Natasha Williams

Natasha Williams studies technology’s emerging roles in political communication, democratization, and security. She is particularly interested in issues relating to information and cyber operations, ICT, and social media.

Natasha Williams is a Fontaine Fellow and a joint doctoral student in Communication and Political Science at the Annenberg School for Communication and the Department of Political Science at the School of Arts and Sciences. 

Williams is fascinated by issues lying at the nexus of technology’s emerging roles in political communication, democratization, and security. Her research interests span technology’s impact on society and statehood, ranging from topics such as misinformation and disinformation to technology-enabled competition in the global power environment. She is also interested in how technology shapes political behavior under democratic versus authoritarian regimes.

Prior to attending the University of Pennsylvania, Williams worked in private research. She received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Economics summa cum laude from New York University. Her senior thesis titled, “The Politics of a Super-Presidential State: The Use of Information and Communication Technology for Electoral Manipulation in Putin’s Russia,” was awarded Best Honors Thesis and Best Poster Presentation.