How Americans fell prey to Russian disinformation
Voters in the US could be targeted with fake news and manipulated because they are so poorly educated
As the US marks the first anniversary of President Donald Trump’s election, the question of how Trump won still commands attention, with Russia’s role moving increasingly to center stage. Each new revelation in the investigation of Russia’s meddling in the 2016 campaign brings the vulnerability of the US democratic process into sharper focus.
Last week, Congress unveiled legislation that would force social media giants to disclose who buys online advertising, thereby closing a loophole that Russia exploited during the election. But making amends through technical fixes and public promises to be better corporate citizens will solve only the most publicised problem.
The tougher challenge will be strengthening institutions that are vital to a democracy – specifically, civics education and local journalism. Until gains are made in these areas, the threat to America’s democratic process will grow, resurfacing every time the country votes. Strip away the technobabble about better algorithms, more transparency, and commitment to truth, and Silicon Valley’s “fixes” dodge a simple fact: Its technologies are not designed to sort truth from false- hoods, check accuracy, or correct mistakes. Just the opposite: They are built to maximise clicks, shares, and “likes.”
Despite pushing to displace traditional news outlets as the world’s information platforms, social media’s moguls appear content to ignore journalism’s fundamental values, processes, and goals. It is this irresponsibility that co-sponsors of the recent advertising transparency bill are seeking to address.
Still, Russia’s success in targeting American voters with bogus news could not have succeeded were it not for the second problem: A poorly educated electorate susceptible to manipulation. The erosion of civics education in schools, the shuttering of local newspapers – and the consequent decline in the public’s understanding of issues and the political process – conspire to create fertile ground for the sowing of disinformation.
High school or university courses by themselves will not keep gullible voters from falling for bogus news or inflammatory disinformation. But the viral spread of fake news stories initiated by Russian agents made one thing clear: An electorate lacking a basic civics education is more likely to fall for provocations designed to inflame partisan tensions. As for the media’s civic responsibility, that, too, seems to have suffered. The US didn’t need Putin to deliver that lesson. “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free,” Thomas Jefferson warned, “it expects what never was and never will be.” Life is meaningless without a goal. They may be short-term objectives or long-term ones, nevertheless they are important to keep the enthusiasm alive within us.
The purpose may be for self-satisfaction or social need, but it is paramount. An individual without a goal or a purpose is like a lost child, who struggles to find her way. Many lose direction and indulge in activities which may be cause for regret.
It is essential to inculcate in the minds