Vincent F. Hendricks: Professor, Director | Center for Information and Bubble Studies | University of Copenhagen

The Ministry of Truth | NEW BOOK | June 7, 2022

Posted on Apr 4, 2022

The Ministry of Truth
BigTech’s Influence on Facts, Feelings and Fictions
Vincent F. Hendricks & Camilla Mehlsen
New York: Springer Nature
Publication date: June 7, 2022
Pages VIII, 222
ISBN: 978-3-030-98628-5
Pre-order Amazon.com or Amazon.de

 

 

The Ministry of Truth scrutinizes the information market in the era of the attention economy calling on citizens, public educators and politicians to action in averting the role of BigTech in critical infrastructure.  Through phenomena such as influencers, ‘fake news’ and covid conspiracies, the authors reveal how social platforms control facts, feelings and narratives in our time to such a degree that they are the de facto arbiters of truth. BigTech seemingly controls the information infrastructure and also decides what we pay attention to.

The authors suggest hope for a more democratic internet through their systematic analysis of the largest players of the information age. The aim is to amplify human agency for a robust deliberative democracy — not version 2.0 — but a lasting version with staying power. This book appeals to the general interest reader and professional invested in the mobilization of responsible technological development.

First physical copies, 09.06.2022

  • Provides an in-depth analysis of the attention economy and information market
  • Surveys BigTech businesses as potential arbiters of truth challenging democracies
  • Written in a clear, crisp and concise style for a broad audience of laymen and professionals alike

Table of Content

Acknowledgements
About the Authors
List of Figures and Tables

  • Prologue
  • Chapter 1. From Citizen to User in the Marketplace of Ideas
  • Chapter 2. From User to Product in the Era of Attention Economy
  • Chapter 3. Designed Denial: Infodemics and Fake News
  • Chapter 4. Boobs and Borderline Contents
  • Chapter 5. Influencers and Superspreaders
  • Chapter 6. Clandestine Casino
  • Chapter 7. Arbiters of Truth
  • Chapter 8. Now What!?
  • References

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