The Gray Area with Sean Illing How Big Tech benefits from the disinformation panic
Oct 25, 2021
Joe Bernstein, a Senior Reporter at BuzzFeed News and author of "Bad News," dives into the murky waters of online disinformation. He discusses how major tech companies like Facebook and Google profit from misinformation, even as they claim to combat it. Bernstein examines the complexities of defining disinformation and the role of social media in radicalizing beliefs, particularly seen with the January 6th Capitol riot. The conversation highlights a paradoxical relationship where democratized information flow leads to both empowerment and chaos in contemporary society.
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Buzzwords
- People overuse "misinformation" and "disinformation" as buzzwords for information they dislike.
- These terms lack consistent definitions, even among experts, making them meaningless.
Defining Disinformation
- A neutral definition of disinformation is needed to avoid politicization.
- However, context matters online, making it hard to separate information from its political implications.
Facebook's Disinformation Strategy
- Facebook benefits from disinformation panic because it reinforces the perceived power of online advertising.
- If people believe online content influences behavior, it supports Facebook's ad-based business model.
