Welcome to another episode of the Redefining Society podcast on ITSP Magazine. I’m your host, Marco Ciappelli. Today, we’re tackling a critical issue that affects all of us: the intricate relationship between technology, society, and the burgeoning crisis of misinformation.

As we approach the upcoming elections in the United States and reflect on recent political events in Europe, it’s clear that the lines between digital and real life have become increasingly blurred. To explore this topic, I’m joined by two esteemed guests: Joy Scott, the head of Scott Public Relations, and Andrew Edwards, an entrepreneur and author of ‘Army of Liars.’

We’ll start by reflecting on how modern technology, particularly social media, has drastically altered the landscape of information consumption and trust. Joy Scott will introduce her professional focus on disinformation, sharing insights from her initiatives, including a specialized newsletter and her book, ‘The Gentrification.’ Andrew Edwards will bring his expertise on technology, audience tracking, and the significance of Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, highlighting the unique responsibilities—or lack thereof—faced by social media platforms compared to traditional publishers.

Our guests will recount anecdotes illustrating the stark differences in media consumption from past decades to today, shedding light on how fact-checking has evolved in the age of algorithms. We’ll discuss the unchecked spread of propaganda by malicious actors, including foreign entities, and explore both technological solutions and the need for stricter legislative measures.

We’ll also examine the role of AI in misinformation, acknowledging its double-edged potential: while it can generate impressive, creative content, it can also facilitate the rapid dissemination of falsehoods. Joy and Andrew will underline the importance of media literacy and fact-checking tools like FactCheck.org and NewsGuard.

As we conclude, I’ll emphasize the necessity of a multi-faceted approach to mitigate misinformation’s impact, advocating for both user education and systemic change. This episode serves as a call to action for more conscientious consumption of information and urges society and policymakers to address the legal and technological gaps that allow disinformation to thrive.

Tune in and join the conversation as we redefine society together.

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Resources

Fakchex.substack: https://magenta-nation.com/fakchex/

The Consumer's Guide to Spotting Fake News: https://magenta-nation.com/a-consumers-guide-to-disinformation-ebook/

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https://www.itspmagazine.com/redefining-society-podcast

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