The Lincoln Project Doomscrolling, Disinformation, and Algorithmic Tyranny
Aug 12, 2025
Dr. Caroline Orr Bueno, an expert in disinformation and social networks, dives into the murky waters of online manipulation. She discusses how the Trump administration's tactics have altered media landscapes, creating an environment rife with algorithmic tyranny. The conversation also highlights the dual nature of TikTok as a tool for both influence and misinformation, particularly among younger voters. Dr. Bueno offers practical tips for combating algorithmic control and stresses the importance of diversifying information sources to escape echo chambers.
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Reverse Algorithmic Capture
- Caroline Orr Bueno calls it reverse algorithmic capture where the administration shapes information architecture.
- She warns these changes can be permanent and outlast any one presidency.
Government Contracts Shape AI Behavior
- Caroline Orr Bueno explains Trump's executive orders force companies to build AI to win federal contracts.
- She says losing government business pressures platforms to reconfigure models that feed our information.
Early Purge Of Cybersecurity Staff
- Caroline Orr Bueno notes the Trump team gutted cybersecurity and half the AI workforce early in his term.
- She suggests that removed staff could have flagged algorithmic manipulation.