The rapid evolution of contemporary media and the rise of generative artificial intelligence presents both opportunities and challenges for democratic societies. Disinformation has become a critical threat to information integrity and public trust. As a Doctoral Researcher at the Disinformation, Propaganda & Soft Power Research Lab (DPS-Lab), Hadi’s research examines how contemporary media landscapes serve both as tools of influence and battlegrounds for disinformation. Hadi explores the societal impact of disinformation campaigns, AI’s role in both spreading and countering disinformation, and multi-stakeholder approaches such as policy interventions and fact-checking. To advance this research, she will conduct a research visit to The Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI) at the University of Cambridge, a highly interdisciplinary research hub focused on addressing challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence (AI).
Additionally, Hadi will collaborate with colleagues at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER). This visit will enrich her doctoral research by integrating interdisciplinary perspectives on understanding and mitigating threats of disinformation in media. Drawing on her experience bridging research and policy, Hadi aims to contribute valuable comparative insights on disinformation and its implications for the Finnish media landscape. In practice, this research visit will build on ongoing collaborations between DPS-Lab and scholars at the University of Cambridge, including co-authored research articles and conference papers, planning joint funding applications, and presenting research results at the 2025 ASEAS conference. The research visit aligns directly with the objectives of Media-Alan Tutkimussäätiö, which supports the adaptability of Finnish media in an increasingly complex and evolving digital landscape.