Center for an Informed Public – Hewlett Foundation Renewal

Society is experiencing a profound shift in the ways we participate in public discourse. While this new paradigm has many positive implications, it has also opened the door to disinformation and other forms of networked manipulation—which function not only to mislead and divide, but also to diminish trust in democratic institutions as basic as science and journalism. The proposed Center will integrate original research, policy, education, and outreach to resist strategic misinformation, promote an informed society, and strengthen democratic discourse. The Center will develop and maintain sociotechnical infrastructure to support researchers and community fellows in conducting research of online interactions to better understand these challenges.