MIT study
paperAuthors
Credibility Rating
Gold standard. Rigorous peer review, high editorial standards, and strong institutional reputation.
Rating inherited from publication venue: Science
MIT research article examining fake news vulnerabilities and the need for multidisciplinary safeguards, relevant to AI safety concerns about information integrity and adversarial manipulation in digital systems.
Paper Details
Metadata
Abstract
Addressing fake news requires a multidisciplinary effort The rise of fake news highlights the erosion of long-standing institutional bulwarks against misinformation in the internet age. Concern over the problem is global. However, much remains unknown regarding the vulnerabilities of individuals, institutions, and society to manipulations by malicious actors. A new system of safeguards is needed. Below, we discuss extant social and computer science research regarding belief in fake news and the mechanisms by which it spreads. Fake news has a long history, but we focus on unanswered scientific questions raised by the proliferation of its most recent, politically oriented incarnation. Beyond selected references in the text, suggested further reading can be found in the supplementary materials.
Summary
This MIT study examines the multidisciplinary challenge of fake news in the digital age, arguing that traditional institutional safeguards against misinformation have eroded online. The authors highlight significant gaps in scientific understanding regarding how individuals, institutions, and society are vulnerable to manipulation by malicious actors. They call for a new system of safeguards and synthesize existing social and computer science research on belief formation and spread mechanisms of fake news, with particular focus on recent politically-oriented misinformation.
Cited by 1 page
| Page | Type | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| AI-Accelerated Reality Fragmentation | Risk | 28.0 |
Cached Content Preview
[Skip to main content](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aao2998#main-content-focus)
Advertisement
Main content starts here
Contents
## Abstract
The rise of fake news highlights the erosion of long-standing institutional bulwarks against misinformation in the internet age. Concern over the problem is global. However, much remains unknown regarding the vulnerabilities of individuals, institutions, and society to manipulations by malicious actors. A new system of safeguards is needed. Below, we discuss extant social and computer science research regarding belief in fake news and the mechanisms by which it spreads. Fake news has a long history, but we focus on unanswered scientific questions raised by the proliferation of its most recent, politically oriented incarnation. Beyond selected references in the text, suggested further reading can be found in the supplementary materials.
## Access the full article
View all access options to continue reading this article.
[CHECK ACCESS](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aao2998#core-collateral-purchase-access)
## Supplementary Material
File(aao2998\_lazer\_sm.pdf)
- [Download](https://www.science.org/doi/suppl/10.1126/science.aao2998/suppl_file/aao2998_lazer_sm.pdf)
- 89.41 KB
## References and Notes
1
C. Wardle, H. Derakhshan, “Information disorder: Toward an interdisciplinary framework for research and policy making” \[Council of Europe policy report DGI(2017)09, Council of Europe, 2017\]; [https://firstdraftnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PREMS-162317-GBR-2018-Report-de%CC%81sinformation-1.pdf?x29719](https://firstdraftnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PREMS-162317-GBR-2018-Report-de%CC%81sinformation-1.pdf?x29719).
[Google Scholar](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=C.+Wardle%2C+H.+Derakhshan%2C+%E2%80%9CInformation+disorder%3A+Toward+an+interdisciplinary+framework+for+research+and+policy+making%E2%80%9D+%5BCouncil+of+Europe+policy+report+DGI%282017%2909%2C+Council+of+Europe%2C+2017%5D%3B+https%3A%2F%2Ffirstdraftnews.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FPREMS-162317-GBR-2018-Report-de%25CC%2581sinformation-1.pdf%3Fx29719.)
2
A. Swift, Americans' trust in mass media sinks to new low (Gallup, 2016); [www.gallup.com/poll/195542/americans-trust-mass-media-sinks-new-low.aspx](http://www.gallup.com/poll/195542/americans-trust-mass-media-sinks-new-low.aspx).
[Google Scholar](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A.+Swift%2C+Americans%27+trust+in+mass+media+sinks+to+new+low+%28Gallup%2C+2016%29%3B+www.gallup.com%2Fpoll%2F195542%2Famericans-trust-mass-media-sinks-new-low.aspx.)
3
H. Allcott, M. Gentzkow, _J. Econ. Perspect._ **31**, 211 (2017).
[Crossref](https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.31.2.211)
[Web of Science](https://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&DestApp=WOS_CPL&UsrCustomerID=5e3815c904498985e796fc91436abd9a&SrcAuth=atyponcel&SrcApp=literatum&DestLinkType=FullRecord&KeyUT=WOS%3A000403753100010)
[Google Scholar](https://scholar.goo
... (truncated, 31 KB total)2aca21d86d28cee6 | Stable ID: ZmM5YjIyMG