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Recommender Systems and Algorithms

ISD’s research explores how algorithms and generative AI can amplify terrorist content as well as weaponised hate and influence operations across online platforms. This offers valuable insights into potential risks to democratic processes and extremist indoctrination. Our advisory work on social media algorithms explores solutions to these challenges including changes to policies and platform designs, as well as greater transparency through mechanisms including algorithmic audits.

May 5, 2026

Amplifying Antisemitism: How Recommender Algorithms Serve Harmful Content to Children

This research investigates how recommender algorithms on TikTok and Rumble expose UK minors to antisemitic content.

Antisemitism, Recommender Systems and Algorithms, Tech Accountability and Safety

May 2, 2026

Recommendation systems and the rapid exposure to antisemitism online

Antisemitism, Recommender Systems and Algorithms, Tech Accountability and Safety

January 20, 2026

Men, algorithms and how YouTube shapes media consumption

Recommender Systems and Algorithms, Tech Accountability and Safety

October 27, 2025

Popular chatbots are citing Russian state propaganda

Recommender Systems and Algorithms

July 11, 2025

AI blurs reality amid Iran-Israel conflict

Emerging Technologies, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Recommender Systems and Algorithms

June 12, 2025

ISD highlights information operations trends and AI use amid LA protests

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Recommender Systems and Algorithms

May 20, 2025

Recruited by algorithms and AI: Terrorists in the West are getting younger

Recommender Systems and Algorithms, Terrorism and Extremism

May 6, 2025

ISD’s Q1 2025 analysis of Russian-aligned Operation Overload featured in The Washington Post

Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Recommender Systems and Algorithms

April 9, 2025

WEF highlights panel on platform accountability featuring ISD CEO Sasha Havlicek

Recommender Systems and Algorithms, Tech Accountability and Safety

Further Reading

April 3, 2025

ISD’s Jiore Craig on algorithms, social media trends leading to far-right spaces

Jiore Craig talks to HuffPost about social media trends and the lasting effects of COVID-19 on platform algorithms.

Far-Right Extremism, Recommender Systems and Algorithms

April 2, 2025

ISD’s Milo Comerford speaks to WIRED about Adolescence and platform accountability

Milo Comerford discusses a new TV series on radicalisation—and how online platforms promote extremist content.

Misogyny, Recommender Systems and Algorithms, Tech Accountability and Safety

March 4, 2025

Hidden hate: How Amharic is being used to evade hate speech detection on TikTok  

The Amharic language is being used on TikTok to evade moderation by mixing it with European languages in order to spread hate speech and bypass filter

Emerging Technologies, Recommender Systems and Algorithms, Terrorism and Extremism

February 18, 2025

Generative AI and the German Far Right: Narratives, Tactics and Digital Strategies

This report examines how German far-right actors use generative AI, the narratives on which they concentrate, and the tactics they employ.

Far-Right Extremism, Recommender Systems and Algorithms, Tech Accountability and Safety

February 13, 2025

AFP Showcases ISD’s work on online disinformation targeting German elections

Agence France-Presse highlighted ISD’s latest work on a disinformation network using AI-generated content to deceive viewers.

Democratic Integrity, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Recommender Systems and Algorithms

February 9, 2025

ISD’s Mauritius Dorn speaks to BBC about the rising popularity of Germany’s far-right party

Mauritius Dorn discusses how TikTok has increased AfD’s reach among young voters.

Far-Right Extremism, Recommender Systems and Algorithms

February 7, 2025

Recommending Hate: How TikTok’s Search Engine Algorithms Reproduce Societal Bias

This report looks at TikTok's search algorithms and how it fails to detect hateful terms, reinforcing biases against marginalised groups.

Recommender Systems and Algorithms

January 24, 2025

ISD’s Olga Tokariuk speaks to Voice of America about Russian deepfake videos targeting Ukrainian refugees

Olga Tokariuk breaks down a Russian campaign to spread disinformation about the conflict with Ukraine.

Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Recommender Systems and Algorithms, Tech Accountability and Safety

January 20, 2025

ISD Written Evidence to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Inquiry, on Social Media, Misinformation and Harmful Algorithms

This document examines the harms of social media algorithms, their role in the 2024 UK riots, and regulatory approaches to mitigate misinformation and

Recommender Systems and Algorithms, Tech Legislation and Regulation

November 9, 2024

Disconnected from reality: American voters grapple with AI and flawed OSINT strategies

An ISD analysis ahead of the US elections found users misidentified AI content in over 50% of cases in a research sample, often labeling real content

Democratic Integrity, Recommender Systems and Algorithms

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