COM Research Seminar: Why Governments Are Losing the Social Media Disinformation War: Authentication, Debunking, and the Struggle for Information Integrity in Global Governance by Prof Xinzhi ZHANG
17 Mar 2025 (Mon)
On 17 March 2025, Dr. Xinzhi Zhang, Associate Professor with tenure at the Department of Media and Communication, City University of Hong Kong, delivered an insightful seminar titled
"Why Governments Are Losing the Social Media Disinformation War: Authentication, Debunking, and the Struggle for Information Integrity in Global Governance." Prof. Zhang, a renowned scholar in digital journalism, political communication, and AI policy, has published extensively in top-tier journals and is supported by internationally competitive funding schemes.
The seminar explored findings from a cross-national study conducted in Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and the United States. Prof. Zhang examined citizens' resistance to misinformation and the challenges authorities face in countering falsehoods. The study highlighted how political cynicism and conspiracy beliefs undermine corrective efforts, emphasizing the need for AI-driven interventions and media literacy to ensure information integrity. The seminar attracted around 30 PhD students and faculty members who engaged actively and contributed to a thought-provoking discussion.
