The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) National Coordination Office (NCO) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) recently released a request for information (RFI) on Federal Priorities for Information Integrity Research and Development. The purpose of the RFI is to gain input on how to “enable research and development activities to advance the trustworthiness of information, mitigate the effects of information manipulation, and foster an environment of trust and resilience in which individuals can be discerning consumers of information.”

There is so much information on the internet these days and so few ways for the general public to verify what is true and what is not. This has led to many problems such as a misinformed public and a loss of trust in sociopolitical institutions which we saw the negative impacts of in information surrounding the pandemic/vaccinations and recent elections. The Computing Community Consortium wrote a white paper on the topic “An Agenda fo Disinformation Research” as a part of the 2020 Quadrennial Papers series.

Responders are asked to answer one or more of the following questions:

1. Understanding the information ecosystem: There are many components, interactions, incentives, social, psychological, physiological, and technological aspects, and other considerations that can be used to effectively characterize the information ecosystem. What are the key research challenges in providing a common foundation for understanding information manipulation within this complex information ecosystem?

2. Preserving information integrity and mitigating the effects of information manipulation: Strategies for protecting information integrity must integrate the best technical, social, behavioral, cultural, and equitable approaches. These strategies should accomplish a range of objectives including to detect information manipulation, discern the influence mechanisms and the targets of the influence activities, mitigate information manipulation, assess how individuals and organizations are likely to respond, and build resiliency against information manipulation. What are the key gaps in knowledge or capabilities that research should focus on, in order to advance these objectives? What are the gaps in knowledge regarding the differential impact of information manipulation and mitigations on different demographic groups?

3. Information awareness and education: A key element of information integrity is to foster resilient and empowered individuals and institutions that can identify and abate manipulated information and create and utilize trustworthy information. What issues should research focus on to understand the barriers to greater public awareness of information manipulation? What challenges should research focus on to support the development of effective educational pathways?

4. Barriers for research: Information integrity is a complex and multidisciplinary problem with many technical, social, and policy challenges that requires the sharing of expertise, data, and practices across the full spectrum of stakeholders, both domestically and internationally. What are the key barriers for conducting information integrity R&D? How could those barriers be remedied?

5. Transition to practice: How can the Federal government foster the rapid transfer of information integrity R&D insights and results into practice, for the timely benefit of stakeholders and society?

6. Relevant activities: What other research and development strategies, plans, or activities, domestic or in other countries, including in multi-lateral organizations and within the private sector, should inform the U.S. Federal information integrity R&D strategic plan?

7. Support for technological advancement: How can the Federal information integrity R&D strategic plan support the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s mission:

• Ensuring the United States leads the world in technologies that are critical to our economic prosperity and national security; and

• maintaining the core values behind America’s scientific leadership, including openness, transparency, honesty, equity, fair competition, objectivity, and democratic values.

Responses are due May 15th, 2022. You can view the full solicitation here.