Research Theme

Artificial Intelligence, Social Media and Disruptive Technologies

The rapid introduction of new and disruptive technologies raises questions about how the development, deployment and ongoing use of these technologies articulate with democratic principles, societal structures, existing laws and regulations, and national policy settings.

Research Projects

Projects undertaken by JBC members in this area include understanding how digital technologies accelerate extremism, studying how artificial intelligence can be utilised to identify disinformation and misinformation campaigns, and modelling the spread of these activities.

Digital Pathways to Violent Extremism in Young Australians: Intelligence Imperatives and Implications - Dr Melissa-Ellen Dowling

This project will generate national-scale knowledge of the influence of violent extremist, misogynist, and ambiguous ideologies in digital forums on Australian young people, and aims to use this knowledge to generate for the National Intelligence Community (NIC) scalable approaches to identifying and curtailing the influence of such malign communities.

The threat of online extremism is spiralling as young Australians spend increasing time online in unregulated, offshore social media forums and, increasingly, in closed ‘alt-tech’ communities where the violent ideologies of religious extremist groups, far-right nationalists, sovereign citizens, violent misogynist movements, and ambiguous/inchoate ideologies, can operate unimpeded.

While ASIO (2022) has stated that online communities are ‘the world’s single most potent and powerful incubator of extremism’, we do not know the prevalence and impact of this exposure, nor how to effectively detect or prevent digital forms of extremism reaching Australian children and young people. Uncovering this knowledge is vital to organisations – government and third sector – that are concerned in protecting youth from the effects of violent ideologies.

Chief Investigator: Dr Melissa-Ellen Dowling (Flinders University), Dr Nathan Manning (University of Adelaide), Professor Tim Legrand (University of Adelaide)

Grant Funder: Office of National Intelligence – National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grant 2024

Funding: $782,375

Understanding the Law Applicable to Information Warfare - Dr Stacey Henderson

Information warfare is a key emerging trend in homeland security. However, there is great uncertainty regarding both where the legal boundaries lie and strategically, where Australia might like them to be.

This project examined the defining characteristics of Information warfare, how it is currently applied in Australia, and the relevant domestic and international laws that apply to its characterisation and use.

A JBC Policy Perspective on this topic is available here and a public report was produced from this project which is available here.

Chief Investigator: Professor Melissa de Zwart (University of Adelaide), Associate Professor Stacey Henderson (Flinders University), and Professor Matthew Stubbs (University of Adelaide)

Grant Funder: Department of Defence – Strategic Policy Division Grant

Funding: $123,604.80

Member Publications

Stockemer, D., & Bordeleau, J.-N. (2025). Does Country Setting Make a Difference?

Stockemer, D., & Bordeleau, J.-N. (2025). Conspiracy Theories and their Believers: A Comparative Outlook. (Elements in Comparative Political Behavior). Cambridge University Press

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Our People

Dr Melissa-Ellen Dowling

A social scientist and a senior lecturer with the JBC. Melissa’s research focuses on the ways in which liberal democracy can be challenged, sustained, and enriched in a digitising world.

Host Institution: Flinders University

Media Expertise: extremist ideologies, political violence, disinformation, foreign interference

Dr Nick Bordeleau

A Research Fellow with the JBC. Nick's research explores the intersection of political behaviour and democracy, and the role of citizens in democracy.

Host Institution: Flinders University

Media Expertise: democracy, elections, conspiracy beliefs, youth in democracy

Dr Leoni Connah

Lecturer in international relations, with research interests in South Asian security, postcolonial politics, human rights and feminism.

Host Institution: Flinders University

Media Expertise: South Asia, Kashmir conflict, feminism, human rights, politics

Dr Intifar Chowdhury

Lecturer in government and youth research, passionate about writing to better the political representation of all young Australians in our democracy.

Host Institution: Flinders University

Media Expertise: policy education, government, housing, politics, voting behaviour, youth, elections, environmental politics

Professor Marinella Marmo

A leading expert on human mobility, human rights and gendered criminology.

Host Institution: Flinders University

Media Expertise: human rights, civil liberties, immigration, modern slavery, transnational crime

Dr Naser Pourazad

A Senior Lecturer in Marketing, focused on strategic brand management, consumer behaviour, and digital transformation through experiential learning approaches.

Host Institution: Flinders University

Media Expertise: business, economics, finance, marketing, digital marketing, strategic brand management

The Jeff Bleich Centre was established to undertake world-leading research, to strengthen the core values and institutions of democratic societies.

Most of our research projects are externally-funded through competitive grants, contracted research, and philanthropic donations. Funding sources have included the Australian Research Council (ARC), SmartSat CRC, Defence, the Office of National Intelligence and the Australian Space Agency.

The JBC encourages and actively promotes collaborative research with national and international institutions. Collaborations have included work with the University of Adelaide, Monash University, Griffith University, the Australian National University, the University of Virginia (USA), Arizona State University, the University of Ottawa, the Victoria Electoral Commission, Defence Innovation Partnership, South Australian Space Industry Centre, the Electoral Commission of Queensland, and the European Space Policy Institute.