Kate FitzGerald

I've been gutted about Helen Haines the last few days. I did not think Australia would end up being a nation where we had to discuss having security details for politicians; what this clip highlights though is what my research tries to show. Conspiracy theories aren't harmless or entertainment.

stranger@strangerous.bsky.social

Counter-terrorism expert Dr Joshua Roose says Helen Haines’ alleged attacker Brendan Nugent used to have concerns for the environment, but has since “descended” into a conspiracy theorist & into a “much darker place.” Colour me shocked.

I'm not saying that all conspiracy theorists will go on to commit offline violence - far from it, this is such a tiny minority. But there needs to be cooperation from Big Tech where they take accountability for the inculcation of conspiracy theories on their platforms. (Looking at you, YouTube).

journals.sagepub.comSage Journals: Discover world-class researchSubscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

2 Sept

It was great to be part of this team! Check out our new article below. 👇 Thank you Kateryna for leading this project and my fab colleagues.

Kateryna Kasianenko@kkasianenko.bsky.social

Our audit of Google Search and AI Overviews demonstrates that search queries supporting conspiratorial beliefs return different results compared to more general terms. We also found that AIOs at times misrepresent newer conspiracy theories as legitimate debates. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

open.spotify.comAre generative AI chatbots encouraging conspiracy theories? (#47)Read Them Sideways · Episode

10 Aug

Happy to have this podcast episode out! I loved working on this paper and collaborating with DMRC colleagues to explore a new way of researching conspiracy theories.

QUT Digital Media Research Centre@qutdmrc.bsky.social

In the new episode of Read Them Sideways, Kate FitzGerald speaks about a newly published paper assessing whether chatbots have safety features to keep users safe from being exposed to harmful conspiracy theories.

Kate FitzGerald reposted

Marisa Kabas

@marisakabas.bsky.social

30 July

i think el-sayed winning the michigan senate primary will permanently break the brains that were being held together by string since mamdani

techpolicy.pressLanguage Models Trained on State Media Sources Launder PropagandaTech Policy Press is a nonprofit media and community venture intended to provoke new ideas, debate and discussion at the intersection of technology and democracy. We publish opinion and analysis.

14 May

Great read, very relevant to current interests

Claes de Vreese@claesdevreese.bsky.social

Training data for AI models matter for what you get. A lot. And states can benefit. Good primer by @justinhendrix.bsky.social and @techpolicypress.bsky.social on @hwaight.bsky.social and team’s important piece in @nature.com www.techpolicy.press/language-mod...

8 May

📢 Call for Interview Participants for PhD Project 🗣️ I am seeking interview participants who 💫 currently hold or have previously held beliefs that could be called conspiracy theories 💫. I am assessing how knowledge and belief systems are formed online.

8 May

If you have recently or formerly held conspiratorial beliefs and looked at conspiratorial content online, and are willing to have an interview via Zoom or Signal, please contact me via DM or at katephdproject@gmail.com.

8 May

If this does not apply to you, can I ask that you please share this widely or pass it on to family and friends that it may be relevant to. Your confidentiality and privacy are important to me. This project has been approved by the QUT Ethics Committee.

digitalsociety.mmu.ac.ukVirtual Fellowship - Digital Society Research ClusterVirtual Fellowship 2026 Virtual Fellows

13 Apr

I'm very excited to be starting my Virtual Fellowship with DISC at Manchester Metropolitan University in collaboration with the Center for Digital Ethics & Policy at Loyola University this week! digitalsociety.mmu.ac.uk/virtual-fell...

13 Apr

This is the first cohort of fellows, and I am so appreciative of such an inclusive programme. I will be analysing a multilingual dataset of #chatbot prompts and responses (thanks to @qutdmrc.bsky.social colleagues!) to assess for conspiratorial thinking in low- and high-resource languages.

13 Apr

The cohort as a whole will be considering all aspects of #AI policy. We will be sharing the results of our work in a Policy Document and Summer School presentation over the next few months.

open.spotify.com20 Years of Twitter Roundtable (#41)Read Them Sideways · Episode

20 Mar

This was a fun one to host! Have a listen to our 20 years of Twitter roundtable now! 🐦 🎉

QUT Digital Media Research Centre@qutdmrc.bsky.social

This week's episode of the Read Them Sideways podcast is a roundtable discussing the 20 year anniversary of Twitter with Jean Burgess, Axel Bruns, Kateryna Kasianenko, and Luke Pearson

abc.net.auPsst: the Irish love a conspiracy theory - ABC listenThe Irish have high trust in government, and, also, a surprisingly widespread belief in conspiracy theories. What explains the Irish appetite for conspiracies, and how can damaging beliefs be slowed d...

12 Mar

An interesting episode with a crossover of my interests! 🧐 🇮🇪 Thanks @cazuarina.bsky.social for the link. www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

cogitatiopress.com“Just Asking Questions”: Doing Our Own Research on Conspiratorial Ideation by Generative AI Chatbots | Article | Media and CommunicationKatherine M. FitzGerald, Michelle Riedlinger, Axel Bruns, Stephen Harrington, Timothy Graham, Daniel Angus

6 Mar

So glad to see this article finally out! I loved working with this team and it was a great opportunity to develop qualitative methods for generative AI research. I feel this is an important contribution that we are currently expanding on in a multilingual context, so stay tuned! ✍️ 🖥️

QUT Digital Media Research Centre@qutdmrc.bsky.social

New article alert! “Just Asking Questions”: Doing Our Own Research on Conspiratorial Ideation by Generative AI Chatbots is now available to read open access! This study examined how a selection of popular chatbots responded to conspiratorial prompts.

rte.ieHow St Brigid's Day and Imbolc mark the beginning of springThe emergence of St Brigid's Day as a public holiday marks a renewed engagement with Indigenous Irish ways of understanding time, land and belonging

1 Feb

A great read 🇮🇪

RTÉ Brainstorm@rtebrainstorm.bsky.social

Most read on #RTEBrainstorm: How the emergence of St Brigid's Day as a public holiday marks a renewed engagement with Indigenous Irish ways of understanding time, land and belonging. By Jennifer Manning @maynoothuniversity.ie www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...

Kate FitzGerald reposted

Katie Phang

@katiephang.bsky.social

25 Jan

This is a MUST-READ affidavit. This eyewitness to Alex Pretti’s murder — who is too scared to even go home because she doesn’t trust federal agents — directly refutes what the feds are saying happened today:

Josh Gerstein@joshgerstein.bsky.social

JUST IN: Lawyers file declaration in federal court from first-hand witness to immigration agents' shooting of a US citizen onlookers today. Minneapolis Mayor Frey said details would be used to bolster case for ousting ICE from city. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

documentcloud.orgTincherSealedWitnessDec012426.PDF

More active language would be stating what actually happened: a man was executed in the street by a nascent Gestapo. I don’t care that this post will disqualify me from ever getting a United States visa. I’m appalled and sick with worry about family in the US.

southpaw@nycsouthpaw.bsky.social

years and years of avoiding plain language and the active voice do make the choice to use it more impactful, I suppose

Media & Democrats should be ashamed for not specifically calling what the administration is doing as fascism at every single opportunity. The lack of ability to muster more than a verbal slap on the wrist and leaving citizens to protest and die in the streets is abhorrent.

And to clarify - these aren’t even protestors; they are observers and bystanders.

x 100 It’s incredible that Alex Pretti apparently served as an ICU nurse. His death is tragic But if they’re not employed, not white, not male, have drug offences, have been previously incarcerated, have mental health problems, etc etc… this does not undermine their victimhood & right to life

Marco Rogers@polotek.bsky.social

People already working hard to prove how perfect Alex Pretti was. To show he didn't "deserve" to be killed. But it's a trap folks. You're only feeding into a dynamic where people who are considered lesser get no protection. You don't have to be an Alex Pretti to deserve to live.

theverge.comGrok is spreading misinformation about the Bondi Beach shootingGrok has repeatedly misidentified video of the Bondi Beach shooting and the hero who disarmed a gunman.

5 Jan

Watching Iga Swiatek and Eva Lys battle it out on the third day of the tennis season; women’s tennis is in such a good place right now 💪

Kate FitzGerald reposted

Tama Leaver

@tamaleaver.bsky.social

15 Dec 2025

Of course it f&&king is. Please don't use GenAI for news. Please don't use Grok for anything. Grok is spreading misinformation about the Bondi Beach shooting www.theverge.com/news/844443/...

10 Dec 2025

Quelle surprise! Great to have evidence-based research to demonstrate this bias.

Kate Starbird@katestarbird.bsky.social

New research on Twitter (right before rebranding to X) shows right leaning accounts got outsized visibility from the algorithm & suggests this bias stemmed from different content production techniques (more sensational, outrage-bait) and from direct interaction w/ the new king of the platform: Musk.

open.spotify.comThe social media ban: how we got here and what to expect (#37)

9 Dec 2025

Good chat between @phzerosounds.bsky.social and @antmandan.bsky.social today - a quick lightning talk on the pod about the social media ban, the shortcomings, and what we might see in the future.

QUT Digital Media Research Centre@qutdmrc.bsky.social

We have your morning commute listening for Wednesday lined up... 👂🔊 DMRC Director Daniel Angus (@antmandan.bsky.social) spoke with the Read Them Sideways podcast team about the social media ban, the implications, and what to expect in the future. open.spotify.com/episode/6IES...

28 Nov 2025

Three presentations over the three days of #AANZCA2025, and I was really proud to share some theoretical work in progress from my PhD thesis. Thank you to my @qutdmrc.bsky.social colleagues for coming along to watch and support!

snurb.infoAANZCA 2025 | Snurblog — Axel BrunsAustralia Aotearoa New Zealand Communication Association conference, Sunshine Coast, 26-28 Nov. 2025

28 Nov 2025

Making it into the @snurb.info live blog was the highlight of my week! But seriously, #AANZCA2025 was fantastic and sincere thanks to the organisers for making it a genuinely hybrid conference that allows for folks with disabilities to attend - I appreciate the opportunity to share my work! 🎉

Axel Bruns@snurb.info

Wheee, a very fast-paced session (mostly) on conspiracy theories to end #AANZCA25, also featuring my @qutdmrc.bsky.social colleague @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social presenting our audit of how GenAI chatbots respond to conspiracy theory-curious questions. Final liveblog here:

theconversation.comAI chatbots are encouraging conspiracy theories – new researchIf you interact with chatbots about conspiracy theories, research shows you can can easily fall down the rabbit hole.

24 Nov 2025

A new article by me in @theconversation.com about forthcoming research with fab colleagues @snurb.info, @riedlinm.bsky.social, @phzerosounds.bsky.social, @timothyjgraham.bsky.social, and @antmandan.bsky.social. Looking forward to presenting this at the #AANZCA2025 conference this week! 🎉

QUT Digital Media Research Centre@qutdmrc.bsky.social

PhD researcher Kate FitzGerald has a new article out in The Conversation today looking at generative AI chatbots and conspiracy theories.

13 Nov 2025

Academic hot take: getting stood up for a research interview is significantly worse than getting stood up on a date 😭

3 Nov 2025

Excellent new paper from an excellent colleague! Anybody looking at user practices online should engage with this paper and model. Well done @kkasianenko.bsky.social!

QUT Digital Media Research Centre@qutdmrc.bsky.social

Congratulations to research fellow Kateryna Kasianenko (@kkasianenko.bsky.social) on her recent publication in Communication Theory! "Elements of practices in digital publics: a model for identifying collective doings on social media platforms" can be read here now! academic.oup.com/ct/...

onefootforward.org.auSupport my 40km challenge for mental health research!Together, we can help create better mental health for all.

31 Oct 2025

It's the last day of October and the last day of the One Foot Forward challenge! I met my distance goal, but would love any last minute donations to help further my fundraising goal! Thanks in advance everyone.

Kate FitzGerald@katemfitzgerald.bsky.social

Hi all, in October I am participating in the One Foot Forward initiative by the Black Dog Institute, to raise money to support Australians impacted by mental illness. www.onefootforward.org.au/fundraisers/...?

onefootforward.org.auSupport my 40km challenge for mental health research!Together, we can help create better mental health for all.

29 Sept 2025

crikey.com.auCharlie Kirk's martyrdom in the US is to be expected. Here, it's baffling

29 Sept 2025

This is a cause super close to me and my family, and I would appreciate any donations, even a dollar can help! I’m aiming to raise $1000 over the next month - this will help with services like training teachers in mental wellbeing and advancing clinical trials for depression treatment.

Kate FitzGerald reposted

Crikey

@crikey.com.au

16 Sept 2025

Australian media and politicians have taken a huge interest in an overseas figure the vast majority of their constituents would have never heard of prior to September 10, @theshufflediary.bsky.social writes.

open.spotify.comEpisode 32: The Discursive-Digital Link with Ehsan DehghanRead Them Sideways · Episode

15 Sept 2025

It was great to listen to @essideh.com discuss his new book, The Discursive-Digital Link this week! 📖 📚 🎉

QUT Digital Media Research Centre@qutdmrc.bsky.social

After a brief hiatus, the Read Them Sideways podcast is back! In this week's episode, Klaus Groebner (@gklaus.bsky.social) interviews Dr Ehsan Dehghan (@essideh.com) about his new book: The Discursive-Digital Link. Listen to Klaus and Ehsan chat about the new book below!

Kate FitzGerald reposted

Molly Jong-Fast

@mollyjongfast.bsky.social

18 Aug 2025

You guys

Drew Harwell@drewharwell.com

Laura Loomer, who the president has consulted for decisions on who to fire, is arguing with a chatbot

journal.media-culture.org.auM/C JournalM/C Journal - a journal of media and culture, founded in 1998.

18 Aug 2025

Some super interesting case studies in this issue - would highly recommend for fandom scholars!

QUT Digital Media Research Centre@qutdmrc.bsky.social

Two of our postdoctoral research associates, @svegaard.bsky.social and @vilkins.bsky.social , have guest edited the latest issue of M/C Journal. They have curated some excellent articles around the theme of fandom and politics. Read the issue here! journal.media-culture.org.au/index.php/mc...

Kate FitzGerald reposted

Axel Bruns

@snurb.info

3 Aug 2025

Apparently a completely peaceful march across Sydney Harbour Bridge today was extremely perilous. Yet somehow fewer people (i.e. nobody) died today than when NSW Police were asked to assist with a 95-year-old nursing home resident behaving erratically.

This post is unavailable.

open.spotify.comEpisode 31: Conspiracy Nation Book Launch with Ariel Bogle and Cameron WilsonRead Them Sideways · Episode

1 Aug 2025

Happy publication week! 🎉 I had the genuine pleasure of chatting with @arielbogle.bsky.social and @cameronwilson.bsky.social last week about their new book, CONSPIRACY NATION. Can confirm, it’s an excellent read. You can hear their thoughts on the link below: open.spotify.com/episode/00Go...

Kate FitzGerald reposted

QUT Digital Media Research Centre

@qutdmrc.bsky.social

1 Aug 2025

We were lucky to be joined by @arielbogle.bsky.social and @cameronwilson.bsky.social on the Read Them Sideways podcast to talk about their new book with host, @katemfitzgerald.bsky.social. open.spotify.com/episode/00Go...

crikey.com.auDonald Trump stokes the flames of conspiracy — but the Epstein saga may burn him to the groundDonald Trump's Justice Department has corroborated the official story of the death of Jeffrey Epstein. MAGA is pissed.

15 July 2025

It was fantastic to collaborate with my colleague @phzerosounds.bsky.social on this piece! The Epstein files drama doesn't seem to be going away, so watch this space for further thoughts...

Crikey@crikey.com.au

Trump loyalists have been baying for the release of the Epstein files for years. Now, Trump wants his supporters to forget about them — and MAGA is pissed.

Kate FitzGerald reposted

David Gilbert

@davidgilbert.bsky.social

25 June 2025

New research shows that believers in conspiracy theories have no idea how fringe their own beliefs are, and they vastly overestimate their own abilities journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

journals.sagepub.comSage Journals: Discover world-class researchSubscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

open.spotify.comEpisode 27: Ten Years of Trumpism DMRC RoundtableRead Them Sideways · Episode

16 June 2025

This was one of the most fun (and longest...) episodes we have recorded! Was great to chat 10 years of Trumpism with @phzerosounds.bsky.social, @timothyjgraham.bsky.social, @kkasianenko.bsky.social and our excellent host @svegaard.bsky.social.

QUT Digital Media Research Centre@qutdmrc.bsky.social

Ten years ago today, Donald Trump announced his bid for the Republican nomination in the 2016 United States presidential election. To mark the occasion, the Read Them Sideways team came together to record a roundtable episode of 10 Years of Trumpism. open.spotify.com/episode/6PoX...

Kate FitzGerald reposted

Kyle Cheney

@kyledcheney.bsky.social

13 June 2025

BREAKING: Judge Breyer orders Trump to return control of the National Guard back to California, saying the call-up was illegal. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...