Disinformation is the deliberate use of lies to manipulate people, whether to extract profit or to advance a political agenda. Its unwitting accomplice, misinformation, is spread by unknowing dupes who repeat lies they believe to be true. In America today, both forms of falsehood are distorting our perception of reality.

In a democracy, the people need a shared set of facts as a basis to debate and make decisions that advance and secure their collective interests. Differences of opinion, and even propaganda, have always existed in the United States, but now, enemies of democracy are using disinformation to attack our sovereign right to truthful information, intellectual integrity, and the exercise of the will of the people. Online disinformation is particularly insidious because of its immediacy, its capacity to deceive, and its ability to reach its target.

  • goatmeal@midwest.social
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    8 months ago

    Both sides have pretty bad disinformation going on. Left is just more polished about it, I’m guessing because their demographic is on average much more educated. Right wing stuff you can at least immediately see right through.

    Israel coverage from the main stream left has been stunning

    • stoly@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      LOL there’s always a both sideser in here. I have this conversation with my brother weekly. He seems to think that the next time will convince me.

      • goatmeal@midwest.social
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        8 months ago

        I mean the right is obviously much worse, straight up lies vs careful omission. Not trying to defend that since it kinda goes without saying around here.

        For this tho when one of the fastest/widest margin bills to pass congress this past year is blocking foreign tech media because it might influence elections, while our domestic tech companies have already been proven to do that over and over for the past few elections it just shows neither side actually cares about misinformation, just controlling it for themselves

        • stoly@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          It’s specifically that they don’t want the Chinese government to have access to the data. They don’t care a bit about privacy though.

        • Simon@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          8 months ago

          One side is backed by fiction and one side is backed by US intelligence? And where is this ‘proof’ domestic tech companies illegally influence American elections? Let’s see it bub.

          • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            And where is this ‘proof’ domestic tech companies illegally influence American elections?

            God it’s impossible to keep up with people who are obsessed with defending the problems within the Democratic party. Is this not what happened in the 2016 general election now? I can’t keep up with the shifting narratives used to excuse the failures of establishment Democrats.

            • Daft_ish@lemmy.world
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              8 months ago

              The other day some one was bitching about the Steele dossier. I guess if the only evidence of impropriety from the democrats is opposition research from 2016 then that’s actually not bad.

            • Simon@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              8 months ago

              Sure, be scared of the tech bogeymen forever then. If I recall all three branches of your government were repub for half a turn and you’re still getting ass fucked.

          • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            No problem. Since the youtube video does indeed explain everything.

            I could link you the Manufacturing Consent book too but that seems rather long for your simple question.

            • gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              8 months ago

              Since the youtube video does indeed explain everything.

              No it doesn’t.

              I could link you the Manufacturing Consent book too but that seems rather long for your simple question.

              Nobody asked a question, dipshit

              • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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                8 months ago

                Is that the sound of a liberal that can’t explain why his government refuses to call the Genocide israel commits a Genocide?

        • TokenBoomer@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          See, the problem can’t be capitalism because to do away with that would change things. And change scares me. So, I want to conserve what we have now. But, don’t call me a conservative. /s

    • Snapz@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Your comment literally started with “both sides”… Just ZERO self awareness.

      • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Disinformation from establishment Democrats is enabling the Republican party. We can hate Republicans all we like but establishment Democrats are trying to walk this tightrope between fascism and worker empowerment. Every time they lose their balance they shift to the right. We will be unable to defeat the Republican party until we root out the corruption of the Democratic party.