Disinformation as a contested field: theoretical-methodological challenges and research ethics with the “uncomfortable other”

Abstract

This article examines scientific disinformation in health as a contested field based on a study of the uses and meanings attributed to science and journalism by Telegram users. We conducted our research in three channels focused on COVID-19 within the app and observed that the debate on vaccination against the disease was permeated by the sharing of Christian, conservative, and neoliberal values, especially those related to freedom, economic liberalism, morality, and family. In this context, we present the theoretical, methodological, and ethical challenges of conducting research with an “uncomfortable other” who adheres to values and narratives that question the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, putting the health protection of both the population and individuals to the test, as well as expressing beliefs, norms, and values that oppose our worldviews. These interlocutors, whose beliefs conflict with our perspectives, led us to explore “dark anthropology” to understand the impact of neoliberalism and the emotional and moral dynamics involved in researching groups that promote disinformation. We reflect on the ethics of anonymous observation, the difficulty of accessing distrustful interlocutors, and the emotional impacts of fieldwork in hostile environments. Furthermore, we conclude that it is necessary to question academic neutrality when dealing with groups that promote disinformation and extremist discourses.