And so this is why I think online spaces deserve specific attention in this space.

So I think from my perspective, when we examine vulnerability to our own disinformation, gender dynamics are an important but oftentimes overlooked factor.

First of all, nuclear discourse, as we know, is already shaped by gender ideas about strength, control and rationality.

And these ideas influence how actors are perceived as credible, responsible, capable in high-stakes security contexts.

For example, in the war in Ukraine, gender disinformation has been used to shape those perceptions.

Some examples being narratives that feminize Ukrainian leadership or portray Ukraine as morally corrupt.

or aligned with so-called degenerate Western values, putting this in quotation marks, such as LGBTQ.

Where does independent expertise actually make a difference?