Unchecked: The architecture of disinformation Episode 5: Disinformation and cognitive bias, with David Dylan Thomas
SYNOPSIS
David Dylan Thomas joins Rachel and Dan to talk about cognitive biases. David explains the fundamental attribution error, the framing effect, and the confirmation bias. All of these contribute to a skewed perception in which a person’s misconceptions about the world can be reinforced or exploited. The conversation leads Rachel to suggest the lens of manipulation and Dan the lens of belonging.
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STORIES OF DISINFORMATION
Mary Toft
- Dan quotes from Mary Toft; or the Rabbit Queen, by Dexter Palmer
- The true story of Mary Toft, 18th century medical hoaxer (wikipedia)
AI Policy
- Directive to remove AI Safety from agreement on cooperative research and development agreement (Wired)
- News story about executive order on woke AI (Wall Street Journal)
- The executive order to “prevent woke AI” (Whitehouse.gov)
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INTERVIEW WITH DAVID DYLAN THOMAS
- David Dylan Thomas
- Design for Cognitive Bias
- The Cognitive Bias Podcast
- Story from The Hill about Facebook algorithm
- White Meat, the movie
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LENSES
Manipulation
Content can manipulate a person’s hope and joy, and anger and fear, triggering a physiological reaction. But the content of a system is not solely responsible for this effect on users.
- What role does the ecosystem play in framing and presenting information in a way to garner an emotional response?
- How might someone use the system to elicit a powerful emotion?
- What emotions is the system trying to exploit?
- How does the system measure and/or classify information based on its level of physiological activation?
Belonging
The intent of disinformation is often to make someone feel like they belong to a community.
- What role does belonging play in the system?
- What aspects of the system (labeling, categorization) create a sense of belonging?
- How does the system take advantage of a person belonging to it?
- How does the system model users as information objects?
- What is the emotional component of the relationships represented in the information space?
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Personnel
- Dan Brown, Host
- Rachel Price, Host
- Emily Duncan, Editor
Music
- Turtle Up Fool, by Elliot
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Unchecked is a production of Curious Squid
Curious Squid is a digital design consulting firm specializing in information architecture, user experience, and product design