Such interdisciplinary engagement can help translate complex digital phenomena into legally relevant categories, supporting efforts to strengthen accountability and uphold human rights. Such collaboration would be essential to building an international legal order capable of adapting to the realities of online harm. Successful implementation in the EU could also set a global precedent for regulating disinformation through rights-respecting governance.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

GHRP in Davos News

AI and Human Rights in the Intelligent Age: GHRP in Davos

3 February 2025

The Geneva Human Rights Platform contributed to key discussions on AI, human rights, and sustainable digital governance at the World Economic Forum 2025.

Read more

GHRP Diplomat Training News

Strengthening Diplomacy: GHRP Training Course Enhances Engagement with UN Human Rights

5 February 2025

The GHRP’s annual training equipped 19 diplomats with key insights into the UN Human Rights Council’s mechanisms and multilateral processes.

Read more

Warzone Event

Advanced IHL Seminar for Academics and Policymakers

25-29 August 2025, 09:00-17:30

Co-hosted with the ICRC, this event aims to enhance the capacity of academics to teach and research international humanitarian law, while also equipping policymakers with an in-depth understanding of ongoing legal debates.

Read more

Afghanistan, Parwan detention facility. Inside a room where detainees of the prison, separated by an acrylic glass, are allowed to meet with their families a couple of times per year with the help of the ICRC employees who facilitate the programme. Short Course

Preventing and Combating Terrorism

24 April - 13 May 2025

This online short course discusses the extent to which states may limit and/or derogate from their international human rights obligations in order to prevent and counter-terrorism and thus protect persons under their jurisdiction.

Read more

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Booklet Training

The International Human Rights Standards and System: Monitoring and Implementation Strategies at the National Level

7-11 July 2025

This training course will delve into the means and mechanisms through which national actors can best coordinate their human rights monitoring and implementation efforts, enabling them to strategically navigate the UN human rights system and use the various mechanisms available in their day-to-day work.

Read more

Neutrotechology Project

Neurotechnology and Human Rights

Started in August 2023

This project addresses the human rights implications stemming from the development of neurotechnology for commercial, non-therapeutic ends, and is based on a partnership between the Geneva Academy, the Geneva University Neurocentre and the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee. 

Read more

Iraq, Mosul. View of the west bank after the war. Project

IHL in Focus

Started in January 2024

As a yearly publication, it keeps decision-makers, practitioners and scholars up-to-date with the latest trends and challenges in IHL implementation in over 100 armed conflicts worldwide – both international and non-international.

Read more

Cover of the publication Publication

Briefing N° 25: Localizing Multilateralism

published on March 2025

Domenico Zipoli, Ludovica Chiussi Curzi, Kamelia Kemileva

Read more

Cover page of the working paper Publication

AI Decoded: Key Concepts and Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring

published on January 2025

Milica Mirkovic, Jennifer Victoria Scurrell

Read more