March 25, 2020
As the coronavirus spreads, Americans have to flatten the misinformation curve too
Overnight, Americans have become all too familiar with the call to "flatten the curve" by taking precautionary measures to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19). Fulfilling individual responsibilities in this unprecedented crisis, however, requires more than social distancing and physical isolation.
Digital interactions on social media platforms are increasing, as people's physical interactions are primarily restricted. With so many users seeking and sharing information online, the spread of misinformation about the pandemic can overwhelm social platforms, impede the government's response, and enable bad actors online. Every American must therefore do their part to flatten the misinformation curve.
Anyone can be a carrier of harmful misinformation. Because of this risk, members of the public must devote increased diligence to ensure that the information they share on social media and elsewhere is authentic and contextualized. This responsibility goes beyond merely improved "digital literacy." All Americans must embrace an attitude of "digital citizenship," treating online communications with the same level of scrutiny as in-person interactions.
Read the full article in Business Insider.
More from CNAS
-
Technology & National Security
NOTUS Perspectives: AI Requires Massive Allocations of Energy. Will Other Sectors Suffer?On the current trajectory, the government may need to prioritize energy for AI over other uses to ensure the United States remains the global leader in advanced AI....
By Janet Egan
-
Technology & National Security
Countering the Digital Silk RoadThe year 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the Digital Silk Road (DSR), China’s effort to strengthen its global ties and influence through technology. In the decade since the...
By Vivek Chilukuri & Ruby Scanlon
-
Technology & National Security
Microsoft Announcement Highlights Complicated Relationship Between Big Tech and WarMicrosoft restricted the Israeli military's access to some of its technology after it found that Israel's Defense Ministry was using its services to carry out mass surveillanc...
By Paul Scharre
-
Technology & National Security
Quantum Sensing at Scale: Navigating Commercialization RoadblocksQuantum sensing is racing forward in the lab—but turning prototypes into products still means wrestling with supply chains, certification, and unit economics. In “Quantum Sens...
By Constanza M. Vidal Bustamante