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The Dissenter

#1014 Walter Scheirer: A History of Fake Things on the Internet

Nov 1, 2024
Walter Scheirer, Dennis O. Doughty Collegiate Professor of Computer Science at Notre Dame, delves into the intricate world of online fakery. He traces the evolution of storytelling from antiquity to digital media and examines how misinformation shapes our identities and political discourse. The conversation explores shock-content websites and the implications of deep fakes, raising critical questions about trust in the digital age. Lastly, Scheirer highlights the dual role of AI in both creating and understanding fake content, emphasizing its complex impact on society.
58:48

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Quick takeaways

  • The podcast explores the historical roots of fake content, tracing its evolution from ancient storytelling to modern digital manipulation.
  • Dr. Scheirer emphasizes the duality of digital content as both a potential source of misinformation and a platform for positive, creative expression.

Deep dives

Motivation Behind the Book

The author’s motivation for writing the book stems from a need to address the overlooked history of digital content manipulation and its social implications. Centered on media forensics, the author examines how manipulated images, videos, and synthetic digital content affect societal perceptions. He notes that while many in technical fields focus solely on data created for laboratory experiments, real examples of misinformation are often dismissed. This gap in understanding spurred the author's desire to create a narrative that encompasses not just the technical aspects but also the political and cultural contexts surrounding fake content.

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