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231. Lee McIntyre: A History of Disinformation

231. Lee McIntyre: A History of Disinformation

FromTown Hall Seattle Science Series


231. Lee McIntyre: A History of Disinformation

FromTown Hall Seattle Science Series

ratings:
Length:
59 minutes
Released:
May 10, 2024
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

Disinformation has been used throughout history as a tool to intentionally deceive or manipulate the enemy. In our present age of information, where fabricated news stories, photos, or posts of any kind can be spread in an instant, we find ourselves especially vulnerable to the potentially devasting effects of weaponized disinformation. Lee McIntyre is an author and Research Fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University. McIntyre has penned multiple publications exploring the science behind strategic deception. In On Disinformation, the author guides readers through a seventy-year history of strategic political denials, dating back to Soviet intelligence operations in the 1920’s. With the added support of interviews from leading experts on information warfare, counterterrorism, and political extremism, McIntyre lays out the path that has led to our current moment of polarization. In response to the crisis McIntyre presents, he outlines steps that political leaders can take to push back against the spread of disinformation. He also makes a case for the power of collective action, encouraging ordinary citizens to place pressure on Congress to regulate social media sites like Facebook and YouTube. Join Lee McIntyre in his return to Town Hall Seattle, where he will speak truth to the crisis of disinformation, and suggest how we can pursue a more hopeful future. Lee McIntyre is a Research Fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University. He is the author of Dark Ages: The Case for a Science of Human Behavior, Post-Truth, and The Scientific Attitude: Defending Science from Denial, Fraud, and Pseudoscience, all published by the MIT Press.   Buy the Book On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy Queen Anne Book Company
Released:
May 10, 2024
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

The Science series presents cutting-edge research about biology, physics, chemistry, ecology, geology, astronomy, and more. These events appeal to many different levels of expertise, from grade school students to career scientists. With a range of relevant applications, including medicine, the environment, and technology, this series expands our thinking and our possibilities.