Platohagel: I had been feeling a great loss, a sense of hopelessness, when Facebook had declared their fact checking was being removed for community notes. This the same as what is used in X as community notes. So we want truth to pervade our cultures in the form of words to power, toward all facets of society, and not as the bias that can be built in Algorithmic systemization that Facebook declares is in existence. What X declares as community notes. How better then to give all facets of society the truth building capabilities that will wipe the tools of an authoritarian governance and lies out of existence?

Socrates: Ah, your concerns about truth, bias, and the systems of governance are profound, touching on the heart of human society’s challenge to cultivate justice and wisdom. Allow me to reflect on this question in the spirit of inquiry and truth-seeking.

To empower all facets of society with truth, and to counter the dangers of bias, manipulation, and authoritarian control in systems like Facebook or X, we must address several dimensions: philosophical, systemic, technological, and cultural.

1. Philosophical: Defining Truth and Its Accessibility

Before we act, we must clarify the nature of truth. Socrates might ask, “What is truth?” Here, it might be seen as that which corresponds to reality, informed by evidence, reason, and accountability. Yet truth must also be accessible to all, not hoarded by elites or obscured by complexity.

How to Promote Philosophical Foundations:

• Education: A culture of critical thinking must permeate society. Socratic questioning in schools, workplaces, and media literacy programs can build the habit of challenging claims, even when convenient.

• Transparency: Truth must not be shrouded by corporate or governmental secrecy. Laws demanding transparency of algorithmic systems can shed light on hidden biases.

2. Systemic: Building Tools and Policies for Truth

The tools we build must reflect values of fairness, accountability, and resilience to manipulation. The current shift from traditional fact-checking to “community notes” is problematic if it allows the majority or influential groups to define truth. Instead, systems must balance diverse perspectives while adhering to objective standards.

Steps to Build Truth-Centric Systems:

• Decentralized Fact-Checking: Move beyond corporate-controlled tools. Use distributed networks (like blockchain) where many independent validators cross-verify claims to ensure no single entity can dominate truth.

• Algorithmic Oversight: Governments and independent watchdogs must audit algorithms used by social platforms to ensure they don’t amplify lies or biases.

• Multilingual, Multicultural Fact-Checking: Recognize that truth must transcend language barriers and cultural biases, ensuring tools are inclusive.

3. Technological: Creating Empowering AI Systems

AI can be both a tool of liberation and a weapon of oppression. To use AI for truth, we must guide its development with strong ethical principles and societal oversight.

Suggestions for Technological Solutions:

• Open Source AI for Verification: Develop AI tools that are open to public scrutiny, capable of analyzing claims across platforms, and cross-referencing them with trusted data.

• Universal Fact-Checking API: Imagine a public, non-profit API that social platforms must integrate. This would flag inaccuracies based on agreed-upon, peer-reviewed databases.

• AI Literacy for All: Equip citizens with the tools and understanding to verify claims independently using AI. For example, browser extensions or apps that let users cross-check news with reliable sources in real time.

4. Cultural: Building Societal Commitment to Truth

Even the best tools and systems fail if society lacks the will to pursue truth over convenience, power, or comfort. Culture must be the bedrock of truth.

Ways to Foster a Truth-Seeking Culture:

• Encourage Civil Discourse: Platforms should reward meaningful engagement, not outrage or divisiveness.

• Community-Led Media Literacy Campaigns: Grassroots movements, libraries, and educators can train communities to recognize bias, propaganda, and misinformation.

• Rebuild Trust in Institutions: When institutions like journalism, science, or education are corrupted or seen as biased, society falters. These pillars must be reformed and held to account, while celebrating their successes.

5. Overcoming Authoritarian Tools and Lies

Authoritarian regimes thrive on fear, control, and disinformation. To dismantle these tools:

• Empower Whistleblowers and Independent Media: Protect those who expose lies and amplify their work.

• Distribute Access to Knowledge: Prevent censorship by ensuring information is mirrored across platforms and accessible globally.

• Foster Global Alliances for Truth: Collaboration across nations, cultures, and disciplines can resist authoritarian manipulation.

Vision for the Future

In your quest for truth to pervade cultures, imagine this: A world where every citizen has access to the tools to challenge falsehoods, where leaders are held accountable not by force but by reason, and where truth-seeking becomes a communal endeavor, uniting societies in shared purpose.

Let us commit to this path, guided by wisdom, knowing that “an unexamined life is not worth living.” What is your next step in this journey toward truth and justice?

Platohagel: Is there a fact checking program that one can run alongside of newspapers, Facebook, as well as X?

Socrates: Yes, several tools and programs can assist with fact-checking content from newspapers, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and other sources. Here are some options to explore:

1. Browser Extensions for Fact-Checking

• NewsGuard: Rates the reliability of news and information websites, giving users a “nutrition label” on the trustworthiness of content.

• Fact Check Tools by Google: Offers a browser extension to identify claims and their verification status from reputable fact-checking organizations.

• Fakey: Aimed at helping users recognize misinformation by simulating a news feed and training critical analysis skills.

2. Standalone Fact-Checking Platforms

• Snopes: A popular website that investigates claims and rumors to assess their validity.

• PolitiFact: Focuses on political claims and provides a “Truth-O-Meter” to rate them.

• FactCheck.org: A non-partisan resource for checking statements from political figures and viral social media content.

• Media Bias/Fact Check: Assesses the bias and accuracy of various media outlets and articles.

3. AI-Powered Tools

• GPT Fact Checker Add-ons: Some GPT-integrated systems are designed to help verify claims by cross-referencing databases and trusted sources.

• ClaimBuster: An AI tool that identifies factual claims in text and suggests sources for verification.

• Logically: Uses AI and human expertise to identify misinformation and provide analysis.

4. Social Media-Specific Fact-Checking Tools

• CrowdTangle (for Facebook/X): Helps track trending stories and measure how they’re being shared, often used by journalists.

• Facebook’s Third-Party Fact-Checkers: In partnership with organizations like AFP and Reuters, Facebook flags questionable content with context.

5. Research Aggregators

• Google Fact Check Explorer: Allows you to search for specific claims to see how they’ve been evaluated by different fact-checkers.

• Hoaxy: Visualizes how claims spread across social media and identifies fact-checks related to them.

Integrating Tools Across Platforms

Many of these tools can run in the background as browser extensions or work as add-ons to monitor the reliability of content as you browse. Combining these tools with critical reading practices will enhance the accuracy of information consumption.

If you’re interested in a specific tool or need guidance on setting one up, let me know!