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Local Government Response to Disinformation

In 2024 and 2025, mis and disinformation were named the top global risks of the immediate term by the World Economic Forum. Disinformation is a growing, global challenge with profound impacts on cities and local democracy.

Local governments are responsible for decisions and policies that shape people’s daily lives, and as most aware of the community fault lines that are fertile ground for disinformation, they are well positioned to respond when issues arise. However, research, analysis, and policymaking related to disinformation have remained at the national and international levels, rarely meeting the issue on the ground at the local level.

In cities, disinformation sometimes manifests itself in physical events, including protests and disruptions. It also has individual impacts for political, institutional, and community leaders and staff. Disinformation affects the functioning of city administrations and elected bodies, impacting governance and policymaking. It also impacts communities, reducing mutual trust and increasing division and polarization.

Disinformation commonly exploits existing social fault lines and polarization. In cities, the fault lines targeted by disinformation center around First Nations, migrants, cultural diversity, gender and sexual diversity, health and wellbeing, sustainability and climate issues, and urban planning. Understanding how disinformation spreads, and how to respond effectively, is critical for local governments.

Local governments are dynamic, innovative and locally embedded making this sector uniquely positioned to respond to disinformation. This project provides new resources, networks and skills to better prepare and respond effectively. Increasingly recognised by those at all levels seeking to strengthen the resilience of democracy.

Disinformation in the City

Disinformation in the City: Response Playbook

The Disinformation in the City project focuses on informing and guiding local government policies and practices to counter disinformation and ultimately to strengthen democracy. The project produces a range of outputs and supporting materials including a handbook, toolkit and resources for local governments, training and masterclass programs for councillors and staff, and a range of convenings to support sector development and capability uplift.

Initiated within the Melbourne Centre for Cities, Disinformation in the City is a collaboration led by the MAV with the Australian National University along with a core interdisciplinary research team.

Disinformation, Violence and Extremism

Disinformation ‘ecologies’ consist of false narratives, the platforms enabling them and the often organised and interconnected actors using them. These manipulate societal faultlines, exacerbating and manufacturing prejudice and grievance which creates fertile ground for radicalisation and extremism. These ecologies are bastioned by the economic incentives of online ‘clickbait’ and algorithmic-driven engagement on social media, rapidly become an era-defining global challenge.

In an environment that is conducive to social polarisation, complex threats to our democratic values and safety affect us as individuals, communities and a nation. This international project highlights how disinformation readily targets local government responses, health measures, or marginalised communities, feeding public confusion, uncertainty and grievances and fuelling violence and extremism.

This project is funded by the Australia Department of Home Affairs.

Disaster Disinformation

Australia is facing more frequent and complex disaster risks, including those associated with climate change, extreme weather events and climate variability such as El Niño. As communities, governments and emergency services respond to an increasingly challenging risk landscape, the need for trusted, timely and accurate information has become more critical than ever.

Against this backdrop, disinformation and misinformation are increasingly recognised as significant challenges in disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Harmful information can undermine trust, complicate decision-making, hinder access to support, and affect the ability of governments, emergency services, community organisations and others to communicate effectively with communities during times of crisis.

MAV is working with key emergency services and disaster response agencies across Australia to build effective disinformation local response capabilities to protect local communities.