Episode 2: Disinformation and civic tech, with Cyd Harrell

Send us Fan MailSYNOPSISDan and Rachel talk with Cyd Harrell about the challenges of providing information to citizens that is accurate and accessible, even when it needs to be official and formal. Rachel discusses the Accuracy as a lens for evaluating information ecosystems. Dan explains the lens Accountability.EPISODE CONTENTSStories of DisinformationDan describes misinformation from the Bush administration that provided the impetus for the US invasion of IraqThe Iraq Invasion 20 Years Later (Mother Jones)Lie by Lie: A Timeline of How We Got Into Iraq (Mother Jones)The Other "Big Lie" and Our Democratic Fragility (Harvard Kennedy School)Rachel describes how the US National Park Rangers handle messaging guidelines from the Trump administrationInterview with Cyd HarrellCyd's book, A Civic Technologist's Practice GuideLensesAccuracyIt turns out accuracy is a spectrum, and sometimes information is "accurate enough" for the purposes of the people using it. At the same time, some domains require information that is precise, even when that isn't required by all users.How does the system define and uphold an acceptable threshold for accuracy? How does the system ensure information is precise? AccountableWhen information is held accountable, it is subjected to outside critique and validation. Perfectly closed systems prevent information from being scrutinized. But also, systems that appear open can be compromised.How does the system encourage sources to be accountable for their contributions? How does the system enable outside criticism and give it equal weight to the original contributions?=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=PersonnelDan Brown, HostRachel Price, HostEmily Duncan, EditorMusicTurtle Up Fool, by Elliot_____________________________________________________PersonnelDan Brown, HostRachel Price, HostMusicTurtle Up Fool, by Elliot_____________________________________________________Unchecked is a production of Curious SquidCurious Squid is a digital design consulting firm specializing in information architecture, user experience, and product design