For 20 years, ISD has delivered field-leading threat detection, analysis and real-world strategies to combat terrorism, extremism and authoritarianism - in all their ideological forms.

Public Health

ISD conducts research to understand the impact of information operations on public health. We focus on identifying false and misleading online content about medical conditions and procedures, and the networks engaged in spreading it. We have extensively documented attempts to spread disinformation around sexual and reproductive health as well as vaccinations. ISD produces regular analysis and commentary on the effects of health crises on governance, social polarisation, the information landscape and political discourse.

March 16, 2026

Dangerous narratives: The ecosystem of Germanic New Medicine

This Dispatch explores how key actors spread false and misleading narratives, monetise courses and seminars supported with AI technology.

Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Public Health

March 16, 2026

‘Germanic New Medicine’ spreads dangerously on Telegram, ISD finds

Commercial Disinformation and Scams, Public Health

April 15, 2025

Toxic beauty amongst men? The rise of ‘looksmaxxing’ fuels a new digital aesthetic industry

Public Health

January 29, 2025

ISD’s Cécile Simmons speaks to AFP about how podcasts spread health misinformation

Public Health, Tech Accountability and Safety

October 25, 2024

How women seeking information about health and wellness are recommended sites that promote election denialism

Far-Right Extremism, Public Health

January 25, 2024

Networks of Dissuasion: Mapping Online Attacks on Reproductive Rights in France

Public Health

January 17, 2024

Mobilisation anti-avortement en France : Quand les réseaux sociaux menacent le droit à l’IVG

Public Health

November 22, 2023

Wellness influencers shift toward anti-climate conspiracies as pandemic subsides

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence, Public Health, Terrorism and Extremism

November 21, 2023

The Irish mis- and disinformation ecosystem has grown and evolved since the pandemic

Anti-LGBTQ+, Anti-Migrant, Far-Right Extremism, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Public Health, Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse, Terrorism and Extremism

Further Reading

November 8, 2023

Cécile Simmons: ‘I debunk wellness misinformation for a living… So, why did I fall for it?’

In an op-ed for Cosmopolitan, ISD's Cécile Simmons shares her own experience falling for wellness misinformation.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence, Public Health

August 25, 2023

How COVID-19 denialism morphed into climate delayism and more

ISD’s Jennie King spoke to El Mundo about how COVID-19 conspiracists have built out into the world of climate conspiracy and misinformation.

Climate, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Public Health

May 1, 2023

Anti-vaxx Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Democratic bid for president

ISD's Aoife Gallagher and Clara Martiny feature in Newsweek's profile on anti-vaxx Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as he challenges president Joe Biden.

Democratic Integrity, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Public Health

December 4, 2022

Celebrity deaths increasingly linked to conspiracies since the pandemic

Aoife Gallagher spoke to Insider about conspiratorial communities' fixation on celebrities, the recent blending of theories and recurring themes.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Public Health

November 21, 2022

Anti-vaxxers switch focus to RSV, related vaccine

ISD's Aoife Gallagher spoke to Mother Jones about the latest pivot from the anti-vaccine and COVID-denial community in the US.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Public Health

October 24, 2022

ISD’s Julia Smirnova features in ‘Putin, Peace and Plandemic’, the first episode of Interferenzen

ISD’s Julia Smirnova discusses the far right’s connection to conspiracy ideology in Germany and Russian state propaganda.

Far-Right Extremism, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Public Health

October 20, 2022

Analysis of Social Media Platforms’ Response 100 Days After US Supreme Court Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade

In this investigation, ISD looks at abortion misinformation on social media and platform policies in the post-Roe sphere.

Public Health, Tech Accountability and Safety

October 11, 2022

Evaluating Platform Abortion-Related Speech Policies: Were Platforms Prepared for the Post-Dobbs Environment?

ISD evaluates the actions taken by four major social platforms to protect their users from abortion care misinformation.

Public Health, Tech Accountability and Safety

September 13, 2022

Hungary’s conservative right approves ‘fetal heartbeat’ statute further complicating abortion access

DW draws on ISD findings over Hungary's role in a 'global network' against sexual and reproductive rights.

Anti-LGBTQ+, Public Health, Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse

August 25, 2022

LGBTQ+ monkeypox hate speech spreads on Twitter

ISD's Aoife Gallagher speaks to Euronews about her recent investigations looking into monkeypox conversations on Twitter.

Anti-LGBTQ+, Public Health, Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse

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