Responses to digital disinformation as part of hybrid threats: a systematic review on the effects of disinformation and the effectiveness of fact-checking/debunking

The dissemination of purposely deceitful or misleading content to target audiences for political aims economic purposes constitutes a threat democratic societies and institutions, is being increasingly recognized as major security threat, particularly after evidence allegations hostile foreign interference in several countries surfaced the last five years. Disinformation can also be part hybrid activities. This research paper examines findings on effects disinformation addresses question how effective counterstrategies against digital are, with aim assessing impact responses such exposure disproval conspiracy theories. The paper’s objective synthetize main scientific effectiveness debunking, inoculation, forewarning strategies disinformation. A mixed methodology used, combining qualitative interpretive analysis structured technique evaluating literature systematic review (SLR), following Preferred Reporting Items Systematic Reviews Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework.