Post-Truth Strikes Back

Living in the Age of Post-Truth and Preparing for Its Consequences.  

As we’ve already discussed on our website (see HERE), lies, misinformation, manipulation, hybrid threats, misuse of new media, and the chaos of social networks have become such pervasive issues that we seem to have forgotten what truth really means.

While one could argue that all this reflects a form of societal madness, when it comes to security, the systematic spread of lies can have serious consequences. Therefore, it is never excessive to remind ourselves to be aware of what’s ahead.

Philosophers once sought the truth; today, it’s a topic that, as though it’s a completely new concept, grabs the attention of the public and media (whatever their nature). Lies have become so dominant and difficult to discern that even books about them have gained popularity. Noteworthy recent works range from witty observations filled with truth, like Tom Phillips’ humorous book “Truth: A Brief History of Total Bullsht”*, to the bestseller by Swedish scientist Åsa Wikforss, “Alternative Facts: On Knowledge and Its Enemies.”

However, as leading intellectuals and scientists attempt to make sense of what on earth is happening to us, wars rage worldwide, lunatics in power threaten to use nuclear weapons, and after years of environmental destruction, nature is pushing us toward global catastrophe.

Yet, lies are not a new invention. They’ve always been with us. It’s no coincidence that we often cite Machiavelli, who as far back as 1521 wrote: “For a long time, I have neither said what I believe nor believed what I said, and if I happen to utter a truth, I hide it among so many lies that it becomes hard to find.”

Today, even robots know that fake news circulating online is dangerous. To verify this, we asked artificial intelligence what the dangers of fake news are, and here’s the response:

The Dangers of Fake News:

1.Erosion of Trust in Media and Institutions
Fake news erodes trust in journalism, political institutions, and experts. Constant exposure to false information makes people skeptical of reliable sources, undermining social cohesion and trust in democratic processes.

2.Polarization of Society
Fake news is often deliberately spread to deepen existing societal divides, fueling conflict and extremism. It manipulates emotions, creating stronger feelings of anger, fear, or hatred toward specific groups or individuals.

3.Impact on Democratic Processes
Fake news can disrupt elections and political processes by spreading disinformation about candidates, parties, or key issues. It manipulates voters or undermines trust in election results, destabilizing democracies.

4.Manipulation of Public Opinion
Fake news creators often steer public opinion toward specific political or economic goals. Such misinformation is used to sway public opinion in favor of certain laws, products, or political movements.

5.Health and Safety Risks
Fake news about health, such as misinformation on vaccines or COVID-19, can lead to dangerous outcomes. It fosters mistrust in medical professionals and health systems, resulting in fewer vaccinations, poorer health outcomes, or disregard for safety recommendations.

6.Economic Consequences
Fake news can directly impact the economy by spreading misinformation about companies, markets, or products, leading to stock price drops, consumer mistrust, or market destabilization.

7.Hybrid Threats and Cybersecurity
Fake news is often part of broader hybrid warfare strategies, used alongside cyberattacks to destabilize states. Such misinformation can incite panic, insecurity, or social chaos, jeopardizing societal stability.

8.The Era of “Post-Truth”
In a “post-truth” society, emotions and personal beliefs outweigh facts. This fosters an environment where people choose information that aligns with their views, regardless of its accuracy, impeding rational debate and decision-making.

These dangers underscore the importance of promoting media literacy, encouraging critical thinking, and supporting legislative measures to counter the spread of disinformation.

So, while robots understand why lies are dangerous, people often just shrug it off. Countless discussions revolve around why lies captivate or, in some cases, even appeal to us more than the truth. One cannot help but reflect when reading about “fact nihilism” (Åsa Wikforss, “Alternative Facts”), a concept that gained traction with Donald Trump’s rise to political prominence in 2016.

It’s well-known that the former and newly re-elected U.S. president has a penchant for outright lies and nonsense. According to The Washington Post, between 2017 and 2021, he made over 30,000 false or misleading claims. Yet, this didn’t lead to widespread ridicule or electoral failure; quite the opposite. Trump garnered half the votes cast in 2016 (approximately 63 million) and 74 million in 2020. His recent electoral performance has been even better.

Let’s be realistic—finding a politician who doesn’t lie today is akin to winning the lottery. Increasingly, their winning formula seems to be this: the more I lie, the more votes I get. At first glance, this seems illogical, especially if we recall the famous saying, “You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time,” often attributed to Abraham Lincoln. Yet, it seems that in today’s era of artificial intelligence and human folly, this adage no longer holds.

The term “post-truth” was first recorded in 1992 by American playwright Steve Tesich in an essay for The Nation. Tesich used “post-truth” to describe how the U.S. public and political elites began ignoring facts conflicting with dominant narratives, particularly after scandals like Iran-Contra and the Gulf War. The term gained popularity in 2016, during Brexit and the U.S. presidential elections, when misinformation and manipulative information were used to shape public opinion. That year, Oxford Dictionaries named “post-truth” the Word of the Year, defining it as a situation where “objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.”

Today, the term describes an era where emotional and political convictions outweigh factual reality, contributing to the spread of disinformation and public polarization across social and traditional media.

One possible reason for the flood of lies around us may lie in so-called political correctness, the excessive caution not to offend or embarrass anyone, which (regardless of the facts) could lead to legal disputes.

During Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign in 2016, a heated debate emerged in mainstream media, where journalists questioned the definition of lies. In English (and Croatian), a lie is defined as a statement knowingly and intentionally presented as false with the intent to deceive. Unless someone proves you lied knowingly and intentionally (which is challenging because the “liar” can always claim ignorance or lack of intent), you can’t be accused. The conclusion is clear: lie as much as you want and later feign ignorance.

Even the latest Croatian clash between the president and the government, featuring mutual accusations of lying about Croatian officers’ participation in NATO’s support program for Ukraine, is more than mere political squabbling. It demonstrates how deception becomes dangerous when it concerns national security or has consequences for each of us.

After all this, if you’re wondering whom we can trust today, there’s an answer. According to psychological research (the “false belief test,” Wimmer and Perner, 1983), a three-year-old doesn’t understand that someone else can misunderstand something. By age four, children begin to grasp the concept of error, and even lies. So the logical solution emerges: if you want to ensure you’re not being lied to—don’t talk to anyone over the age of four.

(Illustration: Freepik AI)