Unchecked: The architecture of disinformation
Misinformation and disinformation thrive in today’s technology landscape, and arguably present the greatest threat to modern society. Information architecture – the practice of designing and managing digital spaces – has an opportunity to intervene. This podcast looks at disinformation from an information architecture perspective, and considers ways to expand the practice of IA to address this new reality....What is Information Architecture?Information architecture is the practice of designing virtual structures – the shape and form of online spaces and digital products. When you click on a navigation menu or follow the steps in a process, you're experiencing the information architecture of a web site or digital product....What is disinformation?Understanding disinformation is the purpose of this podcast. We are trying to figure out exactly what it is and what it means. If information architecture is the practice of designing virtual spaces, then disinformation is something that can occupy that space to disrupt the user's experience. Alternatively, it is a way of manipulating the space (like flooding it with irrelevant facts) to achieve an end unrelated to the space's original intention.
Latest episodes
Jun 7, 2025 • 52min
Episode 3: Disinformation and vaccines with Dr. Adam Ratner
Send us a textSYNOPSISRachel and Dan talk to Dr. Adam Ratner, author of the new book Booster Shots, about the misinformation he encounters as a pediatric infectious disease specialist. We discuss the distinctions between vaccine hesitancy and being anti-vax, and how misinformation has an impact beyond individual healthcare. Dan uses the discussion to highlight a new “lens” called double-tagging, and Rachel is inspired to establish the lens “frenzy.”__________STORIES OF DISINFORMATIONThe Fifth ColumnRachel describes how the US used the fictional threat of a “fifth column” to bolster their argument for Japanese internment camps.A Brief History of Japanese American Relocation During World War II (National Park Service)How a Public Media Campaign Led to Japanese Incarceration during WWII (GBH - American Experience)Of Spies and G-Men: How the U.S. Government Turned Japanese Americans into Enemies of the State (densho.org)Reciprocal TariffsDan highlights some of the more subtle and insidious misinformation about Trump’s tariffs.Trade deficits and truth deficits (Julian Sanchez)PBS interview of Justin WolfersJake Tapper interview of Ag secretary Rollins__________INTERVIEW WITH DR ADAM RATNERDr. Adam RatnerAdam’s book: Booster Shots: The Urgent Lesson of Measles and the Uncertain Future of Children’s Health2019 measles outbreak in New York City (New England Journal of Medicine)Brooklyn measles outbreak: How a glossy booklet spread anti-vaccine messages in Orthodox Jewish communities (NBC News)__________LENSESDouble-taggingSeemingly innocuous labels can be turned into misinformation by applying them in a way that is technically accurate, but twists the meaning of the label. Tagging anti-vax information with the label “vaccines” is misleading, and undermines the integrity of the system.How might tags and classification schemes be co-opted to threaten the system’s integrity?How does the system’s classification scheme adapt to deal with neutral terms that have become loaded?FrenzyInformation systems have a responsibility to help users understand what’s truly important and/or urgent. Systems must avoid contributing to the frenzy of information.How does the system help participants prioritize without causing a fre_____________________________________________________ Personnel Dan Brown, Host Rachel Price, Host Emily Duncan, Editor Music Turtle Up Fool, by Elliot _____________________________________________________ Unchecked is a production of Curious Squid Curious Squid is a digital design consulting firm specializing in information architecture, user experience, and product design
10 snips
Apr 23, 2025 • 56min
Episode 2: Disinformation and civic tech, with Cyd Harrell
Cyd Harrell, author and civic tech expert based in San Francisco, dives into the critical challenges of providing accurate, accessible information in government. The conversation explores how technology can foster civic responsibility while navigating the pitfalls of disinformation. Highlights include the concept of accuracy as a spectrum and the importance of accountability in validating information sources. Cyd also shares insights from her book about improving transparency in government communication, emphasizing the need for user-friendly interfaces.
6 snips
Apr 9, 2025 • 1h 6min
Episode 1: Disinformation and healthcare with Susannah Fox
This week features Susannah Fox, author of Rebel Health, who studies the intersection of technology and healthcare. She dives deep into how disinformation permeates patient communities and explores the importance of creating transparent information ecosystems. Fox discusses the challenges of misdirection in healthcare narratives and emphasizes empowering communities to regulate the accuracy of shared information. With insights on the evolution of digital healthcare dynamics, she highlights the need for collective engagement to combat misinformation.
11 snips
Mar 5, 2025 • 38min
Pilot - Introducing Unchecked
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.
