The rapid growth of social media in recent years has significantly contributed to the spread of disinformation. Illegal activities, such as hate speech, violence, and riots, are often preceded by disinformation campaigns. This raises a critical question: how can European police authorities better prepare for the real-world consequences of malign disinformation and potentially mitigate its criminal impact?
The VIGILANT project seeks to address these challenges by developing an integrated platform equipped with tools for identifying and analysing disinformation. As part of this mission, the C5 Interaction Model of Disinformation was developed by Kimberley Kruijver, Beatrice Cadet, Neill Bo Finlayson, and Sico van der Meer from TNO.
Recently, the C5 Interaction Model was published in the scientific journal Discover Global Society (Springer Nature), further strengthening its academic foundation and practical relevance. You can read the full article here.
Developing the C5 Interaction Model
At the core of this report is the C5 Interaction Model, a framework built upon insights from existing academic literature across various disciplines, including communication and media studies, anthropology, and psychology. In total, 51 articles were analysed to build the model. Using the Grounded Theory Method, the authors identified five key elements of disinformation that come into play when exposure to disinformation content results in cognitive and behavioural effects:
- The Context (social, cultural, political, or economic factors, important events, or relevant trends).
- The Causes (creators and their motives).
- The Content (the tailored piece of disinformation).
- The Consequences (short- and long-term effects on the consumer and society).
- The Cycle of Amplification (the interaction of receiver susceptibility and dissemination factors that can amplify the effects of disinformation and possible interventions to counter that cycle).
This model demonstrates how these five factors interact with each other, along with other key elements of disinformation for police authorities. It also emphasises that, due to these interconnected relationships, the same content can have different consequences depending on which factors are at play and how strongly they influence each other. This is crucial for understanding how disinformation campaigns can escalate into harmful or even violent outcomes.
A Practical Application: The Case of Hate Speech in Catalonia
The C5 Model serves as a bridge between academic research and the practical realities faced by European police authorities in combating disinformation linked to criminal activities. To demonstrate its application, the model was tested on a case involving the spread of hate speech on a Telegram channel in Catalonia, showcasing its practical relevance. The analysis revealed that:
- The campaign unfolded within a context of political tension.
- The political climate likely served as the initial driver for individuals with similar views to join the group, providing it with the potential to expand.
- The content, which resonated with the group’s beliefs, likely contributed to the further radicalisation of its members.
This case shows that European police authorities can apply this model to gain a deeper understanding of disinformation, compare different campaigns, and prepare reports for their superiors. You can read more about the C5 model here.