Platform Governance and Gendered Misinformation

The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is a leading think tank focused on developing policy solutions to address the governance challenges of emerging digital technologies. My proposed research directly supports CIGI’s core areas of digital governance, platform regulation, and misinformation policy by analyzing how extremist and gendered misinformation adapts within the affordances of digital platforms like Reddit and Gab. This project addresses key gaps in understanding how platform structure, moderation, and algorithmic ranking systems influence the persistence of harmful narratives, particularly around feminism and gender equity.
The project offers social and economic value by informing evidence-based policy recommendations to improve platform accountability and digital trust. Findings will support CIGI’s objective to enhance understanding of transformative technologies and their governance implications, both in Canada and internationally. By applying computational methods and feminist digital theory, this research will also help establish analytical standards for studying digital extremism, contributing to the Hub’s mission of preparing the next generation of digital policy leaders. Additionally, I will contribute to the Hub’s public engagement strategy through knowledge mobilization efforts, including briefings, op-eds, and events that translate research into actionable insights for policymakers and the public.

Faculty Supervisor:

Lai-Tze Fan

Student:

Partner:

Centre for International Governance Innovation

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Waterloo

Program: