Claire Fox lays out the folly of trusting the state and state-adjacent institutions to decides what constitutes disinformation.
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When fighting disinformation is itself disinformationPerry de Havilland (Prague) · Civil liberty, Law & Regulation · Media & Journalism · Totalitarianism · UK affairs Claire Fox lays out the folly of trusting the state and state-adjacent institutions to decides what constitutes disinformation. June 28th, 2026 |
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Hostile domestic politicians.
“But his unbiassed opinion, his mature judgment, his enlightened conscience, he ought not to sacrifice to you, to any man, or to any set of men living. These he does not derive from your pleasure; no, nor from the law and the constitution. They are a trust from Providence, for the abuse of which he is deeply answerable. Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.”
Im sure I don’t need to declare the author of that passage. Ive always had a problem with it. Over 20 years ago I identified the weakness of representative democracy. When the Conservative Party ousted Ian Duncan Smith, i learned of that procedure. I thought it could be used to kill law created by representatives who followed their own interests rather than their electorate’s.
I thought Conservatives were supposed to acknowledge human weaknesses opposed to liberals and socialists? Burke appeared to not.
Yes indeed.
The British government, and the “independent” sources it likes, lies about many things – and these lies (this “disinformation”) does terrible harm.
They are indeed the last people who should decide what is, or is not, a trustworthy source.