Cooperative Dynamics of Censorship, Misinformation, and Influence Operations: Insights from the Global South and U.S

Abstract: Censorship and the distribution of false information, tools used to manipulate what users see and believe, are seemingly at opposite ends of the information access spectrum. Most previous work has examined them in isolation and within individual countries, leaving gaps in our understanding of how these information manipulation tools interact and reinforce each other across diverse societies. In this paper, we study perceptions about the interplay between censorship, false information, and influence operations, gathered through a mixed-methods study consisting of a survey (n = 384) and semi-structured interviews (n = 30) with participants who have experienced these phenomena across diverse countries in both the Global South and Global North, including Bangladesh, China, Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, and the United States. Our findings reveal perceptions of cooperation across various platforms between distinct entities working together to create information cocoons, within which censorship and false information become imperceptible to those affected. Building on study insights, we propose novel platform-level interventions to enhance transparency and help users navigate information manipulation. In addition, we introduce the concept of plausibly deniable social platforms, enabling censored users to provide credible, benign explanations for their activities, protecting them from surveillance and coercion.