Alan Jagolinzer
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Alan Jagolinzer
@jagolinzer.bsky.social
13K followers 3K following 2.2K posts
Professor of Financial Accounting, Vice Dean of Programmes, co-Director, Cambridge Centre for Financial Reporting & Accountability, University of Cambridge

Research in: IFRS, GAAP, governance, information risks & harms
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jagolinzer.bsky.social
One week remaining for the Call for Papers for the 2026 University of Cambridge Disinformation Summit

Research on systemic risks from technology that affects information streams or the amplification or monetization of disinformation

www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/events/cambr...
One week remaining to submit papers for consideration for the 2026 Cambridge Disinformation Summit, 8-10 April, University of Cambridge, UK. Research on systemic risks from technology that affects information streams or the amplification or monetization of disinformation Potential research focus might include (but is not limited to) the effects on global systemic economic, health, environmental, migration, human rights or human conflict risk from: --social media message feed algorithms that amplify disinformation or suppress evidence-based narratives --search advertising algorithms that incentivize expanded reach of disinformation or suppression of evidence-based narratives --artificial intelligence information errors, bias, or corruption --crypto and meme asset trading, based on disinformation or to facilitate laundering --psychological addiction or radicalization inspired by artificially created or algorithmically amplified disinformation There are no formal formatting or length requirements, as we understand each author set is targeting different publication outlets. However, we do require full papers and will not consider abstracts or proposals. For more information about how to submit, please reference the Call for Papers tab at the website:
November 8, 2025 at 12:44 PM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
Final two weeks to submit your paper for the 2026 University of Cambridge Disinformation Summit, 8-10 April.

For more information, please read the Call for Papers tab at the website:

www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/events/cambr...
November 3, 2025 at 5:44 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
The Exploitation of Climate
Chaos, Confusion and Change

Jodie Wrigley, 2024
International Centre for Counter-Terrorism

Paper link: icct.nl/sites/defaul...
October 31, 2025 at 6:14 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
From my talk to UK and U.S. lawmakers a few months ago:

The four "meta" problems that need to be addressed.

Full discussion at this link: www.linkedin.com/pulse/addres...
Four meta problems that amplify the effects of disinformation We have: a transnational organized crime syndicate (or mafia state) problem, many of which have taken over nation states and are colluding to leverage manipulative influence campaigns and crypto financing to undermine democratic and accountability institutions globally. I sense they have an insatiable appetite for raw dominance power and that there are very few months remaining before they usurp our collective power and influence, given their heightened aggressiveness, without serious intervention, a monopolistic tech industry problem where a small set of massively wealthy institutions and executives addict millions, collect and monetize our data about what we think, what we buy, where we are, and how we feel, and then use that money and data to stoke deep emotional divides and even deeper addictions to our in-groups and our phone screens, a perceived and radicalized grievance problem where members of society cannot find pathways to socially and financially elevate. There is no clear path anymore to “the American dream," or equivalent, and that makes millions of people susceptible to populist and extremist narratives that corrode trust in everyone in this room and all the institutions we rely on. It also makes these people susceptible to radicalization which is a force multiplier that leads to the next problem, which is a cowardice problem where people like you and me, who have sworn oaths to uphold existing laws, have become unwilling to intervene and prevent blatant criminal actions because we fear losing status, losing money, being harassed, or emotional and physical abuse to ourselves or our families.
October 27, 2025 at 9:53 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
Interesting new paper from Sardor Boratov, University of Warsaw.

Weaponizing Empathy: A New Paradigm for Negotiating with Authoritarian Regimes

Paper available at: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The key takeaway is that authoritarian behavior cannot be shifted without understanding this emotional world. To ignore the psychological ecosystem of fear, loyalty, and identity is to misinterpret the meaning of money, influence, and victory for autocrats. Pressure that appears rational to Western policymakers may feel existential to authoritarian leaders; condemnation intended to shame may instead affirm their narrative of siege; sanctions meant to weaken may consolidate loyalty. Unless diplomats learn to engage these regimes on their own emotional terrain—acknowledging status concerns, offering symbolic victories, and reframing narratives—efforts at transformation will continue to fail. The resilience of authoritarianism lies not only in institutions or coercive power but in its mastery of perception and psychology. To influence authoritarian leaders, one must first understand the emotional architectures within which they operate.
October 26, 2025 at 7:19 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
Some fundamental ideas that might help preserve science and evidence-based inference in the current threat environment.

Video link here: youtu.be/Qyaritn260c
Professor Alan Jagolinzer on urgent steps that can enhance scientific resilience to threats • Backup, store offline, and widely disseminate data and writings. • Work more with globally dispersed colleagues. • Mentor more junior colleagues. • Communicate inferences across multiple venues—beyond publishing in academic journals. This would include publishing short, accessible, and relatable video content on popular media platforms.
October 25, 2025 at 10:11 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
Call for papers for the 2026 Cambridge Disinformation Summit.

www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/events/cambr...
October 17, 2025 at 3:27 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
“I keep waiting for a government to build a public interest stack.”

@mariaressa.bsky.social in European Parliament.

@openmarkets.bsky.social
@article19.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
Maria Ressa at European Parliament

@openmarkets.bsky.social
@article19.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 1:55 PM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
“We’ve lost agency.”

“Information integrity is the core.”

Maria Ressa

@openmarkets.bsky.social
@article19.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 1:31 PM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
AI, Big Tech and the Future of Media Freedom – A Conversation with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa

Livestream starts soon:

m.youtube.com/c/OpenMarket...

@openmarkets.bsky.social
@article19.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 11:33 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
I opened my Cambridge MBA financial reporting and analysis course with this fundamental message to my students, who are the global business and policy leaders of tomorrow:
Corrupted information (with downstream effects on cognition and social fabric) is the most important problem I sense your generation will face. Your success in the future will likely require advocacy to improve information integrity and rebuild common trust.
October 14, 2025 at 5:24 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
In his book "Nexus," Yuval Noah Harari notes that people connect through stories that are often fictional or embellished.

www.ynharari.com/book/nexus/
In his book "Nexus," Yuval Noah Harari notes that people connect through stories that are often fictional or embellished. "Information sometimes represents reality, and sometimes doesn't. But it always connects. This is its fundamental characteristic. Therefore, when examining the role of information in history, although it sometimes makes sense to ask 'How well does it represent reality? Is it true or false?' often the more crucial questions are 'How well does it connect people? What new network does it create?'"
October 13, 2025 at 4:42 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
The Economics of Attention

Loewenstein and Wojtowicz (2025)

Very interesting new paper.

www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
The Economics of Attention George Loewenstein Zachary Wojtowicz Journal of Economic Literature vol. 63, no. 3, September 2025 Attention is an important resource in the modern economy and plays an increasingly prominent role in economic analysis. We summarize research on attention from both psychology and economics with a particular emphasis on its capacity to explain documented violations of classical economic theory. We also identify promising new directions for research, including attention-based utility, the recent proliferation of attentional externalities introduced by digital technology, the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the economics of attention, and the significant role that boredom, curiosity, and other motivational states play in determining how people allocate attention.
October 12, 2025 at 5:56 PM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
A list of highly recommended readings to help understand today’s geopolitical and social-cultural environment.

@anneapplebaum.bsky.social
@ruthbenghiat.bsky.social
@moisesnaim.bsky.social
@marietjeschaake.bsky.social
@yuvalharari.bsky.social
@brianklaas.bsky.social
Recommended readings: —Anne Appelbaum’s “Autocracy Inc.” to understand how organized crime syndicates have overtaken governments and are collaborating globally with aligned actors —Moises Naim’s “Mafia States,” to understand that organized crime syndicates too frequently hijack nation states —Marietje Schaake’s “The Tech Coup,” to understand how tech company leaders are supporting degradation of democratic and accountability institutions Sarah Wynn-Williams’ “Careless People,” to understand the culture at the top of leading social media platforms —Brian Klaas’ “Corruptible,” to understand why there is a disproportionate and natural selection of sociopaths in power around the world because others are often not willing to seek that level of power —Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s “Strongmen,” to understand how authoritarians rise to power, rule with performative cruelty, and eventually fall —Yuval Noah Harari’s “Nexus,” to understand how large human movements are often fueled by fictional or embellished stories —Heinz Kohut (1972)’s “Thoughts on Narcissism and Narcissistic Rage,” to understand the insatiable need for narcissistic supply and narcissistic revenge that too often fuels public policy decisions —Tilo Hartmann (2016)’s “Parasocial interaction, parasocial relationships, and well-being,” to understand the cognitive influence effects of pseudo-intimate relationships and how these can potentially be exploitative
October 11, 2025 at 7:19 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
From @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social’s book Strongmen.

Tools of Rule
October 10, 2025 at 5:24 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
Item six from @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social’s book Strongmen.
October 10, 2025 at 5:22 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
Kohut (1972)

mindsplain.com/wp-content/u...
October 10, 2025 at 3:13 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
I recently discussed how these relationships form. Some can offer support, but they can also be manipulative and draw users away from engaging in human interaction, altering cognition with downstream negative effects on social community.
October 9, 2025 at 5:48 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
Populist opportunists leverage intentionally visceral narratives to draw and embolden followers, establish norms, draw boundaries, and define outgroups.
October 8, 2025 at 10:20 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
Amman and Meloy (2024) define the term "stochastic terrorism" in terms of targeted speech that increases the general probability of violence against an outgroup.

A key element is the messengers' plausible deniability of inciting violence.

doi.org/10.1080/0954...
As a practical matter stochastic terrorism is an interactive process between a public speaker who may be a charismatic leader, one or more amplifying forces such as a media platform, and one or more ultimate receivers. The originator speaks out publicly and with hostility toward a selected outgroup or individual in order to advance a political or social goal. An unknown receiver takes it in and churns out anger, contempt or disgust, often mirroring the speaker’s hostility and combining it with his own fear and anxiety stoked by the speech; such negative emotions may be intentionally aroused by the speaker to prove the need for his leadership and generate feelings of imminent threat posed by the target of his rhetoric that will personally impact the persecuted receiver. The speaker may overtly declare the target to be a threat, or “joke” about violent solutions to the shared problem represented by the target; violence is never explicitly suggested and plausible deniability remains intact. Social and news mass media outlets wittingly or unwittingly spread and amplify the message and its themes.
October 7, 2025 at 5:55 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
Time to play “spot the bot.”
October 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
How influencers engage audiences, from my talk today at @jbs.cam.ac.uk #WLC10.
October 4, 2025 at 2:59 PM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
Call for Papers:

2026 Cambridge Disinformation Summit, 8-10 Apr 2026

University of Cambridge

For more information, see the Summit website, the Summit's LinkedIn feed, or email CFRA@jbs.cam.ac.uk.

www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/events/cambr...
October 2, 2025 at 5:13 AM
jagolinzer.bsky.social
Call for papers, 2026 Cambridge Disinformation Summit.

Research on systemic risks from technology that affects information streams or the amplification or monetization of disinformation

www.linkedin.com/posts/cambri...
Research on systemic risks from technology that affects information streams or the amplification or monetization of disinformation.
September 28, 2025 at 6:25 PM