New Observatory: Lies on the Internet endanger our democracy!

New Observatory: Lies on the Internet endanger our democracy!

On March 19, 2025, the new observatory for online politics was launched at Saarland University. This initiative aims to comprehensively examine the long-term consequences of lies and false statements spread by politicians on the Internet. Rosa M. Navarrete leads the observatory, supported by Alex Hartland and Giuseppe Carteny. This new research facility is part of the Interdisciplinary Institute for Social Informatics (I2SC).

Historically, the focus of previous research has been on short-term analyzes of political actions in the digital space. However, the long-term consequences of political action on the Internet have hardly been investigated so far. The observations of the new research facility already show that satisfaction with democracy in society is experiencing a slight decline. What is worrying is that disinformation appears to normalize socially unacceptable language and behavior. These findings coincide with the results of a study by the Bertelsmann Foundation.

Disinformation as a social problem

According to the study entitled “Insecure Public”, 84 percent of people in Germany consider intentionally spread false information to be a major or very major problem for society. In addition, 81 percent of those surveyed are of the opinion that disinformation poses a threat to democracy and social cohesion. Daniela Schwarzer, CEO of the Bertelsmann Foundation, emphasizes that disinformation specifically attempts to influence elections and undermine trust in political institutions and the media.

Over 90 percent of respondents believe that those sending disinformation aim to influence citizens' political opinions. What is particularly alarming is that 86 percent of those surveyed are convinced that disinformation is intended to influence the outcome of elections. In addition, disinformation is often associated with controversial issues such as immigration, health, war and the climate crisis.

Global perspective on disinformation

Another important aspect of the issue is the global report of the International Observatory on Information and Democracy, published on January 15, 2025. This report examines the interactions between information ecosystems and democracy and is based on an analysis of over 1,600 sources. 60 experts, including Prof. Matthias Kettemann from the University of Innsbruck, contributed to this comprehensive study.

Despite widespread concerns about disinformation, the report found no empirical evidence that disinformation directly harms democracy. Rather, the analysis shows that the discourse about disinformation often generates mistrust towards the media. In addition, there is criticism of companies collecting data because this primarily serves economic success and there is a lack of global regulatory measures and research perspectives, especially in the global south.

The findings from the observatory and the studies make it clear that disinformation represents a wide range of challenges for democracy. Political parties appear to use deception as a strategic tool, and the risks of misleading the electorate appear to be less than the potential benefits. The I2SC should therefore develop strategies to strengthen democracy and improve the way we deal with disinformation.

In summary, it is clear that in a time when digital communication is ubiquitous, research into the long-term consequences of disinformation is of utmost importance. The new findings from Saarland University could help find ways to combat the dangers of misinformation and its influence on society.

For more information on the latest developments in disinformation research, visit uni-saarland.de, the bertelsmann-stiftung.de and the uibk.ac.at.