According to behavioral research, when individuals are exposed to disinformation, the odds are greater that those individuals will believe it and spread it. The same research also found that people don’t necessarily need to believe disinformation to spread it: They “share information they know is false to signal their political affiliation, disparage perceived opponents, or accrue social rewards.”

We know that psychological factors are at the crux of this process: Humans are tribal and are prone to sharing falsehoods when they conform to their social norms and personal identities. Lies always work best when they drum up strong emotions.

During the Cold War, the United States Intelligence Community first adopted the term disinformation from the Russian word “dezinformatsiya” which was said to originate from the title of a KGB black propaganda office. The purpose of the department was to disseminate false reports to mislead public opinion.

Why mislead public opinion? The answer is simple, to mislead and manipulate an audience to achieve an end, a goal. This year in the U.S. the goal is to re-elect Trump and install an autocratic government. 

Some say I’m being a bit “over the top,” but not so fast. Disinformation played a role in Hillary Clinton’s Electoral College defeat on Election Day. Sources also showed that Russian disinformation posted on Twitter during the 2016 presidential campaign was overshadowed by exposure to legitimate political news media platforms and politicians. 

For students of history, disinformation has played a major role in the rise of authoritarian societies and dictatorships. 

For example, Mussolini used cinema, radio, and newspapers to advocate for militarism, and the dehumanization of gays and Jews, and pushed the notion of Italian irredentism, or making “Italy great again.”  Sound familiar? His propaganda tactics appealed to the populous and propelled him to power.

Since the 1950’s, Russian campaigns have focused on using disinformation to topple domestic politics in Europe, Africa, and the U.S. in an attempt to weaken the West and and tip the balance of world power to Russia and her allies.

China is well-known for its online propaganda and disinformation operations that use a network of social media platforms to make posts in favor of the Chinese government and harass dissidents and journalists overseas.

Of course, the U.S. is no angel either when it comes to disinformation. We shouldn’t forget the mess of disinformation surrounding “weapons of mass destruction” that landed us in the Iraqi War. 

The more pressing danger today is the spread of disinformation and lies as we inch closer to November 2024. American voters are being bombarded with the old claims of a “stolen election,” migrants swarming our border, Hunter Biden’s laptop, “wokeness,” child-molesting drag queens, and questions about Joe Biden’s lucidity after bombing one “debate” (whereas no one seemed to be bothered by his opponent’s truckload of incendiary lies).

Disinformation is a very powerful weapon to achieve specific political, social, and economic ends, but such a Faustian bargain often comes with a price: Democracy. Whether it’s social media platforms or mainstream news outlets, as Americans we need to consider the source and think about what the disinformation authors have to gain: Power.

It’s not about us, the voters, the workers, or the multitude of Americans who make up this country, it’s about them.

Let’s not fall for the Faustian bargain, let’s not sacrifice our Democracy for those who have everything to gain by stripping us of our equal rights, our dignity, and our right to participate in our government. 

Although Goethe’s Faust did sell his soul to the devil for personal gain, he was eventually saved from the flames of hell by angels (women by the way). Could our angels be the voters?