Outside of Academia

Our research group's work on political polarization, Telegram communities, search engine algorithms, and LLM biases has been featured in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Wired, The Economist, FiveThirtyEight, Time, Nature, and Vice. Beyond this, we regularly provide consultations related to our expertise in online platform analysis to data journalism teams at leading Swiss news media, including SRF and TagesAnzeiger.

Media commentary is centered around 3 key areas of expertise (with selected examples):

• AI-based technologies and information quality online
  • Fast Company
  • Nature
  • New Scientist
• Content moderation
  • Financial Times
  • Wired
  • BBC
  • SRF
• Disinformation and computational propaganda
  • Tages-Anzeiger
  • NZZ

• Research on online platforms in Switzerland for BAKOM (since 2022) Since 2022, we have conducted several studies commissioned by BAKOM in Switzerland on the information quality on Swiss online platforms. The findings of this work were used by BAKOM when preparing recommendations to the Bundesrat on regulating online platforms in Switzerland. Beyond these projects, we are regularly asked to contribute relevant expertise to BAKOM (Abteilung Medien).
• Consultation on generative AI use in web search, OFCOM, UK (2025) We provided consultation to OFCOM, the UK media regulator, on the effects of generative AI integration into web search based on our ongoing research projects.
• Scientific Consultation for AlgorithmWatch CH (2023) Evaluating information quality within LLM-based chatbots in the context of Swiss elections. For AlgorithmWatch CH and AI Forensics. Final Report
• Franxini Innovation Hub + Reatch Whitepaper (2023) Whitepaper on Popular Votes and Algorithms in Switzerland
• Expert Workshop on the Regulation of AI and Large Online Platforms in the EU at the European Commission, Brussels (December 2022)

As you can see from the lists above, we often work with and consult media professionals and policy-makers in Switzerland and Germany. You can also reach out to us if you’re organizing an event (e.g., a lecture at a local high school during “thematic project weeks” or podium discussions for the general public).

We can provide our expertise in the following areas:

Domains:

• Search engines
• Social media
• Online news & platform aggregators
• Streaming platforms
• Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Two-sided matching markets

Effects:

• Misinformation
• Polarization
• Amplification of biases
• Inequalities
• Convergence of tastes & opinions
• Segregation