Mainstream Media Refused to Report Trump's Bombshell Quid Pro Quo Offer to Big Oil Execs

[Kid Berwyn]

21. That really, really bums me out.

As journalism gets replaced by disinformation, democracy circles the drain to despotism.

Finding our way out of the post-truth era

BY WILLIAM S. BECKER, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR
The Hill - 04/01/23

Thomas Jefferson repeatedly wrote that democracy depends on a well-informed citizenry. He called it “the best defense against tyranny.” Moreover, he believed that if democracies go off the rails, well-informed citizens “may be relied on to set them to rights.”

Unfortunately, many Americans are well-duped rather than well-informed today, and millions of citizens, apparently, are okay with that.

SNIP...

We have entered the “post-truth era.” Truth and facts have been devalued even at the highest levels of government. Former President Donald Trump made more than 30,500 false or misleading statements during his time in office and continued his “Big Lie” about the 2020 election after he left. His followers demonstrated how dangerous lies can be. The Jan. 6 insurrection resulted in 1,000 assaults on federal officers and police, injuries to more than 130, as well as the deaths of five others in the following days, including four by suicide. Afterward, Trump called the rioters “great patriots.”

SNIP...

So, what can we do? First, we must restore transparency and responsibility as fundamental to our social contract. This deserves attention from Congress, think tanks, educational institutions, foundations and a presidential commission. The goal is to defend truth and facts without violating the First Amendment. For example:

* Should the developers of technologies like fakeware be required to include features to prevent misuse? For example, manufactured images and vocalizations could include a disclaimer identifying them as fake. Images and vocalizations without that disclaimer would be subject to prosecution as identity theft.

* Should art and writings mainly produced by AI be clearly identified so they cannot be copyrighted or claimed as human creations?

* Should social media reject anonymous postings so abusive users are identified and held accountable? Could AI help trace the origins of false and abusive speech more quickly? The First Amendment does not protect fraud, defamation, death threats, fighting words or speech integral to imminent lawless action. Perhaps social media could extend its standards to bar speech that’s racist, sexist, antigay, bullying, meant to terrorize or to express hostility to a religion, plus any content that compromises national security or violates the privacy rights established by Third, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution.

* Should we reconsider the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) roles in policing fake news?

CONTINUED...

https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/3928988-finding-our-way-out-of-the-post-truth-era/

Where does all the disinformation lead? Chaos. And we know who loves to see the United States in chaos.