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

February 4, 2022

German anti-lockdown movement ‘quite radical compared to other countries’

ISD's Jakob Guhl spoke to Wired about the diversity of groups that characterise the anti-lockdown movement in Germany.

Far-Left Extremism, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Public Health

February 3, 2022

Fake COVID-19 green passes for sale on French social media

ISD's Iris Boyer and Zoe Fourel were interviewed by Ouest France regarding their research of the sale of  French COVID-19 vaccination certificates.

Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Public Health

January 20, 2022

Political actors co-opt COVID-sceptic Telegram groups

Iris Boyer spoke to Le Soir about ISD France's deep dive into Telegram during investigation into the sale of fake COVID-19 vaccination certificates.

Public Health, Terrorism and Extremism

January 10, 2022

Conspiracists are backing tennis star Djokovic amid controversy at the Australian Open

Recent controversy around Novak Djokovic's vaccine status at the 2022 Australian Open has sparked online debate among conspiracists.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Public Health

November 29, 2021

Far-right supporters and antivaxxers repackage conspiracies during the pandemic

Our Aoife Gallagher features in this article by Vice News on the growing interconnectedness between far-right and antivaccine movements globally.

Far-Right Extremism, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Public Health

November 13, 2021

Repurposing COVID-19 conspiracy theories among climate change sceptics

Our Jennie King features in BBC’s The Denial Files where she speaks about how different groups and movements have repurposed and weaponised COVID-19.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Public Health

November 12, 2021

COVID vaccine sceptics are getting mandated doses and then turning to questionable “vaxx detoxes”

Our Ciarán O'Connor spoke with NBC News about viral "vaccine detoxes" and detrimental social media platform designs.

Public Health, Tech Accountability and Safety

November 5, 2021

Russian state propaganda fuels COVID-19-related conspiracies among German social media

Our research exposes the influence RT DE on YouTube and how it became one of the most shared sources within the COVID-19 sceptic community.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Public Health

October 22, 2021

Climate of distrust pushes many in the wellness community to turn to misinformation sources

ISD's Cécile Simmons speaks with the WaPo on the appeal of misinformation within the health and wellness community.

Climate, Public Health

October 21, 2021

Terror-related online activity isn’t the only type of extremist content that’s grown since the pandemic

ISD's Jacob Davey speaks to The Guardian in the wake of the killing of MP David Amess about the increase in "harmful" activity during the pandemic.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Public Health, Terrorism and Extremism

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