The Sunday Show Don't Hype Disinfo, Say Disinfo Experts
May 5, 2024
Disinformation experts discuss the term's overuse in political discourse, cautioning against hyping its effects. They delve into the risks of exaggerating disinformation, which aids propagandists and diminishes trust. Topics include scaling back alarmist narratives on foreign disinformation, navigating exaggerated influence operation claims, and the impact of social media disinformation on public trust. The conversation explores historical instances of hacking, digital authoritarianism, foreign aid to Ukraine, and nuances of reporting on potentially foreign-originated information.
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Shifting Perceptions of Disinformation
- The public conversation shifted from ignoring disinformation to overstating it within one year after the 2016 election.
- Both understating and overstating the threat are harmful, so focus on evidence-based analysis.
Avoid Mirroring Propagandists
- Avoid mirroring the propagandists' mindset when countering disinformation to protect democracy.
- Don't adopt their paranoia and conspiracies by assuming any shift in public sentiment is orchestrated.
IRA's Mockery
- In 2018, the Internet Research Agency (IRA) seemingly mocked public perception of their influence.
- They claimed citizens and institutions were powerless to stop disinformation, playing on anxieties.