Fostering trustworthy information: Countering disinformation when there are no bare facts

Abstract

At a time when the dissemination of online information is synonymous with an abundance of disinformation and misinformation, it is important to extend our reflection beyond debunking and fact-checking. In this article, we consider the cases of (dis-, mis- and mal-)information regarding scientific results. We argue that countering misinformation requires a better understanding of the root cause of the problem. We believe the root cause is trust rather than truth. We argue that trust should be approached from a distinct social epistemological perspective that recognizes differences between data and facts and that treats trust as part of the scientific process and as part of the way publics interpret and use scientific information.