The article also mentions the concept of "Newspeak" from George Orwell's "1984", where language is manipulated for political purposes. It urges the public to demand precise, accurate, and fact-based information from decision-makers, public officials, and institutions. The author works for the News Literacy Project, a nonprofit that provides tools and programs to help the public develop critical thinking skills and learn how to determine the credibility of sources and information.
Key takeaways:
- Euphemisms and deceptive language can obscure harmful misinformation, particularly in the context of politics and technology.
- The term 'AI hallucinations' is used to downplay the misinformation served up by artificial intelligence technology, which can lead to inaccuracies and poor decision-making.
- The term 'fake news' has been co-opted by politicians to label any news coverage that portrays them unfavorably, which can distort public perception of reality.
- Newspeak, a term from George Orwell's '1984', refers to the manipulation of language for political purposes, and can be seen in government reports, corporate statements, and news reports.