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Re:EFF's 100-Day Plan by leereeves on Friday January 20, 2017 @08:50PM (#13448344)
> a free and open internet.

> defending against disinformation

Pick at most one.

Re:EFF's 100-Day Plan by sophacles on Friday January 20, 2017 @09:06PM (#13448378)
Disagree - The tools for hyperbole, opposing viewpoints, and factually false information do not prevent people from publishing it. Aggregators (facebook, HN et al) choosing to promote more vetted info is not the same as preventing people from publishing it.

In fact I would go so far as to say that pushing for allowing anyone to publish on a free and open internet is necessary for defending against disinformation. The alternative is censoring (in a generic sense, not necessarily a law sense) things, which can heighten disinformation dramatically.

Re:EFF's 100-Day Plan by leereeves on Friday January 20, 2017 @09:12PM (#13448390)
I agree that a free and open Internet is the best defense against disinformation.

It's a lousy defense. Massive amounts of disinformation will be shared (are shared) on a free Internet.

But "defending against disinformation" sounds like the excuse the government will use for censorship.

Re:EFF's 100-Day Plan by Noos on Saturday January 21, 2017 @02:14AM (#13449231)
people tend to view "free and open internet" insofar as it promotes their own views. Free and open internet is nice if it destablizes the power of traditional religion and promotes tolerance of alternative sexuality, but if the same corrosive power is turned on the values of the gatekeepers, suddenly we're arguing about no longer allowing comments on web pages, debating about "fake news" and the like.

People tend to want to cloak their own values in rhetoric that is appealing. They want to seem tolerant and open, when really they want to be closed and intolerant of opposition to their own values. Some people realize this tendency in themselves, but many of those in power or as gatekeepers don't at all.

Re:EFF's 100-Day Plan by whazor on Saturday January 21, 2017 @06:04AM (#13449647)
Or maybe ban advertising on sites with disinformation.
Re:EFF's 100-Day Plan by rm_-rf_slash on Friday January 20, 2017 @08:53PM (#13448352)
Not mutually exclusive, but the fix for the latter to ensure the former is education, not legislation.
Re:EFF's 100-Day Plan by leereeves on Friday January 20, 2017 @09:03PM (#13448367)
The power to declare something "disinformation" is the power to censor.

I don't think I'd trust anyone who has governed in my lifetime not to abuse that power.

Re:EFF's 100-Day Plan by rm_-rf_slash on Friday January 20, 2017 @11:32PM (#13448806)
I think you missed my point. It takes critical thinking to discern truth from misinformation, regardless of political preferences.