Abstract Which socioeconomic and demographic groups face the greatest disparities in health-related internet uses and how have the disparities changed since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic? This article found significant disparities in internet use for healthcare among online US adults across socioeconomic and demographic groups, emphasizing the need for digital inclusion initiatives that support equitable access to healthcare. Education, gender, and urbanization are the strongest predictors across all types of health-related internet uses. Disparities in telehealth use by disability, education, and sexual orientation increased over time, while the disparities across economic levels remained unchanged.

Abstract This article examines the role of civil society in countering disinformation, in particular through the prism of international experience and its prospects for Ukraine. The authors analyze successful examples of the EU and the US. The article highlights the features of legal regulation and comprehensive approaches aimed at identifying and refuting false information. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of a developed network of public initiatives for data verification. They should effectively interact with state bodies. In addition, attention is focused on large-scale educational programs on media literacy. In the context of Ukraine, the greatest challenges and potential mechanisms for adapting foreign practices are highlighted, taking into account the conditions of war. The authors determined that effective countering disinformation is impossible without a comprehensive combination of legal norms and active participation of civil society. This is a guarantee of information security and democratic stability of the state.

Abstract This article investigates the impact of spectrum concentration on the quality of wireless services. The article develops a theoretical model of wireless service competition, examining how spectrum endowments affect the quality of service offered to consumers, particularly download speeds. The findings suggest that while spectrum concentration can enhance efficiency, it also reduces service providers’ incentives to compete. The article employs an empirical model to assess the relationship between spectrum concentration and service quality. These insights inform the ongoing policy debate on the optimal level of spectrum concentration to balance service quality and market competition.

Abstract One defining characteristic of contemporary news and information ecosystems is the increasingly blurred line separating legitimate journalism from partisan political influence operations. While the First Amendment limits government interventions on this front, there is one seldom-discussed federal mechanism for bringing greater clarity to the question of whether an entity is operating as a news organization or a political influence operation. The Federal Election Commission (FEC), which regulates House, Senate, and presidential political campaigns, possesses the authority to determine whether an organization represents a legitimate press entity and its activities represent legitimate press functions, or whether it runs political influence operations in the guise of journalism. This “press exemption” represents an important and underutilized mechanism for bringing greater clarity and transparency to contemporary news and information ecosystems. This article utilizes a critical analysis of key FEC press exemption decisions to illustrate how the FEC brings inadequate analytical rigor to its responsibility to administer the press exemption. It describes enhanced analytical approaches that the FEC can employ when making press exemption determinations. Finally, it offers a roadmap for how the FEC can use its authority to address one of the key challenges confronting our news and information ecosystem and undermining an informed electorate.

Abstract The current challenges of privacy self-management regulations and the inadequacy of notices pose challenges to protecting consumers’ privacy. This study introduces the concept of social contract literacy, blending social contract theory, privacy self-management, media literacy, and self-efficacy to understand consumers’ relationships with digital media and privacy. Using quantitative and qualitative research methods, this research develops a new scale measuring social contract literacy in the contexts of digital media and privacy. This approach bridges the gap between consumer literacy and legal obligations, offering guidelines for practitioners and policymakers to improve privacy protection measures and better understand consumer relationships with online companies.

Abstract This article analyzes deepfake legislation through 319 state bills proposed in all 50 states between 2019 and 2024. California, Texas, and Virginia were the first to enact laws regulating deepfakes in 2019. Since then, forty-eight of fifty US states have introduced or enacted at least one deepfake bill, with a surge in deepfake bills in 2024. Thematic analysis indicates a fragmented approach, with most bills focusing on political and sexually explicit content, and visualization highlights the status, trends over time, concentration, and sponsorship of deepfake bills across states to guide researchers and policymakers toward a stronger framework.

Abstract This article presents a multiple case study of context in shaping local digital equity policies in three communities in Michigan, United States. Few studies have systematically investigated local context to understand its potential impacts on the development of sustainable information policies in rural communities. By applying the Digital Opportunities Compass, a framework for examining contextual factors that impact community-based digital equity programs and policy, the study found that local context can both positively and negatively impact the development of policies and programs. These findings have implications for local and state policymaking, particularly for considering the community assets and invested champions.

Abstract This study aimed to identify the impact of the use of mass media and technologies to shape public opinion in modern military conflicts. The methodology included a content analysis of news related to the war, information campaigns of such countries as Yugoslavia, Chechnya, Georgia, Iraq, and Ukraine from 1991 to 2024, and an analysis of technologies that changed the nature of information wars, such as Bayraktar TB2, NotPetya, Industroyer, Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation, and satellites. The results of the study demonstrated that the role of mass media and technology in modern warfare is significant, as they are becoming the main methods for influencing public opinion and shaping the information field. Technologies provide quick access to information but also pose risks to its reliability. To reduce this impact, it is necessary to introduce stricter ethical standards for journalists and media organizations, ensure transparency of information processes, and actively improve media literacy. The study proved that the media and technology can also have a positive impact in modern wars, contributing to the rapid dissemination of truthful information, supporting the morale of the population and the military, and mobilizing international support.

Abstract This study explores how using mobile applications for everyday business processes can help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia become more competitive. We combined two well-known theories—one on human behavior and one on consumer values—to understand better what influences SMEs to adopt mobile apps. We collected survey data from 69 SMEs and analyzed it using a structured modeling approach. The findings show that SMEs are more likely to use mobile apps when they have a positive attitude toward them and feel in control of their use. However, we also found something unexpected: Consumer choice behavior, such as valuing uniqueness or emotion in products, actually weakens effect on app use. This suggests that while mobile apps can help SMEs grow, simply offering more features or variety may not always lead to greater use. The study offers useful lessons for policymakers, app designers, and SME support programs aiming to promote digital tools for business growth.

Abstract Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has recently been associated with numerous concerns about its impact for democracy. This article aims to assess this debate from the perspective of different normative conceptions of democracy. This article argues that a more theoretically grounded discussion is needed to guide current efforts to understand and regulate GenAI. By systematically reviewing the emerging literature on GenAI and democracy, the authors discuss what exactly it is that GenAI is seen to threaten. Finally, this article connects the concerns with three different normative perspectives on democracy, with an aim to illustrate how perceptions of the impact of GenAI on democracy depend on the normative lenses adopted.