Project INFOLEAD: Toolkit and Casebook

The Toolkit and Casebook has been developed by the INFOLEAD team at the University of Florence to support education, training, and critical reflection on the growing phenomenon of information disorder and its impact on democratic societies. It brings together conceptual frameworks, legal analysis, policy perspectives, and practical case studies to help readers understand how misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation operate within contemporary digital ecosystems. Designed for students, legal professionals, policymakers, judges, journalists, and civil society actors, the Toolkit adopts an interdisciplinary and rights-based approach. It examines the societal harms caused by information manipulation, the role of online platforms and algorithms, and the evolving regulatory responses at national, regional, and international levels. Particular attention is given to the tension between combating online harms and safeguarding fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, privacy, and democratic participation. By combining theoretical explanations with discussion questions and real-world case studies, the Casebook component encourages active engagement and practical reasoning. Together, the Toolkit and Casebook aim to strengthen analytical skills, promote informed decision-making, and contribute to the development of resilient legal and institutional responses to information disorder in the digital age.