Fake News, Conspiracy Theories, and Lies: An Information Laundering Model for Homeland Security [open pdf - 1MB]
From the thesis abstract: "The purpose of this research, broadly speaking, is to expose the threat that 'fake news' poses to our national security. This thesis answers the question: Can the information laundering model, or a modified version of it, be used to explain how the internet is exploited to spread fake news, and the resulting threat to the United States? I assert that a well-crafted narrative, whether true or false, can be spread rapidly online due to the accessibility and interconnectedness of the internet ecosystem. I then articulate how these narratives can be further accelerated and disseminated when propagandists take advantage of existing processes that improve the customization, ease of access, and availability of information online. I do this by modifying the information laundering model, and then using the new model to examine the interconnectedness of search engines, blogs, social networking platforms, and media/academic outlets, and how these connections can be exploited to launder false or purposefully misleading information into public discourse. Finally, I demonstrate how this process allows adversarial nations, criminals, and malicious actors to increase public discord, undermine democracy, and threaten Americans' physical and cognitive security."
Author: | |
Publisher: | |
Date: | 2018-03 |
Series: | |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Retrieved From: | Naval Postgraduate School, Dudley Knox Library: https://calhoun.nps.edu/ |
Format: | pdf |
Media Type: | application/pdf |
Source: | Cohort CA1605/1606; FCLP1501 |
URL: |