Weaponizing Uncertainty: How Tech is Recycling Big Tobacco’s Playbook
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The Merchants of Doubt: Manipulating Uncertainty
This chapter examines how various industries weaponize uncertainty, particularly through the lens of the 'merchants of doubt' who challenged scientific consensus on issues like climate change and tobacco harm. It explores the ideological motivations behind their actions and the manipulative tactics employed to create public confusion, from astroturfing to framing debates as matters of personal freedom. By drawing parallels to past historical debates and consumer product marketing, the chapter reveals the pervasive strategies used to diminish accountability and shape public perception.
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