Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, Co-Director of the Oxford Martin Programme on Misinformation, Science and Media and Director of Research at the Reuters Institute, has joined a European Commission High Level Group to advise on initiatives to counter the spread of disinformation online.
Professor Nielsen says: “Democratic societies need quality information, and I am glad the European Commission is looking for ways policymakers can help citizens, news media, and technology companies ensure that information is produced, distributed, and used in ways that empower ordinary people to take part in public life.”
Nielsen will bring to the group the Reuters Institute’s commitment to connecting independent, evidence-based research with the practical problems faced by citizens, professional journalists, media industries, and policymakers around the world. His input will draw on recent work from the institute including their work on audience perspectives on fake news, and how the media environment is changing. He will also draw on forthcoming research from the new Oxford Martin Programme in collaboration with the Oxford Internet Institute.
Based on input from academics, technology companies, news media and civil society organisations, the High Level Group will work to contribute to the development of an EU-level strategy to problems of misinformation.