![Disinformation Issue Page Hero Image](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Disinformation-Issue-Page-Hero-Image-1600x640.png)
Disinformation
It’s an election year, and disinformation is in the news once again.
The year started off with influence campaigns focused on both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primaries – including robocalls featuring an AI-generated “audio deepfake” simulating President Biden’s voice. Weeks later, deepfake images circulated widely of former president Trump purporting to smile with a group of Black voters. As election season continues, disinformation will only continue to proliferate — particularly when there’s breaking and dramatic news, such as the assassination attempt on former president Trump and President Biden’s decision to end his campaign and support Vice President Harris.
The goals of these disinformation campaigns are familiar: to smear an opponent for political gain, damage trust in our election system, and mobilize or suppress voter participation. Technological advances like generative AI, however, have made it easier than ever to produce and distribute deceptive content.
These escalating threats to our democracy come at a time when social media platforms have scaled back their content moderation programs, and aggressive legal and legislative pressure from politicians has put a chill on counter-disinformation research and coordination.
This moment calls for innovative approaches to tackling false information, and PEN America is supporting journalists, policy makers, and communities across the country in fighting disinformation. We invite you to get involved.
![Featured Image](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Featured-Image.png)
Facts Forward: counter-disinformation resources for journalists
We believe that an empowered public and vibrant news ecosystem are the best means of countering disinformation’s pernicious effects. As newsrooms navigate the challenges presented by disinformation, PEN America has developed resources to help journalists detect, monitor, and report on disinformation and build greater trust with their communities. Check out Facts Forward: A Journalist’s Guide to Combating Disinformation.
Past events
![How to Build Relationships with Journalists Covering Your Community](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Disinformation-Build-Relationships-Journalists-promo-graphic-small-300x200.png)
How to Build Relationships with Journalists Covering Your Community
![How Cognitive Biases Make Us Vulnerable to Disinformation – and What We Can Do about It](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Cognitive-bias-webinar-promo-image-with-Chris-560-300x200.png)
How Cognitive Biases Make Us Vulnerable to Disinformation – and What We Can Do about It
![How journalists can combat political disinformation in a world of echo chambers and deepfakes](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Disinformation-Elections-Democracy-How-journalists-can-spot-tactics-to-influence-voters-Featured-Image-300x200.png)
How journalists can combat political disinformation in a world of echo chambers and deepfakes
![Navigating Truth & Fiction: A World Press Freedom Day Event](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Navigating-Truth-Fiction-2-300x200.png)
Navigating Truth & Fiction: A World Press Freedom Day Event
Facts Forward Q&A Series
![Community engagement can mitigate disinformation. Here’s how a Dallas editor is leading the way.](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/David-Silva-Ramirez-Interview-Featured-Image-300x200.png)
Community engagement can mitigate disinformation. Here’s how a Dallas editor is leading the way.
![An interview with disinformation reporter Jane Lytvynenko on Russia, social media and regaining trust](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jane-Lytvynenko-Interview-Featured-Image-1-300x200.png)
An interview with disinformation reporter Jane Lytvynenko on Russia, social media and regaining trust
![Nina Jankowicz on how journalists can tackle disinformation, online abuse and still keep an eye on November](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Nina-Jankowicz-Interview-Featured-Image-300x200.png)
Nina Jankowicz on how journalists can tackle disinformation, online abuse and still keep an eye on November
Recent commentary
Yaël Eisenstat | An Interview on Disinformation, Friction, and Election Integrity
April 4, 2024Counter-disinformation resources
![PEN America’s primer for news consumers on spotting and combating disinformation when news breaks](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Primer-for-News-Consumers-Disinformation-Featured-Image-300x200.png)
PEN America’s primer for news consumers on spotting and combating disinformation when news breaks
![How to Build Relationships with Local Journalists, According to Journalists](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Build-relationships-journalists-1-300x200.jpg)
How to Build Relationships with Local Journalists, According to Journalists
![#FactChallenge: Media Literacy Course on WhatsApp Leading up to the 2024 Elections](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FactChallenge-Event-Page-Graphic-300x200.png)
#FactChallenge: Media Literacy Course on WhatsApp Leading up to the 2024 Elections
![Pen America’s Guide To Combating Campus Protest Mis/Disinformation](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pro-Palestine-protestors-gathered-at-U-of-Minnesota-300x200.png)
Pen America’s Guide To Combating Campus Protest Mis/Disinformation
![How Cognitive Biases Make Us Vulnerable to Disinformation – and What We Can Do about It](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Cognitive-bias-webinar-promo-image-with-Chris-560-300x200.png)
How Cognitive Biases Make Us Vulnerable to Disinformation – and What We Can Do about It
![Why we believe: The psychology, reality, and future of the disinformation crisis](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Why-We-Believe-Webinar-Featured-Image-300x200.png)
Why we believe: The psychology, reality, and future of the disinformation crisis
![How to Talk to Friends and Family Who Share Misinformation](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/senior-holding-cell-phone-unsplash-300x200.jpg)
How to Talk to Friends and Family Who Share Misinformation
![PEN America’s Guide to Avoiding Disinformation Regarding the Ongoing Crisis in Israel and Gaza](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Journalism-Stock-Photo-300x200.jpg)
PEN America’s Guide to Avoiding Disinformation Regarding the Ongoing Crisis in Israel and Gaza
![How journalists can combat political disinformation in a world of echo chambers and deepfakes](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Disinformation-Elections-Democracy-How-journalists-can-spot-tactics-to-influence-voters-Featured-Image-300x200.png)
How journalists can combat political disinformation in a world of echo chambers and deepfakes
![Community Disinformation Action Hub](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/community-disinformation-action-hub-featured-image-300x200.png)
Community Disinformation Action Hub
Reports
![Building Resilience Featured Image](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Building-Resilience-Featured-Image-450x350.png)
Building Resilience: Identifying Community Solutions to Targeted Disinformation
PEN America’s report on how communities experience disinformation and respond to its challenges, focused on Miami, Dallas, and Phoenix.
![Hard News Featured Image](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/hard-news-featured-image-1-450x350.png)
Hard News: Journalists and the Threat of Disinformation
PEN America’s nationwide survey of more than 1,000 reporters and editors on how disinformation is disrupting the practice of journalism.
![Media Literacy Report 50 50 Content Block Image](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Media-Literacy-Report-50-50-Content-Block-Image-450x350.png)
The Impact of Community-Based Digital Literacy Interventions on Disinformation Resilience
These findings highlight the importance of trust-building within communities of color, working with and through community and faith leaders, and supporting community and ethnic media in bolstering disinformation resilience.
![Faking News](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Faking-News-450x350.png)
Faking News: Fraudulent News and the Fight for Truth
Faking News rates the range of fact-checking, algorithmic, educational, and standards-based approaches being taken to counter the proliferation of fake news.
Online abuse defense resources
![U.S. Election Safety Summer](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PEN-Copy-of-U.S.-Election-Summer-Safety-Graphic-1-300x200.png)
U.S. Election Safety Summer
![Online Harassment Field Manual](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/online-harassment-field-manual-featured-image-300x200.png)
Online Harassment Field Manual
![Online Abuse Defense Training Program](https://pen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/defending-against-online-harrassment-training-photo-by-steve-eberhardt-300x200.jpg)