Unchecked: The architecture of disinformation Pilot - Introducing Unchecked
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Mar 5, 2025 Dive into the urgent landscape of disinformation, where historical cases like the 1918 flu pandemic reveal the dangers of misinformation. Explore the chaos of the Los Angeles wildfires and how crises fuel false narratives. Discover the critical need for source verification, and learn how technology both empowers and complicates information sharing. The hosts emphasize the importance of information architecture in combating misleading narratives and call for innovative strategies to navigate this complex information jungle.
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Spider Myth Origin Story
- The spider-in-mouth myth originated from a fabricated source by Snopes to illustrate the importance of source-checking.
- Even information professionals can be fooled, highlighting the pervasive challenge of verifying facts.
1918 Flu Disinformation Impact
- In 1918, Spanish newspapers reported on the flu while other nations suppressed the truth to maintain morale during WWI.
- This misinformation led to more flu deaths than WWI combatants, highlighting deadly consequences of disinformation.
LA Wildfires Misinformation
- The LA wildfires led to misinformation falsely blaming government water policy for fire hydrants running dry.
- Misleading posts even claimed firefighters used women's handbags, when in fact it was a proper firefighting tool.