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New research suggests Australians are among the most concerned globally about the rise of mis- and disinformation.
“From Covid lockdowns to the Voice referendum, we’ve seen in Australia how mis- and disinformation exacerbates crises, polarises public debate and incites hatred,” says Alice Drury, Acting Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre.
The latest research from the University of Canberra shows that three in four Australians are now concerned about online misinformation – a 10 per cent increase since 2016 and well above the global average of 54 per cent.
It’s an area rapidly attracting interest from donors too, says Laura Mannix, Philanthropy Lead at Australian Communities Foundation (ACF).
Donors are increasingly aware of how the spread of false information can undermine their giving
“We’re seeing this growing concern reflected within our giving community,” says Laura. “Donors are increasingly aware of how the spread of false information can undermine their giving and the work of the non-profits they support – no matter the cause area.”
So, what can we do about it? Learn more about the role we can all play, both as donors and citizens, in combatting disinformation.
Mis- and disinformation are terms increasingly used to describe the spread of false information. The difference is that while misinformation is spread regardless of intent to mislead, disinformation is the spread of deliberately misleading or biased information.
“While both can have catastrophic effects, it’s the intent behind disinformation that’s of particular concern,” explains Laura, “particularly as we approach the next federal election.
“We know that a healthy democracy needs an informed public, but the rise of mis- and disinformation puts this essential foundation at risk. It threatens the core vision of ACF’s Impact Fund for a more just and sustainable Australia. That’s why disinformation is one of the Fund’s specific focus areas for 2024.”
Despite growing concerns about disinformation, our civil society sector remains “woefully under-resourced in this space,” says Lizzie O’Shea, Chair at Digital Rights Watch. “We need philanthropists who will invest sustainably over the long term.”
“Donor support for Impact Fund partners working in this area has grown in recent years,” says Laura. “But there’s much more to be done.”
Funders can play a critical role in this pivotal moment to advance collective action
Mannifera is a collective of values-aligned Australian funders also leading the way in supporting civil society to combat disinformation.
The collective is one of few philanthropic groups with a focus on supporting democracy. Harriet McCallum, Executive Officer at Mannifera, says the collective has recently been focused on the “profound impact dis/misinformation is having on our democracy, social cohesion, and public discourse.”
“Funders can play a critical role in this pivotal moment to advance collective action against the mounting impacts of dis/misinformation,” says Harriet. “We know that advocacy working on system-level reform is where our funding can make the biggest contribution, and where there is also a significant funding gap.”
Civil society organisations are working to address the spread of mis- and disinformation in a variety of ways.
The Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) and Digital Rights Watch (DRW) are two organisations leading this work in Australia. Both are advocating for policy reform to hold digital platforms accountable for the spread of disinformation.
“The Human Rights Law Centre is focusing on the key players in spreading disinformation: the digital platforms like Meta and Google, which profit from its amplification,” explains HRLC Acting Legal Director, Alice Drury.
Meanwhile, Digital Rights Watch is targeting platforms using a human rights approach.
“Digital Rights Watch has a long history of advocating for bold privacy reform,” says Lizzie O’Shea, DRW Chair. “We have plans for how to give people the opportunity to exercise their rights at scale against these platforms. We also think there are a range of other measures Australia could consider adopting from overseas.”
The Australian Democracy Network is another group taking a different approach by building the capacity of non-profits to better respond to disinformation.
“Australian Democracy Network is working with researchers to understand the drivers and beneficiaries of disinformation,” says Bethany Koch, ADN Fundraising and Development Coordinator. “We aim to bring the sector together and offer training in understanding, identifying, assessing and responding to dis and misinformation.
“In this moment, funding is needed to help build our shared understanding of this threat and to give civil society organisations the skills to identify and respond to the anticipated swell of disinformation at the coming federal election.”
Impact Fund 2024 Showcase: Funders are invited to register for our Impact Fund 2024 Showcase: Collaborations for Justice, coming up on Thursday 10 October. Hear from changemakers leading solutions across the Fund’s current priority issues, including disinformation.
Want to have a conversation about your giving in this area? Contact Laura Mannix, Philanthropy Lead: laura.m@communityfoundation.org.au
