Exhibit 18.3 Nazi propaganda — Photo taken during the International Committee
of the Red Cross visit to Theresienstadt, June 1944. Most of the children in the picture were
sent to Auschwitz and gassed by the fall of that year.
(Source: ADL)
Propaganda is information, especially of a biased or
misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view. What sets it apart
from other forms of advocacy is the willingness of the propagandist to change people’s
understanding through deception and confusion rather than persuasion and understanding.
While propaganda is usually associated with governments, activist groups,
companies, religious organizations, the media and individuals also indulge in it. A core
distinction is that propaganda takes the form of one-way communication and is controlled by the
propagandists who promote it.
In contrast, fake news, which relies on social platforms, is open and
multi-directional, and therefore not so easily controlled. Computer algorithms that social
networks rely on are not smart enough to quickly detect fake news.
People are more likely to be swayed by governments and powerful organizations that
disseminate propaganda, making it potentially exceedingly dangerous depending on its nature. The
ideologies propagated by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis (Exhibit 18.3) are among so many examples
of propaganda at its worst.
There is a tension between the need to control fake news and propaganda, and the
democratic ideals of free speech and open discourse. In an ideal democracy, individuals are free to
promote their own views and counter opposing views through peaceful means. The assumption is that, in
a world full of ideas where diverse perspectives are openly and continuously competing, the best
ideas will ultimately prevail. However, this requires a well-informed, intelligent, and
public-spirited population that is not overwhelmed by an excessive amount of information and
misinformation. It also presupposes that reliable and relevant information is readily available from
well-funded and uncensored news and educational sources. The extent to which any society conforms to
this ideal is debatable. Clearly, the global social system falls far short of this standard.
