The Disinformation Crisis Requires Culture

Disinformation, long a tool of control for authoritarian governments, has – fueled by technology – exploded in scale and reach. Several inter-related trends have converged to amplify disinformation into full-blown national security and public health crisis: The rise of “free” and ubiquitous social media, the decline of journalism, and the loss of trust in public institutions. States will struggle to combat the problem as they navigate the tricky shoal water that separates security and free speech. So far the search for solutions has focused almost entirely on tech companies and their civic responsibility to police their own platforms. But censorship and “truth police” will do little to shore up trust, and will come at the expense of free speech. More must be done to educate and change the behaviors of the users; most of whom are unwitting participants in a malign contest for control. The Disinformation Project aims to raise awareness among teens and to empower them to find solutions tailored to their local conditions. We believe that changing online behaviors and how we consume information will innoculate the public from disinformation. Each of us has the power to fight disinformation and render it impotent. We only need to wake up to the problem.

Matt Verich, The Disinformation Project