Diane Chang is the founder of Invisible Fabric, a consultancy on issues at the intersection of technology, media, and society. In the wake of the 2024

Search is the Next Battle Front in the Information Wars

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2024-11-27 21:00:06

Diane Chang is the founder of Invisible Fabric, a consultancy on issues at the intersection of technology, media, and society.

In the wake of the 2024 US elections, efforts to ensure the integrity of online information ecosystems are at a critical juncture. With social media platforms retreating from more active moderation of civic mis- and disinformation, the role of search engines in providing access to trustworthy information is increasingly vital. As generative AI transforms how users engage with search, platforms must navigate the political challenges that have emerged in the past few years. Fortunately, there are key lessons and best practices from the social media age that AI search firms can learn from and adopt to safeguard the flow of reliable news and information.

Among experts tracking online election rumors and misinformation since the start of the US campaign season this spring, the sudden abatement of election fraud claims across social media platforms by late on November 5th was telling. The University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public reported in a November 8th blog post, “As noted in our two Election Day memos, election fraud speculation… more or less died down by the end of Election Day.” With President-elect Donald Trump's victory and Vice President Kamala Harris's concession in the presidential race, it would appear that the networked campaign to sow election distrust was no longer needed.

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