Manifest
If we want to solve what people often refer to as ‘the problem’ of disinformation, we should not be afraid of it; we should embrace it. Because after all, fear and distrust are the nuclear engine of disinformation.
In order to achieve this we need to adhere to the following
rules:
1. Facts are obsolete in the first line of defence against
disinformation. As much as we want the truth to be about
objective facts, the reality is that the acceptance of truth
is a social construct. And emotions are more effective than
facts.
2. The greatest victims cause the greatest problems.
Disinformation can only be effective if it is amplified by
true believers. Factors like distrust of authority, the
feeling of loss of control, or even the feeling of belonging
make people active amplifiers of disinformation and at the
same time extremely hard to reach.
3. The Internet has never been a sacred place, and we should
not want to clean it entirely. Trying to defend ourselves from
encountering disinformation by blocking it will not increase
the resilience of society and will only further convince true
believers of the righteousness of their path.
4. We need to create our own playing field. Accept that disinformation has a high entertainment value and use those same techniques to make something else, something harmless that will meet the demand.