Barack Obama's address on internet disinformation

I've seen multiple reports and articles in recent days on Obama's recent addresses on this topic --- at the University of Chicago and, linked here, Stanford University (2022-04-21).

I've not been able to find a transcript of the actual speech.

C-SPAN however has the actual video:

This is the video of former US president Barack Obama at Stanford University on the matter of online disinformation. The speech was given on 21 April 2022.

Obama's remarks begin at about 9m50s.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?519625-1/president-obama-warns-threat-disinformation-democracy

(#mpv will play audio/video directly.)

#BarackObama #Disninformation #FakeNews #SocialMedia #EpistemicSystems #Truth #Media #Speaches #Regulation

Former President Obama Warns of Threat of Disinformation to Democracy

Former President Barack Obama said "people are dying" due to disinformation on social media, pointing to the COVID-19 pandemic, as he delivered remarks at Stanford University on the threats posed by disinformation. He spoke on the importance of free speech and the First Amendment, saying they can produce a healthier society, but that, "the First Amendment is a check on the power of the state. It doesn't apply to private companies like Facebook or Twitter, any more than it applies to editorial decisions made by The New York Times or Fox News. It never has." President Obama also addressed disinformation associated with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the repeated denial of the legitimacy of the 2020 election results by many Republicans.

C-SPAN.org
At UChicago, Barack Obama warns that disinformation threatens foundations of democracy

Former president joins experts, policymakers at conference co-hosted by the Institute of Politics and 'The Atlantic'

University of Chicago News
Disinformation Is a Threat to Our Democracy - Barack Obama - Medium

Hello, Stanford. It is great to be in California and back in beautiful Palo Alto. Coming here always makes me want to go back to college, although an 18-year-old Barack Obama would not have gotten…

Medium

Among those discussing this speech is @pluralistic, here:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/22/mesmer-2-point-oh/#thanks-obama

Doctorow makes some good points, many of which are based on / found in his book How to Destroy Surveillance Capitalism.

https://onezero.medium.com/how-to-destroy-surveillance-capitalism-8135e6744d59

In both, I find Doctorow too dismissive of marginal effects, the exceedingly find balance many political debates and contests are perched upon, and the long-term cumulative erosion possible under sustained attacks. Among the anecdotes Obama cites is the "pay Fox viewers to watch CNN" study which does in fact show considerable view shifts in only 30 days.

Pluralistic: 22 Apr 2022 – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow