Disinformation and Disinformation Resilience

The increasing reliance of modern individuals and societies on second-hand information enables the use of disinformation campaigns in political, military and other conflicts. By spreading “fake news” on a mass scale, state actors attempt to undermine the structural and functional integrity of their adversaries. Disinformation is intended to promote the constitution, entrenchment and spread of non-rational “mental models of reality” among target groups. It does this by using regression triggers (emotions, resentments, existing conspiracy mentality) which shift information processing from a rational to a developmentally lower, less rational level. So despite their “irrational” content, disinformation campaigns are highly rationally organized instruments of destruction, directed particularly against the open societies of the West.

Knowing their mechanism of action also forms the basis for building resilience – i.e.awareness as immunization against the intended activation of regression triggers. Media literacy is the ability to develop and maintain a non-deficient mental model of reality from the daily stream of information. It requires independent acquisition, memorization and updating of knowledge, training in the capacity to reflect, and responsible media reception. This is an extensive preventive educational task for the state, demanding considerable resources. It is becoming more urgent in view of a presumed expansion of disinformation campaigns. But in addition, other measures to avert or contain possible harmful consequences for open, pluralistic societies must also be considered: at the societal level, for example, the suppression of socioeconomic factors that generate anxiety and uncertainty. And at the media level, increased transparency, rigorous debunking, and legal action against false reports and conspiracy narratives.