Mistrust and the Rise of Disinformation

Abstract

We have more information at our fingertips than ever, yet how much of it can we trust? If, as was argued in Chapter 3, we need to be able to trust the information upon which we base our assessments and beliefs about the trustworthiness of other actors, then the sorts of information disorders associated with the age of disinformation can have profoundly negative repercussions for societal trust and the social cooperation and coordination it supports. By examining the rise of mistrust and disinformation, the many faces of disinformation, and the causes of our current “age of disinformation,” this chapter aims to set the context for understanding the appeal and promise of blockchains and distributed ledgers in troubled times.