DR. EMMA L.
BRIANT
Advocating for ethical, transparent communication to advance security, equality and human rights in an age of dark data and digital deceivers.
ABOUT
Dr. Emma L. Briant is one of the world’s leading experts on information warfare and propaganda. Her research analyzing propaganda, media and technology spans nearly two decades during which time she has taken on some of the most rapidly evolving and disruptive political challenges of our time and shaped policy and public debates.
Dr Briant is Associate Professor of News and Political Communication at Monash University in Melbourne Australia [ ]. She is a Fellow in the Human Rights Program at Bard College [ ] , an Associate at the Center for Financial Reporting and Accountability, University of Cambridge [ ] , and a Fellow of the Media and Journalism Research Centre [ ]. Previously she held faculty positions at University of Essex and University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. Her international research profile is evidenced by visiting positions at Stanford, George Washington University, and Georgetown University, international keynotes and a substantial body of widely reported publications including books, peer reviewed articles, op-eds and journalism.
In addition to her scholarship and publications, Dr. Briant makes a difference in other ways, such as her powerful contributions to investigations, advising governments, policymakers, and civil society, her public engagement includes major documentary films, op-eds and journalism.
MAJOR WORKS
Longstanding Public and Policy Impact: Dr. Briant’s research and expertise have been making a difference since 2012 – impacting policy debates and civil society advocacy groups, helping some of society’s most vulnerable have a voice.
Learn moreDisrupting Disinformation: Dr. Briant is an internationally recognized expert on contemporary propaganda who regularly contributes to international media reporting. She is best known for her role in uncovering the Cambridge Analytica and Facebook scandal in 2018, including as senior researcher for several major documentary films.
Learn morePublications and Analysis: Dr. Briant’s substantial body of scholarly publications tackle some of the most rapidly evolving political challenges of our time: information warfare, AI, data ethics and propaganda – they include peer-reviewed articles, two books and op-eds in The Guardian, OCCRP, Wired, New Statesman, and the Ottawa Citizen.
Learn moreCambridge Analytica Interactive
Map
In 2020 Dr. Briant launched The Interactive Cambridge Analytica Map – the first project to collate, analyze and map reporting of the worldwide activities of the scandal-ridden company Strategic Communication Laboratories (SCL) and their subsidiary Cambridge Analytica (CA).
This data journalism/digital humanities project created a tool that maps reported global reach
(1989-2018), including clients and projects, and
visualizes the expanding scale and global spread of their
activities over time, highlighting their less-reported impact in the global south.
Why not explore the map?
DOCUMENTARIES – SENIOR RESEARCHER
Dr. Briant has contributed as researcher on major documentaries such as the Oscar-shortlisted Netflix film The Great Hack (2019) and People You May Know (2020).
Oscar-shortlisted film exploring how a data and campaign firm named Cambridge Analytica and its misuse of Facebook data came to symbolise the dark side of social media in the wake of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Covers key topics such as data misuse and disinformation in elections.
A film examining data use in Christian conservative politics, People You May Know explores political alliances between religious fundamentalists, oligarchs, Cambridge Analytica and its entities that fundamentally shifted the balance of U.S. politics. Your data was only the beginning.
“Dr Briant is “one of the bravest brightest women I know””
Julie Ward, former UK Labour MEP
See on Twitter“I’ve read some draft chapters of @EmmaLBriant’s new book, and it’s brilliant and important — a unique insight into #cambridgeanalytica and the role of #datamining and #disinformation in the democratic process. Highly recommend you preorder your copy today!”
Dr. Aram Sinnreich Professor and Chair of Communication Studies division at American University’s School of Communication
See on Twitter“The woman exposing the propaganda puppet masters”
Index on Censorship 2022
Full Article“One of the world’s leading experts in information wars.”
Der Spiegel 2023
Full Article“Emma has offered invaluable input to help the Cambridge Centre for Financial Reporting & Accountability build infrastructure and networks to expand its research scope and impact regarding disinformation. She has been a core catalyst in creating the 2023 Cambridge Disinformation Summit, as has helped us better understand, in webinars and dialogue, the growing and elusive profiteering ecosystem that incentivizes disinformation actors. She also demonstrates courage in a gritty environment where her efforts to enable transparency and accountability are often met with Kafkaesque response.”
Prof. Alan Jagolinzer, Professor of Financial Accounting, University of Cambridge, Judge Business School 2023