Roos, C. (2025, May 26). Gendered disinformation as infrastructure: How tech billionaires shape political power. Tech Policy Press. https://www.techpolicy.press/gendered-disinformation-as-infrastructure-how-tech-billionaires-shape-political-power/
This article conceptualizes gendered disinformation as a sociotechnical infrastructure embedded in the political economy of digital platforms. It argues that gendered disinformation operates through the intersection of misogyny, platform design, and political influence, functioning as a strategic mechanism to silence women, particularly those from marginalized groups, and restrict their participation in democratic spaces. Drawing on empirical examples from Brazil and transnational cases, the article demonstrates how platform architectures, algorithmic amplification, and monetization models actively sustain and profit from gender-based harassment and coordinated disinformation campaigns. It further examines how recent shifts in content moderation policies by major technology companies have contributed to the normalization of harmful content under the guise of neutrality and free expression. By positioning tech billionaires as political actors who shape both the boundaries and conditions of public debate, the article highlights the structural role of platforms in reinforcing democratic inequalities. It concludes that addressing gendered disinformation requires moving beyond content moderation toward a structural reconfiguration of platform governance, including stronger regulatory frameworks, accountability mechanisms, and a critical reassessment of the attention economy.