Determinants of Political Disinformation Prevention: Taiwanese Journalists and General Public Regarding Safety of Import Food

Taiwan has gained global recognition as a country at the forefront of cognitive warfare. Given their expertise in information production and dissemination, journalists respond differently to cognitive warfare compared with the general public. This study analysed the differences in disinformation prevention between Taiwanese journalists and the general public by using a sample of 1,588 survey cases. The results revealed that both journalists and the general public provided increased support for disinformation prevention when they valued animal welfare and when the information was presented in a visually and textually engaging manner. The independent variables in this study (political orientation, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and information source) were found to affect disinformation prevention through attitudes and information presentation (mediators), supporting the hypothesised mediation model. The mediators intensified the support for disinformation prevention among journalists who regularly obtained information from the government. However, journalists who support the ruling party exhibited reduced support for disinformation prevention due to the impact of the mediators. The mediators strengthened the support for disinformation prevention among the general public members who obtained government information and were easily influenced by friends. This study clarifies the factors contributing to sustained disinformation prevention efforts.