Dr. Samuel Woolley is a writer, researcher, and professor focused on disinformation, technology, and online life. He teaches at the School of Journalism & Media at the University of Texas at Austin, where he directs the Propaganda Research Lab and serves as a Knight Foundation faculty fellow at the Center for Media Engagement.
Woolley is the founding director of the Digital Intelligence Lab at the Institute for the Future, a think-tank in Silicon Valley. This lab examines the use of new media tools for both freedom and control. He co-founded and directed research for the Computational Propaganda Project at the Oxford Internet Institute, which was supported by the National Science Foundation and the European Research Council. This project has been influential in the study of computational propaganda and political bots, coining key terms in the field.
He has authored several books, including "The Reality Game: How the Next Wave of Technology Will Break the Truth" (2020) and "Manufacturing Consensus: Understanding Propaganda in the Age of Automation and Anonymity" (2023). His other works include "Bots" and "Computational Propaganda: Political Parties, Politicians, and Political Manipulation on Social Media."
Woolley's research has appeared in major publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wired. He has been featured on NBC’s Today show, PBS’ Frontline, and BBC’s News at Ten. He has held research fellowships at institutions like Google Jigsaw and the German Marshall Fund’s Digital Innovation Democracy Initiative, and he is affiliated with Stanford University’s Project on Democracy and the Internet.
Woolley has delivered talks and workshops on digital manipulation at various venues, including Princeton University and SXSW. His work has significantly advanced the understanding of how emerging media tools influence public opinion, informing policy in the US, UK, and beyond.
Join Samuel Woolley, the Founding Director of the Digital Intelligence Lab at the Institute for the Future and an author of "The Reality Game," for a compelling exploration into the intersection of technology, misinformation, and the future of communication. With his background as an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas, Moody College of Communication, Woolley brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. Attendees will dive deep into the challenges and opportunities that lie at the heart of our digital age, gaining a nuanced understanding of how misinformation spreads and what it means for the future of society. By the end of the session, participants will have learned about the critical role of technology in shaping our communication landscape and will be equipped with insights to navigate the complexities of misinformation in the digital era.
