Top Researchers in Disinformation & Threat Disruption
Meet the pioneering researchers who are at the forefront of defending digital spaces through innovative research, advanced threat detection, and evidence-based solutions to combat disinformation campaigns.
Academic Research
Distinguished scholars unveiling critical patterns in disinformation spread through peer-reviewed studies and data-driven methodologies
Threat Analysis
Strategic experts who detect, track, and develop countermeasures against sophisticated digital threats and influence operations
Network Studies
Systems analysts who decode complex information networks to reveal how misinformation cascades through digital communities
Human-Centered Design & Engineering
Dr. Kate Starbird is a pioneering Associate Professor at the University of Washington's Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering. As co-founder of the Center for an Informed Public, she leads groundbreaking initiatives to combat digital misinformation and protect democratic discourse through evidence-based research and innovative technological solutions.
Crisis Information Dynamics
Her cutting-edge research examines the complex flow of information during natural disasters, political upheavals, and public health crises. She specializes in analyzing how misinformation networks evolve and spread across social media platforms, developing strategic frameworks to identify and counter harmful narratives in real-time.

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Cognitive Science & Behavioral Economics
Dr. David Rand is the Erwin H. Schell Professor and Professor of Management Science and Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His research combines cognitive science and behavioral economics to understand human decision-making, with a particular focus on misinformation.

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Misinformation Spread & Accurate Information Sharing
He has studied the spread of misinformation on social media and strategies to promote accurate information sharing.
Propaganda Studies & Political Communication
Dr. Emma Briant is a renowned expert in propaganda studies and political communication, whose groundbreaking research examines the intersection of digital technology and information warfare. Her work has been instrumental in understanding how modern propaganda techniques influence democratic processes, with particular focus on the role of social media platforms and data analytics in shaping public opinion.
Facebook–Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal
As a key investigator in the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal, Dr. Briant's research and testimony helped expose one of the largest data privacy breaches in history. Her scholarly work across prestigious institutions including Monash University, Bard College, and American University has established her as a leading voice in understanding digital propaganda and its impact on democratic systems worldwide.
Computational Social Science & Network Science
Dr. Emilio Ferrara is a pioneering Italian-American computer scientist and distinguished professor at the University of Southern California. His groundbreaking research bridges computational social science and network science, using advanced machine learning techniques to uncover patterns in human behavior and social interactions across digital platforms.
Detecting Social Bots & Misinformation Analysis
A leading authority in social media analysis, Dr. Ferrara has developed revolutionary methods for detecting and analyzing social bots and digital manipulation. His influential research has transformed our understanding of how automated accounts and misinformation campaigns influence online discourse, helping platforms and policymakers protect digital spaces from manipulation.

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Stanford Internet Observatory
Renée DiResta is a pioneering researcher at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy and previously led technical research at the Stanford Internet Observatory, where she spearheaded groundbreaking studies on digital information ecosystems.

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Misinformation and Disinformation Spread
As a leading authority on digital propaganda, she has provided expert testimony to Congress and published influential research on how false narratives proliferate across social networks, helping shape platform policies and public understanding of information manipulation.

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State-Sponsored Information Warfare & Conspiracy Theories
Her groundbreaking investigations have exposed sophisticated state-sponsored disinformation campaigns and mapped the evolution of conspiracy theories, demonstrating how coordinated actors exploit social media to shape public discourse and influence global events.
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CounterAction Leadership
As founder of CounterAction and Research Professor at Notre Dame University, Trevor Davis has established himself as Silicon Valley's leading authority on Trust and Safety. His expertise has made him an indispensable advisor to major technology companies facing critical content moderation challenges.
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Shaping EU Digital Policy
His groundbreaking research on foreign interference in European Union elections, particularly his investigation into AfD's activities in Germany, proved instrumental in shaping the Digital Services Act's most stringent regulatory measures. This work has fundamentally transformed how the EU approaches digital platform governance.

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Leading Disinformation Expert
Dr. Caroline Orr Bueno is a renowned behavioral scientist at the University of Maryland, pioneering research into how disinformation networks evolve and spread across social platforms.

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Groundbreaking Research Impact
Her influential investigations have exposed coordinated disinformation campaigns during critical events, from Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections to dangerous health misinformation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Advanced Threat Detection
Through innovative methodologies in behavioral science and data analysis, Dr. Orr Bueno develops cutting-edge approaches to identify and counter emerging disinformation threats before they can cause widespread harm.
Democracy Protection Pioneer
As CEO of Catalist and advisor to multiple democracy protection initiatives, Laura Quinn has established herself as a leading expert in combating digital threats to democratic institutions and developing data-driven solutions for election integrity.
Strategic Innovation in Disinformation Defense
Quinn's groundbreaking work combines advanced data analytics with strategic communications to identify and counter disinformation campaigns, helping organizations and institutions protect democratic processes from emerging digital threats.
Cross-Sector Impact
Through her leadership at the Democracy Information Group and collaboration with major civic organizations, Quinn has developed innovative frameworks for detecting and responding to information manipulation that are now widely adopted across the democracy protection sector.
Ben Scott is an American policy researcher and advocate renowned for his extensive work in combating digital disinformation and his contributions to philanthropy. As the Executive Director of Reset, an initiative by Luminate in partnership with The Sandler Foundation, Scott focuses on addressing digital threats to democracy.
In his role at Reset, Scott has been instrumental in funding academic research into various aspects of digital disinformation, including misinformation campaigns on platforms like Facebook and algorithmic biases on YouTube. This work aims to provide policymakers with unbiased information to help them set new rules for the digital world.
Scott's commitment to mitigating the impact of disinformation is further exemplified by his co-authorship of "Digital Deceit: The Technologies Behind Precision Propaganda on the Internet," a comprehensive analysis of how digital platforms can be exploited to spread false information.
Throughout his career, Scott has held several key positions that have shaped his expertise in technology policy and advocacy. He served as Policy Advisor for Innovation at the U.S. Department of State, working at the intersection of technology and foreign policy. He also led the Washington office for Free Press, a national media reform organization, where he was a driving force for net neutrality.
Scott's philanthropic efforts are deeply intertwined with his research initiatives. Through his leadership at Reset and collaboration with organizations like Luminate, he has directed significant resources toward projects that aim to understand and counteract the spread of disinformation, thereby strengthening democratic processes and promoting informed public discourse.
His academic background includes a PhD in communications from the University of Illinois, further underpinning his research and policy work in the fields of technology and information integrity.
Ben Scott's dedication to disinformation research and philanthropy continues to influence global efforts to create a more transparent and accountable digital information environment.
Lisa Kaplan is a prominent figure in the fight against disinformation, recognized for her innovative strategies and leadership in safeguarding organizations from digital threats. In 2019, she founded Alethea Group, a company dedicated to helping clients navigate the complexities of the digital landscape and protect themselves against disinformation and social media manipulation.
Kaplan's journey into combating disinformation began during her tenure as the digital director for Senator Angus King's 2018 reelection campaign. In this role, she designed and implemented a proactive digital strategy to identify, understand, and respond to disinformation campaigns, providing her with firsthand experience in addressing such challenges on the campaign trail.
Under Kaplan's leadership, Alethea Group has developed technologies and capabilities to detect and expose threats that impact organizations across various sectors. Her work has led to the exposure of foreign, domestic extremist, and for-profit disinformation networks targeting institutions and brands. Kaplan has briefed U.S., NATO, EU, and G-7 policymakers and officials on disinformation, and her insights are frequently sought by top-tier media outlets, including The New York Times, Bloomberg, CNN, and The Washington Post.
Kaplan's contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including being named to Forbes' 2021 "30 Under 30" list for her efforts in combating disinformation. She was also recognized in PRWeek's 2023 "40 Under 40" list for rising stars in strategic and crisis communications, and featured in the Washingtonian's 2023 "Tech Titans" list.
A Maine native, Kaplan graduated from Colby College and currently resides in Washington, D.C. Her dedication to countering disinformation continues to influence and shape strategies for digital security and integrity across various platforms.