Information Ethics

Prepared by: Francis Gayoba

Principles of Handling Information
• Access. We do not have the right to access all information. There are
some things that we do not have the right to know.
• Ownership. Just because we know something does not mean we own
the information or have the right to disseminate it.
• Confidentiality. Generally, whatever has been shared with you in
confidentiality must remain so.
• Empathy. Place yourself in the affected person’s shoes before sharing
any information that involves them.
• Truth. Not all information we receive is true. All need to be verified.
Misinformation and
Disinformation
Discussion
• What are some examples of misinformation, disinformation, or
“fake news” that you’ve encountered recently?
• What are the reasons behind the spread of this type of
information?
Definitions
• Misinformation is false or inaccurate information—getting the
facts wrong.
• Disinformation is false information which is deliberately intended
to mislead—intentionally making the misstating facts.
Falling for Fake News
• The Philippines was once described by a Facebook executive as
“patient zero” in the global disinformation epidemic
• Confirmation bias: the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and
recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs
or hypotheses
• Repetition: One study discovered that seeing a fake-news
headline one or four times reduced how unethical participants
thought it was to publish and share that headline when they saw
it again
Results of Falling for Fake News
• It creates confusion and misunderstanding about important
social and political issues
• It undermines overall trust in legitimate news sources.
• It could lead to individuals making misinformed decisions about
their health (e. g. vaccines).
• It can stir up and intensify social conflict.
Avoiding Misinformation:
Think Carefully
• David Rand (MIT) and Gordon Pennycook (University of Regina)
measured analytical reasoning in 3,446 American participants.
• They found that higher scores on the reasoning test were
associated with a better ability to distinguish fake headlines from
real news headline
• Takeaway: People who scroll quickly through social media might
be less susceptible to misinformation if they simply slow down to
consider what they’re reading
How to Prevent the Spread of
Misinformation and Disinformation
• Do not believe everything you read on social media. Think
critically.
• Investigate the source. Is it reliable? Does it have a good
reputation?
• Examine the material. Is the content authentic? Is it verifiable?
• Learn to spot fake news. Is it deliberately false? Is it inaccurate?
Is it sensationalism or propaganda? Is it misleading? Is it satire?
• Check your own biases. Could your biases influence the way you
understand, interpret, or respond to the information?
The Ethics of Gossip
“The only time people dislike gossip is
when you gossip about them.”
~ Will Rogers
Discussion
• How would you define gossip?
• What kind of topics do people usually gossip about?
• What is the difference between gossip and a normal
conversation?
• Is every conversation about another (absent) person considered
gossip?
• Is gossip right or wrong? Why so?
Characteristics of Gossip
1. It involves other people. One cannot gossip alone, nor can one
gossip merely in one's head.
2. Gossip is always talk about someone who is necessarily absent, or
at least about someone whom we believe not to be present.
3. Gossip is usually idle, as opposed to oriented toward some explicit
goal.
4. Gossip is evaluative. Those who gossip about another person
generally imply some sort of judgment about that person.
5. Depending on the motive, gossip can range from being neutral to
being malicious.
Harmful Effects of Gossip
• gossip and rumors can destroy a person’s self-confidence and
affect their self-esteem.
• it can lead to bullying among teenagers and younger children
(sometimes even adults)
• the spread of false information could harm a person’s reputation
◦ a pathological gossiper’s reputation can also be damaged
• there are emotional and psychological effects like exhaustion,
stress, anxiety, guilt, anger, even depression
Positive Gossip
• There is a such a thing as positive, pro-social gossip.
• It is sharing positive stories and the skills, abilities, and
successes of others
• It can be “gossiping” about a situation that’s bothering you (and
not necessarily about the person involved), which can relieve
anxiety by getting something off your chest.
Positive Gossip does not:
• tolerate negative gossip
• share personal information about others without their permission
• gossip for personal gain
• pass forward negative or untrustworthy information
• exaggerate or embellish what is heard
Conclusion
• The command to “not bear false witness” includes the handling
of information.
• How we deal with information, especially in combatting mis- or
disinformation, and dealing with gossip, is part of the ethics on
truth telling
References
• Scott R. Stroud, “The Real Ethics of Fake News,” The University of
Texas at Austin Center for Media Engagement, January 19, 2018.
• Daniel A. Effron and Medha Raj, “Misinformation and Morality:
Encountering Fake-News Headlines Makes Them Seem Less Unethical
to Publish and Share.” Psychological Science, 31.1 (2020), 75–87.
• Lawrence M. Hinman, “Gossip”
• Luke Sheppard, “The Power of Gossip and How to do so Ethically,”
LinkedIn, February 10, 2021.
• Sherri Gordon, “Understanding the Impact of Rumors and Gossip,”
Very Well Family, July 18, 2020