A new phrase that I learned toady is information laundering which according to the Wikipedia page is the surfacing of news, false or otherwise, from unverified sources into the mainstream. According to the wiki, information laundering “can occur when relatively reputable news organizations report on something that a blog or platform of unknown credibility has written. These news organizations may attribute the assertion, but another publication may omit its original source… The original assertion, whether or not its source was credible, gains credibility, especially if it is used by outlets known for high standards.”
I read about information laundering in the context of this article about vaccine misinformation which is obviously a salient topic nowadays given that the first COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for emergency use in the United States, with more approvals on the way. When information laundering leads to misinformation in situations like this, it can adversely impact public health.
I am not an expert on the subject of media manipulation, but I believe that we should all critically appraise the information that we receive from any source. There are many fact checking websites summarized here and here. We’re all at risk of being exposed to laundered information through an endless number of media sources, so recognizing that possibility is the first step to ensuring that we’re getting our facts straight.
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