Economics of disinformation

Online disinformation is considered one of the main threats to the integrity of our democracy. The development of social media, the exploitation of personal data, the virality of sensational information are ingredients of new business models, generating money by harvesting the scarce resources of the digital economy – i.e., users’ attention and their personal data. This environment has prompted the distribution and reach of harmful (even if not illegal) content on a global scale, producing what has been defined the ‘information disorder’. The economic incentives that contribute to the information disorder are strictly related to targeted advertising and information, as well to the exploitation of personal data.  

This research topic examines the dynamics of the attention economy. The Centre investigates the economics of disinformation, and its impact on the public debate, election campaigns, the right to vote and, more generally, on democracy.