FalseWebs Network Policy Paper: Understanding and Addressing Misinformation in Scotland

Marina Wimmer; Faye Skelton; Theodore Carlson Webster; Md Zia Ullah; Katarina Alexander; Emily Spencer; Alice Howarth; Michael Marshall; Natalia Pasternak; David Robertson; Pip Brown; Michaela  Gummerum; Yvonne Skipper; Jeremy Wright; Ariana Modirrousta-Galian; Mansi  Pattni; Tina Seabrooke; Philip Higham; Anna Talley; Chantal den  Daas; Marie Johnston; Stephan Lewandowsky; Charlotte Bücken; Paul  Riesthuis; Henry Otgaar; Carolina Are; John Collomosse

doi:10.31234/osf.io/nw73u_v1

FalseWebs Network Policy Paper: Understanding and Addressing Misinformation in Scotland

Marina Wimmer^*
, Faye Skelton
, Theodore Carlson Webster
, Md Zia Ullah
, Katarina Alexander
, Emily Spencer
, Alice Howarth
, Michael Marshall
, Natalia Pasternak
, David Robertson
, Pip Brown
, Michaela Gummerum
, Yvonne Skipper
, Jeremy Wright
, Ariana Modirrousta-Galian
, Mansi Pattni
, Tina Seabrooke
, Philip Higham
, Anna Talley
, Chantal den Daas

Marie Johnston, Stephan Lewandowsky , Charlotte Bücken, Paul Riesthuis, Henry Otgaar , Carolina Are, John Collomosse

^*Corresponding author for this work

Psychology

Research output: Book/Report › Policy Briefing/Paper

2 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This policy paper addresses the growing societal threat of misinformation and disinformation – collectively known as information disorder – and explores how Scotland can respond effectively through evidence led interventions, regulation, and education.

Drawing on recent research in psychology, behavioural science, design, AI, and digital governance, the paper outlines the mechanisms by which false information spreads, the harms it causes, and how individuals and institutions can build resilience.

Original language	English
Place of Publication	Washington, DC
Publisher	Open Science Framework (OSF)
Number of pages	71
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/nw73u_v1
Publication status	Published - 28 Oct 2025

Funding

The project was supported by the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE).

Keywords

fake news
misinformation
policy

Access to Document

10.31234/osf.io/nw73u_v1Licence: CC BY 4.0

Wimmer-etal-OSF-2025-FalseWebs-Network-Policy-Paper-Understanding-and-Addressing-Misinformation-in-ScotlandFinal published version, 693 KBLicence: CC BY 4.0

Cite this

Wimmer, M., Skelton, F., Webster, T. C., Ullah, M. Z., Alexander, K., Spencer, E., Howarth, A., Marshall, M., Pasternak, N., Robertson, D., Brown, P., Gummerum, M., Skipper, Y., Wright , J., Modirrousta-Galian, A., Pattni, M., Seabrooke, T., Higham, P., Talley , A., ... Collomosse, J. (2025). FalseWebs Network Policy Paper: Understanding and Addressing Misinformation in Scotland. Open Science Framework (OSF). https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/nw73u_v1

@book{ff36924862eb40b2be2aebd5d11e35a6,

title = "FalseWebs Network Policy Paper: Understanding and Addressing Misinformation in Scotland",

abstract = "This policy paper addresses the growing societal threat of misinformation and disinformation – collectively known as information disorder – and explores how Scotland can respond effectively through evidence led interventions, regulation, and education. Drawing on recent research in psychology, behavioural science, design, AI, and digital governance, the paper outlines the mechanisms by which false information spreads, the harms it causes, and how individuals and institutions can build resilience.",

keywords = "fake news, misinformation, policy",

author = "Marina Wimmer and Faye Skelton and Webster, \{Theodore Carlson\} and Ullah, \{Md Zia\} and Katarina Alexander and Emily Spencer and Alice Howarth and Michael Marshall and Natalia Pasternak and David Robertson and Pip Brown and Michaela Gummerum and Yvonne Skipper and Jeremy Wright and Ariana Modirrousta-Galian and Mansi Pattni and Tina Seabrooke and Philip Higham and Anna Talley and \{den Daas\}, Chantal and Marie Johnston and Stephan Lewandowsky and Charlotte B{\"u}cken and Paul Riesthuis and Henry Otgaar and Carolina Are and John Collomosse",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

day = "28",

doi = "10.31234/osf.io/nw73u\_v1",

language = "English",

publisher = "Open Science Framework (OSF)",

}

Wimmer, M, Skelton, F, Webster, TC, Ullah, MZ, Alexander, K, Spencer, E, Howarth, A, Marshall, M, Pasternak, N, Robertson, D, Brown, P, Gummerum, M, Skipper, Y, Wright , J, Modirrousta-Galian, A, Pattni, M, Seabrooke, T, Higham, P, Talley , A, den Daas, C, Johnston, M, Lewandowsky , S, Bücken, C, Riesthuis, P, Otgaar , H, Are, C & Collomosse, J 2025, FalseWebs Network Policy Paper: Understanding and Addressing Misinformation in Scotland. Open Science Framework (OSF), Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/nw73u_v1

TY - BOOK

T1 - FalseWebs Network Policy Paper

T2 - Understanding and Addressing Misinformation in Scotland

AU - Wimmer, Marina

AU - Skelton, Faye

AU - Webster, Theodore Carlson

AU - Ullah, Md Zia

AU - Alexander, Katarina

AU - Spencer, Emily

AU - Howarth, Alice

AU - Marshall, Michael

AU - Pasternak, Natalia

AU - Robertson, David

AU - Brown, Pip

AU - Gummerum, Michaela

AU - Skipper, Yvonne

AU - Wright , Jeremy

AU - Modirrousta-Galian, Ariana

AU - Pattni, Mansi

AU - Seabrooke, Tina

AU - Higham, Philip

AU - Talley , Anna

AU - den Daas, Chantal

AU - Johnston, Marie

AU - Lewandowsky , Stephan

AU - Bücken, Charlotte

AU - Riesthuis, Paul

AU - Otgaar , Henry

AU - Are, Carolina

AU - Collomosse, John

PY - 2025/10/28

Y1 - 2025/10/28

N2 - This policy paper addresses the growing societal threat of misinformation and disinformation – collectively known as information disorder – and explores how Scotland can respond effectively through evidence led interventions, regulation, and education. Drawing on recent research in psychology, behavioural science, design, AI, and digital governance, the paper outlines the mechanisms by which false information spreads, the harms it causes, and how individuals and institutions can build resilience.

AB - This policy paper addresses the growing societal threat of misinformation and disinformation – collectively known as information disorder – and explores how Scotland can respond effectively through evidence led interventions, regulation, and education. Drawing on recent research in psychology, behavioural science, design, AI, and digital governance, the paper outlines the mechanisms by which false information spreads, the harms it causes, and how individuals and institutions can build resilience.

KW - fake news

KW - misinformation

KW - policy

U2 - 10.31234/osf.io/nw73u_v1

DO - 10.31234/osf.io/nw73u_v1

M3 - Policy Briefing/Paper

BT - FalseWebs Network Policy Paper

PB - Open Science Framework (OSF)

CY - Washington, DC

ER -

FalseWebs Network Policy Paper: Understanding and Addressing Misinformation in Scotland

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this