The “Four D’s of Disinformation” is a framework developed by Ben Nimmo, Director of Investigations for network analysis firm Graphika, to describe how disinformation campaigns often operate. Here’s a breakdown:
- Dismiss:
- Goal: Undermine the credibility of critics or opposing viewpoints.
- Tactics:
- Ad hominem attacks: Insulting or discrediting individuals rather than addressing their arguments.
- Labeling: Assigning negative labels to opponents or their supporters (e.g., “fake news,” “conspiracy theorists”).
- Conspiracy theories: Suggesting that opponents are part of a secret plot or agenda.
- Distort:
- Goal: Manipulate facts or create false narratives.
- Tactics:
- Misleading headlines: Using sensational or clickbait headlines that don’t accurately reflect the content.
- Selective editing: Manipulating videos or audio clips to create a false impression.
- “Whataboutism”: Shifting the focus away from the original issue by raising irrelevant counter-accusations.
- Distract:
- Goal: Divert attention from the main issue or create confusion.
- Tactics:
- “Flood the zone”: Overwhelming audiences with a barrage of information, making it difficult to discern truth from falsehood.
- “Manufactured controversy”: Creating artificial controversy around a non-issue to distract from more important matters.
- “Fake experts”: Promoting individuals with no real expertise as authorities on a particular topic.
- Dismay:
- Goal: Create feelings of fear, anger, and distrust.
- Tactics:
- Emotional appeals: Using strong language and imagery to evoke fear, anger, or outrage.
- Conspiracy theories: Spreading unfounded claims about hidden agendas or secret plots.
- “Echo chambers”: Creating online spaces where dissenting views are suppressed and only one perspective is amplified.
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