Episode 428: The Infodemic (with Joel Simon and Robert Mahoney)

Two years after the worldwide outbreak of Covid-19, what will the long-term effects be? Not just in terms of public health, but in terms of privacy, censorship, and government control? This week, we are joined by journalists Joel Simon and Robert Mahoney, co-authors of The Infodemic: How Censorship and Lies Made the World Sicker and Less Free. The authors explain how, "as COVID-19 spread around the world, so did government censorship. The Infodemic lays bare not just old-fashioned censorship, but also the mechanisms of a modern brand of 'censorship through noise,' which moves beyond traditional means of state control—such as the jailing of critics and restricting the flow of information—to open the floodgates of misinformation, overwhelming the public with lies and half-truths." Joel and Robert talk about how the Covid crisis has exacerbated a mistrust in institutions, a deterioration of local news outlets, and a deep sense of cynicism that is born of lack of information. Don't miss this fascinating conversation about something that affects all of us in one way or another. Find Joel Simon on Instagram and Twitter. Find Robert Mahoney on Twitter. Learn more about the publisher, Consumer Global Reports on their website, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Find The Infodemic on Amazon or pick up a copy at your local bookstore.