Web of Deceit: Misinformation and Manipulation in the Age of Social Media

Citation

MacDonald, R. (2013), "Web of Deceit: Misinformation and Manipulation in the Age of Social Media", Online Information Review, Vol. 37 No. 1, pp. 155-156. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684521311311757

We all have seen a storm in a teacup: some situation where a small issue is stirred up enough in a restricted situation to become a major drama. And sometimes we have realised that someone is intentionally doing the stirring for his or her own purposes. Online social media, intended perhaps to connect us all, have in fact created millions of teacups, and in any given on, a storm may brew – sometimes stirred by misinformation supplied by people or organisations, ranging from the merely bigoted to the downright criminal, who can hide behind the anonymity of the web. Web of Deceit explores the way intentional misinformation is used to confuse us about what is really going on, dupe us out of our money and even steal our identity; thankfully, it also delivers advice on what to do about it.

The book begins with a description of popular social media such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, and the alarmingly fluid nature of their privacy protection policies. Various common scams that occur in these media are also described: guessing somebody's Facebook password, then using their account to request money from friends; assuming a falsely friendly identity to elicit personal information that can be used to blackmail the victim. There is a discussion of how your personal information is spread around, including a list of some of the companies that collect and sell it. Advice on how to keep your details safe online is also presented: do not tag your children in photographs, do not mention when you are going on holiday in a blog post, do not “friend” your employer …

One chapter discusses the “big picture” of information warfare and cyber‐security, beginning with Tokyo Rose in the Second World War and ending with a description of the vulnerability of many nations' electricity grids. Several chapters cover the many ways in which misinformation is used. One presents examples of how extremists of every creed and colour use innocuous‐looking websites in an attempt to subtly influence public opinion. Another addresses the intentional spread of online political misinformation and discusses the factors involved, notably the growing distrust of governments, the impossibility of controlling intentionally false rumours, and the role of the mainstream press in lending them credence. Two chapters use disturbingly numerous examples to illustrate specific types of online crime; one includes the “top ten” online scams common in e‐commerce (from non‐delivery of merchandise to outright identity theft), while another details the dangers of online charity scams.

Web of Deceit is valuable for several reasons. By detailing the ways in which online misinformation can be used and spotlighting the numerous cons and scams that exploit these methods, it promotes an attitude of caution that would serve web users well, whether they be internet beginners, budding librarians or IT instructors. Each chapter includes practical advice on how web users can protect both their identities and their money online, while two appendices provide advice on evaluating websites, and a glossary of the many terms used in the book. Best of all, the book's consistently clear and down‐to‐earth approach avoids the hysterical tone that could so easily have been adopted.