Online Misinformation and "Phantom Patterns": Epistemic Exploitation in the Era of Big Data.
In this article, we examine how the availability of massive quantities of data, that is, the "Big Data" phenomenon, contributes to the creation, spread, and harms of online misinformation. Specifically, we argue that a factor in the problem of online misinformation is the evolved human instinct to r...
| Published in: | Southern Journal of Philosophy Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 57 - 88 |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article |
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Wiley-Blackwell
Mar2022
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=156466904&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: hlh uiTerm: 156466904 longDbName: Humanities International Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 00384283 2GW jtl: Southern Journal of Philosophy issn: 00384283 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: Mar2022 vid: 60 iid: 1 pid: 480 pub: Wiley-Blackwell artinfo: ui: 156466904 10.1111/sjp.12451 ppf: 57 ppct: 31 formats: fmt: – @attributes: type: T – @attributes: type: P size: 154KB tig: atl: Online Misinformation and "Phantom Patterns": Epistemic Exploitation in the Era of Big Data. aug: au: Fritts, Megan Cabrera, Frank su: Big data Misinformation Instinct (Behavior) sug: subj: Big data Misinformation Instinct (Behavior) ab: In this article, we examine how the availability of massive quantities of data, that is, the "Big Data" phenomenon, contributes to the creation, spread, and harms of online misinformation. Specifically, we argue that a factor in the problem of online misinformation is the evolved human instinct to recognize patterns. While the pattern‐recognition instinct is a crucial evolutionary adaptation, we argue that in the age of Big Data, these capacities have, unfortunately, rendered us vulnerable. Given the ways in which online media outlets profit from the spread of misinformation by preying on this pattern‐finding instinct, we conceptualize the problem that we identify as a morally objectionable form of "epistemic exploitation." As we argue, the consumer of digital misinformation is often exploited by having her pattern‐recognition instinct used against her. This exploitation is morally objectionable because it deprives her of an epistemic good to which she has a right. This epistemic good is the integrity of the pattern‐recognition instinct itself, which, we argue, is a capacity that allows us to participate in uniquely human goods. While our primary goal is to bring attention to this form of epistemic exploitation, we conclude by briefly evaluating some general solutions to the growing problem of online misinformation. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: Y custom: Copyright of Southern Journal of Philosophy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. item: Southern Journal of Philosophy holder: Wiley-Blackwell dt: @attributes: year: 2022 holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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