BBC launches Global Signals research to combat disinformation

The BBC World Service has introduced Global Signals, a new research initiative designed to assess the online information landscape and strengthen resilience against disinformation. Conducted in partnership with the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media (CASM Technology), the study analyzed over 100,000 posts from known disinformation accounts and more than 54,000 mentions of the BBC across 11 social media platforms between February and May 2026.

The research focused on Russian and Arabic language environments to examine how contested information markets operate. Findings indicate that the BBC influences the global information environment in three primary ways: by directing attention to key issues to prevent information vacuums, by shaping interpretation through fact-based analysis, and by acting as a trusted authority that proactively debunks false claims.

The study highlighted significant challenges in the Russian information ecosystem, where the BBC is blocked and subject to frequent attacks intended to discredit its reporting. Researchers noted that Russian state media investment has intensified disinformation efforts, including the fabrication of BBC personas. In both the Arabic and Russian markets, the BBC World Service was found to be providing coverage on topics not addressed by local or state-controlled media.