API tools faq
paste
Guest User

Stop online conspiracy content

a guest
Oct 31st, 2024
227
0
Never
Add comment
Not a member of Pastebin yet? Sign Up, it unlocks many cool features!
text 13.86 KB | None | 0 0
raw download clone embed print report
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 1.1. Background
  3. Over the last eight years, the spread of conspiracy theories has reached unprecedented scales. This occurred because society was too tolerant of conspiratorial narratives, making it highly vulnerable and susceptible to the influence of openly obscurantist ideas. In 2020, it became evident that this poses a very serious threat to freedom of speech, societal safety, and people's health even in countries commonly associated with the phrase "civilized world". The realization of such threats was already taking place in the 1930s in Germany, leading to the rise of individuals who supported conspiracy theories and governed based on openly obscurantist ideas. They explained their mistakes and miscalculations as machinations and plots by cunning enemies. To avoid repeating this on any scale, it is crucial to take immediate measures against this phenomenon. Further inaction may not only lead to but will inevitably result in catastrophic irreversible consequences. And if this happens, help will be expected from nowhere.
  4.  
  5. 1.2. Why this is happening and how to counteract it
  6. This situation, in part, has arisen because the measures taken by online platforms and social networks against the spread of such content have not yielded the desired results. These measures are too diverse and, on one hand, insufficiently strict, while on the other hand, they provide an excuse for obscurantists and conspiracy theory proponents to portray themselves as victims of censorship and fighters for free speech, despite the fact that they were never either victims or defenders of such.
  7.  
  8. However, the problem is not limited to social networks, video hosting services, and online platforms. Due to a too tolerant attitude towards conspiracy theories and "alternative truth", public participation in their dissemination is not considered morally or socially unacceptable. A person who has participated or participates in spreading conspiracy theories can obtain an important position in the corporate or government sector with the authority to influence decision-making. Such a person may be appointed to a position that allows for teaching and enlightenment activities, using it to spread obscurantist ideas.
  9.  
  10. In the current situation, it is necessary to take measures that, on one hand, will be strict enough to effectively counteract the spread of conspiratorial beliefs and obscurantist ideas (including "alternative truth"), while on the other hand, will not violate the principles of freedom of speech.
  11.  
  12. 2. Purposes of this document
  13. - Implement organizational and technical measures to combat the spread of conspiratorial content without violating freedom of speech principles;
  14. - Take organizational measures to prevent the influence of conspiracy theories and obscurantist ideas on any management decisions;
  15. - Achieve a decrease in tolerance for believing in conspiratorial theories, devotion to obscurantist ideas, and public support for them.
  16. - Reduce the capabilities of foreign intelligence agencies and criminal structures for interfering in elections and making managerial decisions.
  17. - Reduce the capabilities of foreign intelligence agencies and criminal structures for provoking domestic extremism, inciting hatred, polarizing society, and destabilizing the situation through the introduction of clearly false statements, including those related to politics and elections.
  18. - Achieve that investments from widely known individuals publicly supporting conspiracy theories and obscurantist ideas become toxic assets.
  19.  
  20. 3. By signing this petition, I support the following actions and measures:
  21. 3.1 From online platforms, social networks, advertising networks, video hosting services, media, hosting providers, legislative bodies:
  22. - Require marking (labeling) of conspiracy content, including reporting that it contains demonstrably false, fabricated, or unverified facts and claims. If labeling is not performed by the content creator, it should be applied by moderators of social networks or video hosting services in case of receiving and confirming corresponding complaints.
  23. - Require marking (labeling) of mockumentary / pseudo-documentary content, including reporting that it contains demonstrably false, fabricated, or unverified facts, created for entertainment purposes, and should not be taken seriously.
  24. - If possible, label links to conspiracy content in search results both in search engines and in internal search services within social networks and video hosting services.
  25. - Do not display the number of likes and views on posts and videos with conspiracy content.
  26. - Restrict access to conspiracy content for minors (consider such content as 18+).
  27. - Block monetization of conspiracy content through built-in features of online platforms, social networks, video hosting services, advertising networks.
  28. - Block the ability to place payment information and donation links alongside conspiracy content (for example, in video descriptions).
  29. - Block the ability of permanent sources of conspiracy content (channels on video hosting services, accounts in social networks, etc.) to place payment information and donation links.
  30. - Block the use of recommendation technologies for promoting and spreading conspiracy content.
  31. - Block the ability to subscribe to permanent sources of conspiracy content (channels on video hosting services, accounts in social networks, etc.).
  32. - Block the ability to embed those videos marked as conspiracy content onto external websites (this measure can only be implemented by video hosting services).
  33. - Instead of commercial advertising, insert ads for science-oriented channels and organizations conducting fact-checking into conspiracy content.
  34. - In recommendations for conspiracy content, provide materials debunking conspiracy theories, fakes, and myths, as well as educational materials from science-oriented channels.
  35. - Require official (licensed) news media to place a disclaimer about whether the facts they present have been verified. This requirement should apply, among other things, to TV, radio, and print publications. First and foremost, these measures should be applied to news items related to elections and participating parties or candidates.
  36.  
  37. Why it is important:
  38. These measures should lead to a very significant reduction in the opportunities for earning from conspiracy content. Also, they will help reduce the possibilities for its dissemination and influence on political processes. More radical measures have not been intentionally included in this document to avoid giving obscurantists a reason to portray themselves as defenders of free speech and victims of censorship.
  39.  
  40. 3.2 From payment services
  41.  
  42. - Make it difficult or completely block the ability to collect funds for conspiracy content.
  43.  
  44. Why it is important:
  45. Freedom of speech does not mean that conspiracy content should give an opportunity to earn money. If someone wants to produce such content, let them do it at their own expense rather than collecting money from gullible and deceived people.
  46.  
  47. 3.3 From representatives of business and authorities
  48.  
  49. - Before appointing someone to a position allowing them to influence managerial decisions, conduct a more thorough screening of candidates for susceptibility to conspiracy theories and involvement in ideological communities where conspiracy beliefs are predominant.
  50.  
  51. Why it is important:
  52. Appointing someone to a managerial position whose decision-making is influenced by conspiracy theories will significantly lower the quality of these decisions. This will be much worse and more dangerous than when an HR manager selects a candidate based on some numerological aspect of their birthdate. Under the influence of conspiracy theories, a person may have the intention to destroy the system in which they hold a leadership position, resulting in deliberately taking corresponding decisions.
  53.  
  54. 3.4 From educational institutions
  55. - Before assigning someone to a position allowing them to engage in teaching or enlightening activities, conduct a more thorough screening of candidates for susceptibility to conspiracy theories and involvement in ideological communities where conspiracy beliefs are predominant.
  56.  
  57. Why it is important:
  58. In civilized countries, it must be categorically unacceptable for the spread of obscurantist ideas and conspiracy theories to occur using the authority of science and educational institutions.
  59.  
  60. 3.5 From legislative and supervisory bodies, as well as payment services for collecting donations
  61. - Prohibit or significantly restrict financing (including through donations) of religious organizations by foreign citizens and organizations.
  62.  
  63. Why it is important:
  64. This possibility can be used to "order" the infiltration of conspiracy theories and extremist narratives into beliefs propagated by leaders and activists of religious organizations. The surge of what is called "Christian nationalism" and its influence on political processes raises great concern and justified suspicions that this activity was financed by hostile countries with the intention to influence election outcomes. Similarly, concerns arise from the possibility of financing the propaganda of Islamic fundamentalism and extremist branches of Islam. For security reasons, the possibility of financing religious organizations from abroad should be substantially restricted or completely banned.
  65.  
  66. 3.6 From private individuals
  67. - As much as possible, avoid using services (including payment services) and purchasing products from companies whose owners or large investors publicly support individuals directly involved in spreading conspiracy theories, including denying the results of the 2020 US presidential election. In simpler terms, we should stop buying anything from companies and services closely associated with people who have made significant financial investments in the political activities of conspiracists or openly supported their propaganda. Yes, if you have a desire to buy something, you should first check whether the manufacturer or supplier of the service is linked to individuals involved in all this. A similar check should also be conducted regarding payment services used for purchasing or sending donations. Although it may seem difficult, unfortunately, it is necessary to get accustomed to the necessity of conducting such checks.
  68. - Stop pretending to be tolerant toward belief in conspiracy theories, openly expressing our disapproval and disgust for them. We need to show that opposition to conspiratorial mysticism comes not only from people with high incomes and considerable authority but also from a huge number of ordinary reasonable people from different social strata, who cannot be attributed to the "Deep state" or something similar through any manipulations and distortions.
  69. - If among your friends, relatives, and acquaintances are people who clearly doubt and are not unambiguous supporters or opponents of conspiracy theories, try to dedicate time to explaining the destructive impact of believing in conspiracy theories. Explain what leads a person to believe them. Explain what fact-checking is, how it is conducted, and how it can be used with its help to discover that almost all modern conspiracy theories are built on lies, fact manipulations, sophisms, and other manipulative techniques. Explain that the majority of conspiracy theories, in one way or another, fan hatred towards a certain person, group of people, or idea, which may be exploited by supporters of totalitarianism and anti-democratic ideas for political purposes.
  70. - As much as possible, stop or reduce providing financial, organizational, and technical assistance to private individuals involved in spreading conspiracy content and obscurantist ideas, or who are members of communities where conspiracy related beliefs are predominant.
  71.  
  72. Why it is important:
  73. It's crucial to understand that at this moment, the most important thing is to distance people who are not fully convinced and have doubts about obscurantist ideas and conspiracy theories from these ideas. We cannot pretend tolerance towards such ideas and make them seem like an innocuous whim that doesn't pose a threat to society. Instead, we must openly express our disapproval of these ideas and the belief in them.
  74.  
  75. Regarding those who are hopelessly infected with such ideas, it is necessary to reduce or even completely stop any financial and technical assistance. Unfortunately, it seems that other persuasion methods no longer work on such people - at least not in the short term.
  76.  
  77. 4. What if obscurantists win?
  78. If people infected with obscurantist ideas were to gain significant power, they would certainly conduct a "witch hunt" against you without any doubt or hesitation that you might have towards them or their supporters.
  79.  
  80. They would do the same thing that was done in Germany in the past century against Hitler's opponents. They would "resolve" the issue of elections by either completely canceling them or turning them into a farce. They would abolish freedom of speech and many other civil rights, declaring anyone whose views differ from their obscurantist and anti-humanitarian ideas as extremists or "agents of the Deep State". They would appoint the kind of generals that Hitler had, encourage snitching on dissenters, and then invade every home and apartment where they claim their regime's opponents reside to carry out mass executions and arrests.
  81.  
  82. In the event of their victory and the triumph of their ideas, all of this is bound to happen. Not all at once, but gradually over several years or decades. Many will wonder, "How did we allow this?". But in civilized countries this can be prevented. Or, to be more precise, this must be prevented at any cost. And at this point, no great feats or superhuman efforts are required. It is enough for each person to do what they can to prevent it, but they must start doing it now. It's better to make relatively modest efforts now than to try to resist the fascists a decade from now, who will have control over all media, police, army, and irregular fascist formations.
Tags: Petition
Add Comment
Please, Sign In to add comment
Public Pastes
We use cookies for various purposes including analytics. By continuing to use Pastebin, you agree to our use of cookies as described in the Cookies Policy.  OK, I Understand
Not a member of Pastebin yet?
Sign Up, it unlocks many cool features!