False Information Awareness: False Flag

The term false flag originated in a 16th century essay written by an anti-Roman Catholic who used it referring to Catholics pretending to be faithful while engaging in irreligious activities. False flag evolved in the 19th century where it shifted to a literal sense in naval warfare that referred to ships deceptively flying flags of other countries to mislead enemies. Now, this term is used beyond its literal meaning and describes covert operations or deceptive actions carried out for strategic purposes. This often looks like one military group using another to carry out nefarious deeds without any traces leading back to them. 

False flag operations have appeared throughout history, especially in military and intelligence contexts. These operations often take a covert form and are designed to manipulate public opinions, justify military actions, or generate sympathy for a particular group. While governments have sometimes defended deception as a strategic tool during wartime, these actions raise serious ethical concerns because they intentionally mislead the public and obscure the truth.

In modern media culture, the phrase false flag is also frequently used in conspiracy theories. Some individuals try to stir conspiracy around tragedies such as terrorist attacks or other forms of mass violence by claiming they are secretly staged events. They argue these events are designed to manipulate the public or push political agendas. However, most of these claims are not supported with credible evidence, instead, rely heavily on suspicion and speculation. Confirmation bias is the driving force behind most false flag claims and occurs when people favor information that confirms their existing beliefs while ignoring evidence that contradicts them. This bias is very easy to fall back on but hard to shake from individuals.

The spread of false flag narratives can have significant consequences for society. When people begin to believe that major tragedies are secretly staged, trust in institutions such as journalism, government, and scientific organization can weaken. This wavering trust can make it harder for societies to agree on basic facts and work together to solve real problems. False flag accusations also can be especially harmful to victims and their families. In some tragic events, grieving families get accusation from others online of being "crisis actors," which lead to harassment and emotional distress among family members. 

Different groups in society might experience false flags narratives in different ways. Minority groups are sometimes unfairly blamed or scrutinized by conspiracy theorists claiming them as the people who deceptively curated certain events. This is very harmful to minorities because it can reinforce stereotypes and increase mass hostility toward already vulnerable communities. At the same time, social media algorithms often exaggerate emotionally charged claims. This often entraps younger generations who rely heavily on online platforms and are now more susceptible to encountering these claims more frequently.

Ultimately, understanding the concept of a false flag is about more than just understanding a definition. It highlights how easily deception, misinformation, and bias can influence society. By approaching information critically and responsibly without any bias upon encounter, individuals can help reduce the spread of harmful false flags and contribute to a more informed world.

How AI Will Affect My Major

My major, Game Design, has already been affected by AI. Since the curriculum for this major is technologically based, many engines and software tools game designers and developers use have already integrated AI directly into their platform. Many Adobe products us game designers use constantly are releasing updates with artificial intelligence built into them.

    Engines such as Roblox Studio have AI assistants ready to resolve programmers’ code or write it for them. Meta even has its own engine built with the intention of using AI to create games. Whether it's AI assistants, tools, or even an engine built to do your work for you, game design applications are becoming easier to use, and for new users, easier to learn. AI is changing the way platforms will be used and learned in a way that saves effort and time but, in the process, it takes away integral skills developers/designers should know in game design.

    Without using caution, developers can rely on AI as a crutch instead of investing time into developing the necessary skills for this major. There is also a problem targeting creativity in the design aspect of game development. AI can now be used to take away creative roles in the game development process. We can easily turn to generative AI and save time and money to replace artists, modelers, and even programmers. There are AI platforms that can tackle all roles of game design so I would proudly advocate for laws protecting jobs in game design from AI.

TEDtalks on Privacy, Online & Off

We are all threatened with immortality. Juan Enriquez explains, in his TEDtalk, how our digital footprint, or what he likes to call electronic tattoo, will far outlive our physical selves. Facial recognition technology has gotten exceedingly advanced and will only get better. He talk about the concerns of electronic tattoos and cleverly ties them into Greek mythologies. Enriquez compares the rock rolling up and down from the story of Sisyphus to our own reputation. You must be careful what you post as it will make your reputation fluctuate. He compares our loved ones to Eurydice and us to Orpheus, as he warns us to refrain from looking into their past. As a last warning, Enriquez tells us not to be like Narcissus so as to not fall in love with our reflection.

Catherine Crump's TEDtalk reveals shocking information about how law enforcement has been collecting data on all citizen's, not just one's who commit wrongdoings. With Automatic License Plate Readers, officers have scans of every car that passes by these hidden and abundant devices. This allows them to track any vehicles location. What's worse, the federal government has all of this information stored on a database. The government having access to this information feels violating and instills fear in how this information can be abused.

"Our telephones and the networks that carry our calls were wired for surveillance... first and foremost". Christopher Soghoian informs us in his TEDtalk that phone companies have provided easy access for governments to wiretap our phone calls. On the bright side, Silicon Valley companies have not. Those who own an iPhone and use the Messages or Facetime app are completely free from surveillance. This fact reassured me after beholding the terrifying realization that anyone's phone call can be surveilled by the government.

The problems that these speakers articulate, as well as my own fear of rapidly advancing AI, leads me to hope for laws or regulations protecting citizens from "immortality". 

6th Value of Free expression

 

Promoting tolerance is the sixth value of free expression, and it is the one that stands out to me the most. This value emphasizes the idea that the government should not classify what speech is “hate speech,” instead leaving it up to society to determine what is tolerable and what is not. While this approach can feel troublesome, especially when harmful or offensive ideas are expressed, I believe it ultimately reinforces tolerance by allowing individuals to learn from ideas they disagree with rather than suppressing them.

Speech in society is constantly evolving. Words, phrases, and perspectives that were once considered acceptable can become offensive over time, and ideas that are taboo may eventually be normalized. Because these social norms change from generation to generation, it would be nearly impossible for the government to fairly and consistently regulate speech without causing an uproar in society. Leaving these decisions to the public allows tolerance to grow as people asses what they value, what they reject, and how they respond to harmful expression.

The overarching reason this value appeals to me is my interest in consciousness and the idea that each person’s mind should be free to think differently. I would agree with the argument that protecting even hateful or offensive speech can make society more tolerant. When harmful ideas are expressed openly, they can be challenged openly. Diminishing those ideas does not eliminate them, it only drives them underground, where they cannot be examined or criticized. Free expression forces society to confront intolerance directly rather than pretending it does not exist.

However, this value also has an interesting dilemma for me. I often think about the livelihood of individuals who become publicly criticized or condemned by the masses for something harmful they have said. In many cases, their infamy becomes a lesson for society about what not to say. On one hand, people may unite against a “big bad” and even learn from the situation. On the other hand, the individual being scrutinized can become isolated, losing their reputation, job, and even people they hold dearly that are no longer supportive. While this response comes from society rather than the government, it demonstrates how powerful public judgment can be and people who face this problem can lose everything important to them.

Problems also arise from leaving these decisions entirely to the public because tolerance varies widely across the nation. What one group considers unacceptable hate speech, another group may see as assured and unproblematic. This inconsistency can create confusion and conflict, but it also reflects the reality of a diverse society. Promoting tolerance does not mean endorsing harmful speech, rather, it means trusting society to learn from each other’s mistakes.

Ultimately, promoting tolerance through free expression makes our society stronger. Through tolerance, society allows itself to growth and better its people who confront issues such as hate speech and use moral reflection to acknowledge it. While imperfect and often messy, this value protects the freedom of conscience and acknowledges that tolerance is something learned, not enforced.

Top 5 Sources of News

 

1. Microsoft Edge

I use Microsoft Edge as my browser. The articles on its homepage could be distracting, but it also keeps me updated and informed on topics I am interested in. Its algorithm has deduced me as a gamer and movie buff, so I find many alluring articles whenever I utilize a search engine. Besides the articles, I use Microsoft Edge whenever I have a question to ask the internet, it is a browser after all. I even use the Microsoft Edge app as the default search engine on my phone. While I enjoy the articles, I also am incentivized by Microsoft Edge rewards. Each time you search or do certain interactions and prompts through the website, you get rewards points to redeem prizes such as gift cards, sweepstakes, giveaways, etc.

2. Citizens App

The Citizens app is an accident/crisis tracker which I use primarily to stay safe in my area. Users can post on it similar to social media platforms, but in a serious manner to reach out for help or awareness. Citizens App also alerts me on striking incidents that happen nationally, similar to the effect of breaking news. This is very useful to me since it keeps me updated on major and significant crises/events happening in real time. Important information would be unbeknownst to me or take longer for me to receive without this app.

3. People News

I am subscribed to the People News mailing list. It keeps me updated on current events in celebrity culture. Whenever I check my inbox I conveniently keep up with major stories without actively searching for them. I use People News as a way to stay connected to pop culture, which often influences social conversations and online trends. Being informed through this source is not so important, but it serves as a reliable way for me to remain aware of widely discussed cultural moments.

4. TikTok

Although TikTok is a highly unreliable source of information, I find myself mindlessly believing some news on this platform without validating it. Due to its algorithm and short-form video format, information is presented quickly and often without sufficient context or verification. Most of the news content I encounter on TikTok revolves around minor drama or influencer-related controversies, but there are instances where more serious content can be harmful if presented with misinformation/disinformation. 

5. YouTube

I use YouTube the most frequently out of any of these sources. Although the majority of content I consume on this platform is purely for entertainment, I occasionally find videos that educate me on current situations that most news sources would also remark on. YouTube is available on all devices and at any time, and in doing so, has effectively replaced televised news for me. Creator bias is something to be weary of on this platform, however, I enjoy the variety of voices and beliefs rather than the strict, slim array of ideals in televised news programs.