Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
A disturbing account of how today's technologies are used to distract, mislead, and confuse us about politics--and what we can do about it
Artificially intelligent "bot" accounts bolster or berate politicians on Twitter. Conspiracy theorists publish junk news sites to promote their bunk. Campaigners create fake dating profiles to attract young voters. We live in a world of technologies that jeopardize, in turn, our attention, our discourse, and our democracies. Harnessing information garnered from polling data, internet postings, and interviews with journalists, bot writers, and political consultants, Philip N. Howard offers a way to identify and derail these "lie machines." Full of riveting behind-the-scenes stories from the world's biggest and most damagingly successful misinformation initiatives--including those used in Brexit and the U.S. presidential election--Howard not only shows how these campaigns have evolved from older propaganda operations but also gives new insight into why they are so effective at swaying public opinion.
Synopsis
New technologies now jeopardize our attention, our discourse, and our democracies. Harnessing information garnered from polling data, internet postings, and insider interviews, Philip N. Howard offers a way to identify and derail "lie machines"--and questions how they will evolve as the internet grows increasingly integrated into public life.
Synopsis
Technology is breaking politics--what can be done about it? Artificially intelligent "bot" accounts attack politicians and public figures on social media. Conspiracy theorists publish junk news sites to promote their outlandish beliefs. Campaigners create fake dating profiles to attract young voters. We live in a world of technologies that misdirect our attention, poison our political conversations, and jeopardize our democracies. With massive amounts of social media and public polling data, and in-depth interviews with political consultants, bot writers, and journalists, Philip N. Howard offers ways to take these "lie machines" apart.
Lie Machines is full of riveting behind-the-scenes stories from the world's biggest and most damagingly successful misinformation initiatives--including those used in Brexit and U.S. elections. Howard not only shows how these campaigns evolved from older propaganda operations but also exposes their new powers, gives us insight into their effectiveness, and explains how to shut them down.