DROG Intervention Model
Disinformation adapts.
Consequences evolve.
Paradigms shift.
Next-generation interventions emerge.
The last decade has brought to life an economy of counter-measures - both good and bad. To understand the progress in the field of counter-disinformation, we've categorized a number of generations in what we call the DROG Disinformation Intervention Model (DROG DIM).
The problem with interventions
Many current interventions tackling disinformation are national in scope and ideological in essence, that is: without scientific underpinning, clearly defined goals, or cost-effectiveness studies backing up their efforts. They typically propose only one of the intervention types that are outlined in the DIM-model. In essence, they claim: "the disinformation problem goes away if you give us more money". Their silver bullets often aim at the supposed gullibility of the masses and the supposed identical patterns that underlie all disinformation campaigns. But there are no silver bullets.
Gullible individuals do exist; they are exceptions not examples
For most people, disinformation is a belief without real consequences. Not so for Edgar Maddison Welch. He displayed an understandable reaction to the information that children were supposedly abused: he acted. Unlike the millions of other people who believe in fake news, Welch actually tried to do something. He tried stop a paedophile ring that he thought was happening in the basement of the pizzeria Comet Ping Pong. In general though, beliefs, especially professed beliefs, and especially those based on disinformation, do not work the way they are generally thought to work.
There are no identical patterns
No Disinformation Campaign is created equal. Campaigns differ over time, spatially, and tactically. Actors, target groups, and methods change. So, the dynamic context is crucially important.
There are no silver bullets
DROG aims for international and targeted interventions, as well as ideology-agnostic interventions. We go with what works, that is: interventions that are science-based, have clearly defined goals, and are backed up by cost-effectiveness studies for the given context. We created the DIM model to make sure that interventions tackling disinformation do not keep reinventing the wheel and do not get stuck in a one-issue boot loop.
Gen by Gen (DIM)
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