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

January 28, 2021

Cécile Guerin writes for Wired about the yoga world, antivaxxers and QAnon believers

Cécile Guerin writes for Wired about the increasing presence of conspiracy theories, anti-vaxx and QAnon narratives in the wellness community.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Public Health

November 25, 2020

Milo Comerford on the behaviour of extremist groups during the pandemic

Milo's Comerford's article for the Institute of Economics and Peace on the behaviour of extremist groups during the pandemic.

Public Health, Terrorism and Extremism

August 21, 2020

Coronavirus: How pro-mask posts boost the anti-mask movement

Chloe Colliver is quoted in this article on First Draft by Carlotta Dotto and Lydia Morrish on anti-masker conspiracy theories being amplified online.

Public Health

May 11, 2020

How Coronavirus has changed the world: Chloe Colliver on BBC Click

Chloe Colliver features in an episode of BBC Click that looks at the rise of disinformation during the coronavirus pandemic.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Public Health

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