Countering Misinformation with Lessons from Public Health
2019
The internet is often praised as a tool for freedom of speech, democracy, and truth. However, the internet increasingly has become polluted by misinformation – the inadvertent spread of misleading and false information – and disinformation – the deliberate and coordinated spread of misleading and false information.
Individuals online knowingly and unknowingly spread dangerous rumors and propaganda at an alarming rate, which can mislead or manipulate the worldview of those who encounter it. False information online can influence people’s opinions and behaviors with profound consequences – like the impersonation of political groups during elections, or the outbreaks of measles in unvaccinated children.
As the internet becomes ubiquitous, policymakers should develop smart strategies to prepare society for the realities of misinformation. The first step is to identify and counter groups deliberately spreading disinformation, but what does society do with the false information left behind? More concerningly, how does a democracy built on the principle of free speech counter misinformation inadvertently spread by its own citizens, without engaging in censorship?
This description was extracted from the publication introduction.
Countering Misinformation with Lessons from Public Health
Source:
Felten C, Nelson A. Countering Misinformation with Lessons from Public Health. Center for Strategic & International Studies 2019; 18. https://www.csis.org/countering-misinformation-lessons-public-health