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<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>Dear Friends and Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>As our discussion is taking place, the
governments of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Russia</st1:country-region> and
the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
are being recognized as the sources of massive amounts of disinformation. Their
objective in part was the election and is now the re-election of Trump as
President of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United
States</st1:country-region></st1:place>. My personal view is that this
disinformation is linked to and supports extreme right-wing economic, political
and fundamentalist belief systems. I was therefore glad to see the agreement,
in the responses to my Lecture, that disinformation is not only an important
topic for further discussion in the context of the Foundations of Information
Science, but one which some members of our group may be in a position to
counter. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>I will present my comments in two groups, the
first today are on the responses with which I agree, in a week or so on
responses with which I disagree. As people who have followed my work might
expect, there is no absolute separation between these categories. I also will
try to give some sense of the dynamics of our dialogue. They will be indexed
simply to facilitate (cross-) reference.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:35.4pt'><font size=2
color=navy face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>I look forward to your responses as the basis
for the next phase of the discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>Thank you and best wishes,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>Joseph<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>A. AGREEMENT<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>A.I 02.01 Jose Javier emphasized the public
origins of disinformation, its relation to ‘intelligence’ and its
use by totalitarian regimes, exactly along the lines above. I tend to agree
with his suggestion that more than having a structure close to if not identical
to information, disinformation IS information, BAD information. Using the ‘dis’
as an oversimplified distinction in structure tends to gloss over the
pernicious operation of information with the properties we decry. Perhaps
another term would convey the idea better or more simply. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>A.2 02.01 I am grateful to Stan for pointing
to the distinction between concepts and examples. I suggest we keep this
comment in mind in our further discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>A.3 03.01 Mark J. responded to a comment by Stan
with which I disagreed, namely, that there was something less primary about
disinformation. Stan interposes an actor, a ‘searcher’ who analyzes
information and ‘reports’ on it, presumably distorting it in the
process. In any case, I think we agree that disinformation is a process –
one of <i><span style='font-style:italic'>disinforming. </span></i>I disagree
with Mark however regarding agents and a consequent theory of agency (which has
value in other respects). My view is that one cannot have the intentionality to
disinform without an agent, and this can be an individual present at the start
of the process. I suggest to Stan here that his two-step process is not
absolutely necessary: the agent, the intentional ‘disinformer’,
takes whatever material is available and mis- or should I say dis-uses it.
Mark’s point about the necessity of even the smell (or stink) of an
‘informational police’ is certainly correct, but what is an acceptable
alternative? Actually, police are simply tools of government, good or bad. We
are talking here about responsible collective interactions as FIS members with
– whom? We don’t know yet.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>A.4 06.01 Karl makes a number of useful
points.<i><span style='font-style:italic'> </span></i>The most important is the
confusion, in English between </span></font><i><font size=2
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";font-style:italic'>disinformation</span></font></i><font
size=2 face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>, as the suppression, non-dissemination of
inconvenient data or theories, and <i><span style='font-style:italic'>disinformation
</span></i>as the dissemination of false data. The confusion is not present in
French, where the second is <i><span style='font-style:italic'>désinformation</span></i>,
and, as I learn, also in German and Hungarian. So what do we do? Push for the
use of desinformation in English, which requires explanation, or something else?
In any case, both share the notion of intentionality.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode"'>Finally, I liked the way Karl pats us all on the back,
but the objective remains also to get <i><span style='font-style:italic'>some</span></i>
message to <i><span style='font-style:italic'>someone</span></i> outside the
group.<font color=navy><span style='color:navy'> <i><span style='font-style:
italic'> </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>A.5 05.01 Pedro makes several important
restatements of the biological origins of the equivalents of disinformation. (Until
further notice, <i><span style='font-style:italic'>pace </span></i>Karl, we
have to continue to use this form.) The exacerbation of disinformation due to
the new technologies also needs to be emphasized. What we have not yet
identified is the distinguishing ‘marker’ of disinformation. It is
a ‘fake’ as Pedro says <i><span style='font-style:italic'>qua </span></i>content,
but it looks exactly like the information people are used to getting. It can easily
mimic credibility and authority, even if one has to be really ignorant not to
see through it (45% of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>
population?)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>The question of balance is more interesting and
possibly more encouraging. Balance in seeing and presenting other, alternative
views to one’s own is an indication of openness and tolerance - at last,
a few positive words! There is little balance in disinformation. In fact,
perhaps <i><span style='font-style:italic'>absence</span></i> of pros and cons
in the same message, might be a marker for disinformation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>A.6 09.01 This is perhaps the most serious,
clear and urgent call so far, by Terry, for an adequate intellectual level of
analysis of disinformation and related issues. Terry’ most important
point, which I hope will receive further discussion as son as possible, regards
the role IS4SI has to play and in front of what audience. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>I wish to emphasize that I was not making
some kind of Luddite argument against cybernetic approaches (my note about
Terry’s of 10.1) I only wished to insure that they have adequate
grounding in non-computational science and philosophy. I hope, or even ask,
that Terry could expand on his ideas on an informational immune system. This
would be the next step after the identification of the ‘markers’
for the dis-ease. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>A.7 09.01 More than just a supplementary
question, I feel this note of Mark’s goes to the heart of the
technological <i><span style='font-style:italic'>vs. </span></i>the non-technological
aspects of the problem. I note his consideration of information and disinformation
in tandem, at the level of institutions and systems. (For me, a husband and
wife, or two friends or colleagues are systems). I also agree that
over-application of computer systems to institutions may result in information <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>loss. </span></i> In the context of this discussion,
it may actually be a tool employed by people who intend to disinform. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>A.8 08.01 Mark’s follow-up note points
to one success of AI that I suggest be followed up separately. More
specifically, he asks if machine learning, “might ground an insight”
into the functional difference between information and disinformation, along
the lines of Terry’s considerations. My response is the same: if yes, fine,
but human learning is also required, and must be supported. If not, there will
be no one left but machines, and I am sure they will be able to pursue ‘truth’
on their own. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>A.9 15.01 In supporting Terry, Pedro again
calls for a role for IS4SI, initially internally with the formation of a
special working group. Its purpose would be to see what both theoretical and
applied contributions we might make. However, it is not the computer world as
such that will result in ‘voting every afternoon’, in Arbib’s
<i><span style='font-style:italic'>fuite en avant.</span></i> when only X%
(Pedro, please give us the right number) of the members of FIS have responded
to this Lecture. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'>The point about authentification, however,
joins the previous ones about markers and functional differences; and
constitutes a first real mini-consensus on a target for further work. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Lucida Sans Unicode"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Lucida Sans Unicode";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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