Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Doublethink Lab

@doublethinklab.bsky.social

2.6K followers 49 following 75 posts

A Taipei-based CSO investigating disinformation and information operations in order to safeguard democracy globally. Follow us for our latest reports!

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · Jun 6

Our new study finds that active TikTok users in Taiwan are more likely to align with Beijing-leaning narratives on cross-strait relations and domestic politics. 🧵

medium.com/doublethinkl...

2025 Taiwan TikTok User Study: Nationwide Online Surveys — Research Data

This project conducted an online survey targeting TikTok (and Douyin) users in Taiwan to explore potential differences between active and…

medium.com

1 6 10

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 3d

Great to see the #ChinaIndex referenced in this timely piece on Sino-Czech relations. It puts the discussion in context with Czechia’s recent elections and growing calls to reset ties with Beijing.

thediplomat.com/2025/10/the-...

The Rise and Fall of China-Czechia Relations

Once Beijing’s closest partner in Central Europe, Czechia has turned into a skeptic – but the latest elections could put China back on the agenda.

thediplomat.com

1 1

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 7d

Ukraine saw the steepest decline in PRC influence in the latest #ChinaIndex. Our regional partner, Sorin Ioniță, shares what others can learn from Ukraine’s experience.

👉 Watch the full discussion dtl.tw/ci-forum

1 2

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 8d

In 2022, the #ChinaIndex showed 45% of measured countries had at least one of their top 5 social media apps linked to the PRC. In the latest edition, that figure has jumped to 65%.

Why does this matter? As Dr. Sriparna Pathak noted about TikTok:

Watch the full discussion: dtl.tw/ci-forum

3 6

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 10d

Taiwan and Ukraine face similar battles against disinformation. At an expert panel our co-founder and CEO, Wu Min Hsuan (Ttcat), explained how Beijing and Moscow share and adapt tactics to undermine democracy.

👉 See the full discussion: dtl.tw/dzhsej

Democracies in the crosshairs: How Ukraine, the EU, the US, and Taiwan defend the information space

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

dtl.tw

2 2

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 14d

Interesting piece on what the #ChinaIndex reveals about PRC influence in Uganda and beyond: subtle moves — apps, festivals, infrastructure, ‘no-lecture’ loans — quietly build exposure and alignment with Beijing’s strategic goals.

dtl.tw/arddch

How China controls the world

New report reveals how Beijing influences Uganda and other countries in thinking and action COVER STORY | RONALD MUSOKE | Today, the number of learners attending Mandarin classes at the Confucius Inst...

dtl.tw

4 7

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 16d

More than two-thirds of countries in the #ChinaIndex show rising PRC influence. Our expanded data tracks how that influence shifts over time.

Explore country-by-country changes here: dtl.tw/ueckb3

1 3

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 18d

Great to see Center of Economic and Law Studies expand on the #ChinaIndex to examine the PRC’s reach across Indonesia’s provinces — highlighting how its influence goes beyond national projects and reaches deep into local economies & communities.

dtl.tw/b3jrcd

2025 China- Indonesia Propinsi Indeks: Memahami Kaki Cina Di Provinsi Indonesia

2025 China- Provinsi Indonesia Indeks adalah edisi kedua dari studi perintis yang memetakan keberadaan Cina secara sistematis di seluruh provinsi Indonesia antara 1 Agustus 2024 - 1 Agustus 2025. Memb...

dtl.tw

2 3

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 25d

4/ Democracy depends not only on free elections, but also on a fair, truthful information ecosystem. Civil society, academia, platforms & citizens must work together to preserve information integrity.

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 25d

3/ Our recommendations to strengthen the Philippines’ resilience to FIMI & disinformation:
- Build cross-sectoral collaboration (media, CSOs, academia, youth, security)
- Expand media & digital literacy programs
- Advocate or human-rights-based reforms in policy & practice.

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 25d

2/ Another: viral goal-smuggling claims with little evidence but massive reach across platforms. These are examples of a wider pattern of foreign info manipulation & disinformation linked to domestic & PRC-linked media

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 25d

1/ One example: AI-generated images mocking President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) & admin-backed senators amplified by the networks of accounts with coordinated profile photos & hashtags.

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 25d

Bayanihan for #Eleksyon2025 reveals how gold-smuggling claims with little evidence — and other coordinated disinformation and information operations — distorted the debate during the 2025 midterms in the Philippines. 🧵

dtl.tw/n67746

Bayanihan for #Eleksyon2025: Philippine Midterms Monitoring

Tracking #Eleksyon2025 disinfo & foreign meddling, building bayanihan networks to safeguard Philippine democracy.

dtl.tw

1 1 1

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 28d

Curious how PRC influence plays out in your country?
Explore the full report ➤ dtl.tw/chinaindex20...
See your country's ranking ➤ dtl.tw/ueckb3

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

lnkd.in

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 28d

4/ The most widespread influence is seen in the Technology and Foreign Policy Domain.

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 28d

3/ Since 2022, Domestic Politics is the only Domain that has slipped backwards, declining on average by nearly two points. Countries like Thailand, Mexico, and South Africa felt this most sharply.

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 28d

2/ India, Ukraine and Italy are notable examples of countries where measured PRC influence scores have dropped — reflecting political and public pushback against the PRC.

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 28d

1/ Despite recent security challenges and shifting geopolitical dynamics straining Sino-Pakistan relations, the PRC’s overall influence in Pakistan has continued to grow, and the top 3 countries remain the same as in 2022.

See where your country ranks dtl.tw/ueckb3

1 1 3

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 28d

How exposed is your country to PRC influence? Our new China Index report shows some nations deepening dependence, others stepping back. Canada & Cambodia see the largest increases in PRC reliance; Ukraine & India the steepest drops.

Read the full report & thread 👉 dtl.tw/chinaindex20...

1 3 11

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · 29d

Join us today at 9 AM ET / 9 PM GMT+8 for our discussion on the latest China Index findings on PRC global influence with a panel of regional experts. Don’t miss it — event link: dtl.tw/0e4upp

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · Sep 4

📅 Save the date: Sept 10, 2025! Join us online to discuss the latest China Index report 🌍 — compare PRC influence across countries & over time, and explore where vulnerabilities are deepening vs. where societies are proving resilient.

🔗 forms.gle/EMhMLdH6kUsa...

5 8

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · Aug 13

📅 We’ll be at DRAPAC 2025 in KL with Democracy.Net.PH, discussing one of the biggest challenges for democracies: disinformation & information operations in elections.

Sign up 👉 drapac.net/25/attendees/

Looking forward to connecting & sharing insights!

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · Aug 13

Appreciate you highlighting our work!

1 1 1

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · Aug 4

6/ Iverson Ng’s investigation for Doublethink Lab lays out how this works, and what selective British Overseas Territories can do to protect their interests.

Doublethink Lab @doublethinklab.bsky.social · Aug 4

5/ This is what “state–firm fusion” looks like in practice: a blurring of business and politics, where commercial moves are inseparable from strategic goals.

1 1