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Tech Tank: A Citizen’s Guide to Disinformation

Elaine Kamarck, Nicol Turner Lee, Darrell West
Tuesday, September 3, 2024, 8:00 AM

Published by The Lawfare Institute
in Cooperation With
Brookings

Disinformation thrives in today’s increasingly polarized political climate, both in the United States and around the world. The rapid rise of inexpensive digital technology has made it easier than ever for falsehoods to spread, often fueled by organized networks with questionable motives. As more people turn to online sources for news and information, the prevalence of disinformation raises critical questions across numerous sectors. It is essential for individuals to understand and detect disinformation to protect themselves and their communities. 

Disinformation has recently made headlines for inciting riots in London, disrupting U.S. elections with false images and videos of candidates, and sparking outrage at the Olympics over a dispute regarding an athlete’s gender. These events highlight the urgent need for society to have a guide to help navigate disinformation. Darrell West and Elaine Kamarck address this need in their new book, “Lies That Kill: A Citizen’s Guide to Disinformation.” This book aims to empower citizens to protect themselves from the harmful effects of disinformation. 

On this episode of the TechTank podcast, co-host Nicol Turner Lee is joined by co-authors of “Lies That Kill”, Darrell West, co-host of the TechTank Podcast and senior fellow at Brookings, and Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and founding director of the Center for Effective Public Management. Together, they discuss the impact of disinformation on society and explore solutions presented in the book. 

Listen to the episode and subscribe to the TechTank Podcast on AppleSpotify, or Acast.



Elaine C. Kamarck is a Senior Fellow in the Governance Studies program as well as the Director of the Center for Effective Public Management at the Brookings Institution. She is an expert on American electoral politics and government innovation and reform in the United States, OECD nations, and developing countries.
Dr. Nicol Turner Lee is a senior fellow in Governance Studies, the director of the Center for Technology Innovation, and serves as Co-Editor-In-Chief of TechTank. Dr. Turner Lee researches public policy designed to enable equitable access to technology across the U.S. and to harness its power to create change in communities across the world. Her work also explores global and domestic broadband deployment and internet governance issues. She is an expert on the intersection of race, wealth, and technology within the context of civic engagement, criminal justice, and economic development.
Darrell M. West is vice president and director of Governance Studies and holds the Douglas Dillon Chair. He is Co-Editor-in-Chief of TechTank. His current research focuses on artificial intelligence, robotics, and the future of work. West is also director of the John Hazen White Manufacturing Initiative.