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University of Michigan School of Information

International politics and role of technology

The examination of how technological advancements shape diplomatic relations, military strategies and global governance, influencing power dynamics, conflict resolution and cooperation among nations on the international stage.

Quoted by CNBC. Associate professor Joyojeet Pal. From X to TikTok clones, and now a 'WhatsApp killer': India's search for indigenous apps.

Pal: India’s new ‘WhatsApp killer’ app faces an uphill climb without innovation

10/14/2025

UMSI professor Joyojeet Pal discusses why India’s latest messaging app, Arattai, will need to offer something new to win users in an already crowded messaging market. 

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Quoted by The Guardian. Associate Professor Joyojeet Pal. How social media fueled a rush to war between India and Pakistan.

Pal: Misinformation campaign brought India and Pakistan closer to war

06/02/2025

Digital falsehoods during the India-Pakistan conflict escalated tensions between two nuclear-armed nations, says UMSI associate professor Joyojeet Pal. 

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Quoted by The Washington Post. Associate professor Joyojeet Pal. Fog of war thickens as India and Pakistan trade blame and accusations.

Pal: The role of misinformation in the India-Pakistan conflict

05/22/2025

UMSI association professor Joyojeet Pal discusses how social media is reshaping the India-Pakistan conflict. 

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UMSI News in large, bold text with a backdrop of students walking to a building.

How much influence does social media have on India's ongoing elections?

05/09/2024

UMSI associate professor Joyojeet Pal talks about the significant impact of social media in India's upcoming election. 

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Quoted by BBC. Associate Professor Joyojeet Pal. The influencers driving India's big election.

Pal: India’s election is being swayed by influencers

05/08/2024

UMSI associate professor Joyojeet Pal says social media trends in India’s upcoming elections are “dangerous for democracy.” 

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The 4th International Conference on Social Media and Society in India. Monday and Tuesday, April 8-9, 2024. 9am-6pm North Quad space 2435 and online. Please register to attend either in person or on Zoom.

UMSI to feature more than 20 experts at the Social Media and Society in India Symposium

04/08/2024

The symposium will take place Monday, April 8 and Tuesday, April 9.

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Quoted by Al Jazeera. Associate professor Joyojeet Pal. "Inflection point": AI meme wars hit India elections, test social platforms.

Pal: AI-enhanced memes are creating chaos on the political front

03/13/2024

Artificial intelligence is changing how political candidates campaign for office, says UMSI associate professor Joyojeet Pal. 

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UMSI News.

India ranks as highest risk for misinformation

03/11/2024

Social media is changing how candidates leverage political power and campaigning. UMSI expert Joyojeet Pal talks about the challenges of this year's elections. 

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Quoted by Rest of World. Associate Professor Joyojeet Pal. How Narendra Modi became India's influencer-in-chief.

Pal: Narendra Modi’s use of social media is driving popularity

02/28/2024

Joyojeet Pal discusses how Modi has become the “apex predator of the social media food chain” in India, and how that’s driving his approval ratings. 

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Quoted by The Economic Times. Associate Professor Joyojeet Pal. Is it time to update Model Code of Conduct? Adopting to tech-driven election landscape.

In a big election year, Joyojeet Pal says social media platforms must do more to mitigate misinformation

01/17/2024

Social media will have a big impact on elections this year for numerous countries, making it critical for platforms to limit misinformation, says UMSI associate professor Joyojeet Pal. 

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