Promoting the need for truthful information to foster a democracy built on trust.

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Fondation Descartes

The Fondation Descartes is a citizen-based, non-partisan, and independent European foundation dedicated to information-based issues.

Operations and governance

Fondation Descartes is structured around three main bodies: a board of directors chaired by Jean-Philippe Hecketsweiler; a scientific advisory board led by Gérald Bronner; and a permanent team headed by Laurent Cordonier, director of research.

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Our reports

La Fondation Descartes est une initiative citoyenne, apartisane, indépendante et européenne dédiée aux enjeux de l’information, de la désinformation et du débat public dans une société démocratique.

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La Fondation Descartes est animée par trois organes : un Conseil d’Administration présidé par Jean-Philippe Hecketsweiler ; un Conseil Scientifique encadré par Gérald Bronner et d’une équipe permanente, dirigée par Laurent Cordonier, Directeur de la recherche.

Experts' blog

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Events

The Descartes Foundation lists significant events, in France and internationally, particularly related to the topics of disinformation, interference and media literacy.

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La Fondation Descartes est animée par trois organes : un Conseil d’Administration présidé par Jean-Philippe Hecketsweiler ; un Conseil Scientifique encadré par Gérald Bronner et d’une équipe permanente, dirigée par Laurent Cordonier, Directeur de la recherche.

Our podcasts

Selection of 'must-listen' podcasts on the Descartes Foundation's fields of research, in French, English or German.

Actors

The Descartes Foundation offers you a cartography of the main actors involved in researching on the quality of information, or in fighting against disinformation, in France and throughout the world.

Initiatives

Fact checkers, web extensions, journalistic standards... The Fondation Descartes offers you a map of initiatives in France and around the world involved in asserting the quality of information or in fighting against disinformation.

Our references and resources

The Fondation Descartes' experts select and comment on key publications on disinformation, trust in the media and the Foundation's other research topics. This data base is available online to members of the Foundation and in the Foundation's documentation centre.

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Malgorithm: How Instagram’s algorithm publishes misinformation and hate to millions during a pandemic

Center for Countering Digital Hate

01/03/2021

This report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) analyzes the way in which Instagram’s new algorithm (put in place in August 2020) recommends misinformation to users via its “Explore” and “Suggested Posts” features. Instagram users following anti-vaccine pages, for instance, received recommendations directing them towards antisemitic content, conspiracy theories or misleading information. The warning messages or stickers attached to some misleading pieces of content did not always prevent Instagram’s algorithm from recommending them. The report outlines a series of adjustments that need to be put in place in order to improve the effectiveness of Instagram’s algorithm.

Format : Report