To the Point
Can Fake News Lead to Real War?
“False flag” reports, even outright deceptions, have led to some of America’s longest wars. New technology makes another disastrous mistake more likely than ever.
By Warren Olney • • 43m ListenThe renown silversmith Paul Revere distorted facts and created the “Boston Massacre,” helping support the American Revolution. But Fake News about Vietnam and Iraq led to wars now considered historic disasters. While America is still figuring out how the Russians created an effective online misinformation campaign in 2016, little is being done to address the latest threat from deep fake videos. Artificial intelligence is now being used to manufacture misleading content that’s so good, experts themselves are duped. Disseminating fact from fiction it tougher than ever and the prospect of a mistake could lead to disaster.
Warren Olney
former KCRW broadcaster
Andrea Brody
Senior Producer, KCRW's Life Examined and To the Point podcast
Jon Reed
radio reporter and producer
Robin Wright
contributing writer at The New Yorker magazine, and a joint fellow at U.S. Institute of Peace and the Woodrow Wilson Center
Steven Simon
Visiting professor at Colby College. Former US National Security Council and senior director for counterterrorism and for the Middle East and North Africa
Amy Webb
Author and adjunct professor, NYU Stern School of Business