Core Concepts
Public key encryption can be leveraged to combat the widespread forces of disinformation, fake news, and deepfakes, restoring faith in objective truth.
Abstract
The article discusses how public key cryptography, a foundational technology of the internet age, can be used to address the growing problem of disinformation and deepfakes.
The author starts by expressing frustration with the ability of governments and bad actors to spread falsehoods and misinformation with impunity. They note that the rise of artificial intelligence has exacerbated this issue, as AI can now generate highly convincing fake images, videos, and text.
The author then explains the "liar's dividend" - the phenomenon where politicians and their supporters can dismiss inconvenient truths as "fake news." This undermines public discourse and erodes faith in objective reality.
The author proposes that public key cryptography, which underpins secure communication protocols like SSL, can be leveraged to establish unambiguous truth. The core idea is to cryptographically "sign" digital content in a way that allows the public to verify its authenticity.
The article suggests that this approach could help restore trust in information and combat the spread of deepfakes and disinformation. It presents public key encryption as a potential solution to this pressing societal challenge.
Quotes
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."
Philip K. Dick (1928–1982)