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.

  • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Denying and facilitating a brutal Genocide is a bit more extreme than saying they’re turning the frogs gay.

    I’d say the Genocide thing has priority.

    • Godwins_Law@lemmy.ca
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      9 months ago

      This would matter more if the other party didn’t outright cheer for and support that genocide.

      • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        You realize this kind of response just makes people ask if our “democracy” is even worth defending at this point. If discussions about supporting genocide “don’t matter” then it’s already over. We lost.