Doctoral Student Presents Deepfake Misinformation Research at Edinburgh Conference

Florida State University Doctoral Student Presents Research on Combating Deepfakes at International Conference

Florida State University’s School of Information doctoral candidate Yue Liu recently showcased her groundbreaking research on deepfake detection and digital literacy at iConference 2026, a prestigious gathering of information science scholars. The international conference, hosted by Edinburgh Napier University, featured both virtual sessions from March 23-26 and in-person events in Edinburgh, Scotland, from March 29 to April 2.

Liu presented her paper “Information priming for resilience: strengthening belief systems in the age of deepfakes,” which explores how information priming techniques could bolster human cognitive defenses against increasingly sophisticated AI-generated misinformation. The research comes at a critical time when artificial intelligence tools have made deceptive content increasingly difficult to identify with traditional methods.

“Presenting at iConference was a very meaningful experience for me,” Liu said. “As this work is part of my dissertation, having the opportunity to share it with an international academic audience was both encouraging and motivating.”

Conducted under the guidance of her major professor, Dr. Shuyuan Metcalfe, Liu’s research takes an innovative approach to the deepfake challenge. Rather than focusing solely on technological solutions for detecting manipulated content, her work examines how individuals perceive and respond to false information.

“As generative AI becomes more widespread, misinformation is increasingly difficult to identify,” Liu explained. “My research takes a different approach by focusing on how people perceive and respond to false information.”

The study employed a sophisticated mixed experimental design that applied different priming techniques as between-subjects factors across various content types, including text, images, and multimedia with embedded truth indicators. Participants were assigned to one of three groups: control, conceptual priming, or perceptual priming. The experiment collected both objective and subjective data on participants’ perceptions and detection performance.

Liu’s presentation generated significant interest among fellow researchers, particularly regarding her experimental methodology. “They were particularly interested in how I structured my experimental groups and how the design could evolve alongside rapidly changing technologies,” she noted. “These conversations gave me new ideas for refining my approach to studying deepfake-related behaviors and helped me think more carefully about how to design experiments that remain relevant over time.”

The timing of Liu’s research is particularly relevant as deepfake technology continues to advance at an alarming pace. Recent studies have shown that even individuals trained to spot digital manipulation can be fooled by the latest generation of AI-created content. This poses growing concerns for information integrity in journalism, politics, and public discourse.

Beyond presenting her own work, Liu participated in workshops and attended sessions by other scholars, including several from FSU’s own information science community. Drs. Marcia Mardis and Denise Gomez conducted a workshop at the conference, while Dr. Sein Oh, an FSU iSchool graduate now with Louisiana State University, presented during a poster session.

“Even while attending a conference in Scotland, it was meaningful to connect with scholars from my own academic community,” Liu remarked. “It made me feel both proud and supported.”

The iConference represents one of the most important annual gatherings in the information science field, bringing together researchers, educators, and practitioners to share insights on pressing challenges in the digital information landscape. This year’s conference placed particular emphasis on misinformation and digital literacy, reflecting growing global concerns about information integrity in the age of AI.

Liu’s published study, which is available online, contributes to a growing body of research examining human-centered approaches to combating digital misinformation. As AI-generated content becomes increasingly indistinguishable from human-created media, her work suggests that preparing individuals to critically evaluate information may prove more sustainable than purely technical solutions.