SESSION 7Making Sense: Information, Disinformation,

or Misinformation? II

SESSION 7Making Sense: Information, Disinformation,

or Misinformation? II

If you are standing on the moon, do you look up or down to see the

your shoelaces?

If you are standing on the moon, do you look up or down to see the

your shoelaces?

http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/web/index.jsp

Potter Web Fans Organize Boycotthttp://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/2001-02-22-

potter.htm

Potter Web Fans Organize Boycotthttp://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/2001-02-22-

potter.htm

Lawyers from AOL Time Warner, which purchased the rights to the Harry Potter trademarks and copyrights for the film, sent letters threatening legal action over copyright violations to kids who have created fan Web sites. Warner Bros. Claims these sites were "likely to cause consumer confusion or dilution of the intellectual property rights."

Lawyers from AOL Time Warner, which purchased the rights to the Harry Potter trademarks and copyrights for the film, sent letters threatening legal action over copyright violations to kids who have created fan Web sites. Warner Bros. Claims these sites were "likely to cause consumer confusion or dilution of the intellectual property rights." Heather Lawver has a Potter

fan web site that Warner Bros. demanded she shut down

Going Potty over Potter?Going Potty over Potter?• Ongoing battle over copyright and trademark on the

Web, and companies seem increasingly willing to sue for any perceived infringements.

• Do powerful companies have the right to ask website owners to cease using a domain name?

• Some of websites in question were up before Warner Brothers acquired the rights to HP. Does that mean legal action can be retroactive?

• Does that mean that a HP search in the future might lead to only WB approved materials?

• Ongoing battle over copyright and trademark on the Web, and companies seem increasingly willing to sue for any perceived infringements.

• Do powerful companies have the right to ask website owners to cease using a domain name?

• Some of websites in question were up before Warner Brothers acquired the rights to HP. Does that mean legal action can be retroactive?

• Does that mean that a HP search in the future might lead to only WB approved materials?

Going Potty over Potter?Going Potty over Potter?• Does the holder of the intellectual property

right have the right to prevent any and all unauthorized uses of the IP in question?

• Is such policing detrimental or beneficial for the role of popular culture in our society?

• Do we move to international law? What about German sites and versions in other languages? To what extent should they be "required" to change the domain name?

• Does the holder of the intellectual property right have the right to prevent any and all unauthorized uses of the IP in question?

• Is such policing detrimental or beneficial for the role of popular culture in our society?

• Do we move to international law? What about German sites and versions in other languages? To what extent should they be "required" to change the domain name?

Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act

Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act

• Cybersquatters = "speculator[s] who knowingly reserve trademark as domain name to sell it for profit." 

• The Act provides remedies against anyone who, with a bad faith intent to profit, registers, traffics or uses a domain name that:

• Is identical or confusingly similar to a mark that was distinctive when the domain name was registered;

• Is identical, confusingly similar, or dilutive of a mark that was famous when the domain name was registered;

• or Infringes marks and names protected by statute such as the Olympic symbol or Red Cross.

• http://www.fmew.com/archive/cybersquat/ • http://www.inta.org/news/compchart.shtml• http://www.gcwf.com/articles/journal/jil_march00_1.html

• Cybersquatters = "speculator[s] who knowingly reserve trademark as domain name to sell it for profit." 

• The Act provides remedies against anyone who, with a bad faith intent to profit, registers, traffics or uses a domain name that:

• Is identical or confusingly similar to a mark that was distinctive when the domain name was registered;

• Is identical, confusingly similar, or dilutive of a mark that was famous when the domain name was registered;

• or Infringes marks and names protected by statute such as the Olympic symbol or Red Cross.

• http://www.fmew.com/archive/cybersquat/ • http://www.inta.org/news/compchart.shtml• http://www.gcwf.com/articles/journal/jil_march00_1.html

Session ObjectivesSession Objectives• To understand the

importance of establishing quality of WWW information

• To identify a range strategies to establish quality information

• To identify some key issues associated with WWW information

• To understand the importance of establishing quality of WWW information

• To identify a range strategies to establish quality information

• To identify some key issues associated with WWW information

What is “Quality”What is “Quality”

• American Society for Quality• http://www.asq.org/

• American Society for Quality• http://www.asq.org/

What is “Quality”What is “Quality”• Quality: subjective term. In technical usage, quality can have two

meanings: 1) a product or service free of deficiencies, and 2) the characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs.

• Totality of characteristics of an entity that bear on its ability to satisfy stated and implied needs.

• Quality Assurance: all the planned and systematic activities implemented within the quality system that can be demonstrated to provide confidence that a product or service will fulfill requirements for quality.

• Quality Control: the operational techniques and activities used to fulfill requirements for quality.

• Quality: subjective term. In technical usage, quality can have two meanings: 1) a product or service free of deficiencies, and 2) the characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs.

• Totality of characteristics of an entity that bear on its ability to satisfy stated and implied needs.

• Quality Assurance: all the planned and systematic activities implemented within the quality system that can be demonstrated to provide confidence that a product or service will fulfill requirements for quality.

• Quality Control: the operational techniques and activities used to fulfill requirements for quality.

Why should we be concerned about Quality on the Internet, and what issues does this raise?

Why should we be concerned about Quality on the Internet, and what issues does this raise?

• Yahoo, recently home to a ring of 55 jihad-related Web sites, is cooperating with authorities who are investigating e-mail and other electronic traffic that may be linked to suspects in the U.S. attacks.

• Extremists don't see themselves as extreme: "I did not know that being committed to liberating one's land or fighting terrorism is viewed as extremism," says a spokesman responding to an e-mail sent to hizballah.org, a Web site offering a bloody photo gallery of purported victims and martyrs. "The American people are preparing for war to fight for their freedom and to fight terrorism -- are they extremists?”

• One of the larger jihad-related Internet sites is Azzam.com, run by Azzam Publications, whose affiliated qoqaz.net site figured in last month's arrests in Germany. Azzam.com offers primers including "How Can I Train Myself for Jihad." Traffic at Azzam.com, which is available in more than a dozen languages, increased 10-fold following the attacks

• Yahoo, recently home to a ring of 55 jihad-related Web sites, is cooperating with authorities who are investigating e-mail and other electronic traffic that may be linked to suspects in the U.S. attacks.

• Extremists don't see themselves as extreme: "I did not know that being committed to liberating one's land or fighting terrorism is viewed as extremism," says a spokesman responding to an e-mail sent to hizballah.org, a Web site offering a bloody photo gallery of purported victims and martyrs. "The American people are preparing for war to fight for their freedom and to fight terrorism -- are they extremists?”

• One of the larger jihad-related Internet sites is Azzam.com, run by Azzam Publications, whose affiliated qoqaz.net site figured in last month's arrests in Germany. Azzam.com offers primers including "How Can I Train Myself for Jihad." Traffic at Azzam.com, which is available in more than a dozen languages, increased 10-fold following the attacks

Do you agree?Do you agree?

“Literature should not be suppressed merely because it offends the moral

code of the censor”

Justice William Douglas

“Literature should not be suppressed merely because it offends the moral

code of the censor”

Justice William Douglas

U.S. Constitution: First Amendment

U.S. Constitution: First Amendment

First Amendment - Religion and Expression

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the

free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the

people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

First Amendment - Religion and Expression

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the

free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the

people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Why should we be concerned about Quality on the Internet?

Why should we be concerned about Quality on the Internet?

• Information on the Net represents people’s versions of reality, past, future, knowledge, culture, ideology, power

• Need to develop skills to look critically at information and to question and challenge the world of ideas on the net

• Need to understand the ideologies and ideological workings of texts

• Need to understand the belief systems inscribed in texts• “To enable people to read the world and the word - past,

present and future” (Misson, 1998)

• Information on the Net represents people’s versions of reality, past, future, knowledge, culture, ideology, power

• Need to develop skills to look critically at information and to question and challenge the world of ideas on the net

• Need to understand the ideologies and ideological workings of texts

• Need to understand the belief systems inscribed in texts• “To enable people to read the world and the word - past,

present and future” (Misson, 1998)

Why ? Differences to Traditional Print Environments

Why ? Differences to Traditional Print Environments

• Seductiveness of technology: Internet addiction, time, cost

• Integration of different media: cognitive load: multiple media vs multi media

• Captivating media hype shaping expectations: “the answer is in there”

• Plausible presentation of of false / misleading information: wysiwyg

• Everything looks authentic as official publication

• Seductiveness of technology: Internet addiction, time, cost

• Integration of different media: cognitive load: multiple media vs multi media

• Captivating media hype shaping expectations: “the answer is in there”

• Plausible presentation of of false / misleading information: wysiwyg

• Everything looks authentic as official publication

Why ?Why ?

• Invisibility of web authors: unknown authorship• Assertions sourced in other unreliable sources;

origins of information less direct• Boundaries blurred between rumour, gossip,

credible, authentic• Information stands without a functional context:

Indicators of credibility found in traditional sources removed

• Indiscriminate inclusion of material

• Invisibility of web authors: unknown authorship• Assertions sourced in other unreliable sources;

origins of information less direct• Boundaries blurred between rumour, gossip,

credible, authentic• Information stands without a functional context:

Indicators of credibility found in traditional sources removed

• Indiscriminate inclusion of material

Why?Why?• Complexity of organization and linkages• Volume and speed of access• Potential for passive and isolated interaction• Poorly organised information with limited advance

organisers • Indiscriminate inclusion of material• Noise / overload: bells and whistles to show designer’s flair• Naïve users: believe it is filtered, accurate, and like library

materials

• Complexity of organization and linkages• Volume and speed of access• Potential for passive and isolated interaction• Poorly organised information with limited advance

organisers • Indiscriminate inclusion of material• Noise / overload: bells and whistles to show designer’s flair• Naïve users: believe it is filtered, accurate, and like library

materials

Features of Electronic Texts

• Iconic language: content, index, system and browser

• Mixed genres - multiple text types are integrated

• Navigational inefficiencies• Predisposition to play / entertainment• Visual literacy demands• Hyperlinking rather than linear

Empowering the User: Mind over Matter and an Eye for Detail

Empowering the User: Mind over Matter and an Eye for Detail

Workplace ImplicationsWorkplace Implications

Providing workers with the critical skills and information handling skills to assist them in

making decisions about:

what to believe what to doubt what to pay attention to what to care about

Providing workers with the critical skills and information handling skills to assist them in

making decisions about:

what to believe what to doubt what to pay attention to what to care about

NCL: Total Frauds 1996 - 1999NCL: Total Frauds 1996 - 1999

NCL: Top Ten Frauds - 1999NCL: Top Ten Frauds - 1999

What is “quality” information?What is “quality” information?

• Authoritative• Accurate• Believable /

Credible• Objective• Currency• Coverage

• Authoritative• Accurate• Believable /

Credible• Objective• Currency• Coverage

Quality Information: McInerneyQuality Information: McInerney• Trustworthy content• Functionality / ease of use• Authority• Sponsorship / domain• Links• Graphics enhancing information• Currency• Coverage• Stability• Style

• Trustworthy content• Functionality / ease of use• Authority• Sponsorship / domain• Links• Graphics enhancing information• Currency• Coverage• Stability• Style

A.P.P.A.R.A.T.U.SA.P.P.A.R.A.T.U.SA = Author: Reputation and specialist knowledge?P = Purpose: Why written; does it fulfill stated purpose?P = Physical Format: Do multiple medias complement text?A = Arrangement: Logical sequence, argument, evidence?R = Recency: Up-to-date? Revised? reviewed regularly?A = Accuracy: Can accuracy be established? Can biases, opinions,

viewpoints be distinguished?T = Treatment: Does the level of disciplinary and technical language

assume the reader is an expert? U = Use: Does the format facilitate use?S = Scope: Is subject coverage broad or limited to specific area?

Balance of breadth and scope with detail?

A = Author: Reputation and specialist knowledge?P = Purpose: Why written; does it fulfill stated purpose?P = Physical Format: Do multiple medias complement text?A = Arrangement: Logical sequence, argument, evidence?R = Recency: Up-to-date? Revised? reviewed regularly?A = Accuracy: Can accuracy be established? Can biases, opinions,

viewpoints be distinguished?T = Treatment: Does the level of disciplinary and technical language

assume the reader is an expert? U = Use: Does the format facilitate use?S = Scope: Is subject coverage broad or limited to specific area?

Balance of breadth and scope with detail?

Evaluating Information found on the Internet – Questions to ask

Evaluating Information found on the Internet – Questions to ask

• What is this site trying to do?

• What is this site trying to do to me?

• Whose interests are being served here?

• What are the text / images trying to say?

• What are the possible meanings?

• What do I already know and how does this relate to it?

• How does this relate to other sites? other sources?

• What is this site trying to do?

• What is this site trying to do to me?

• Whose interests are being served here?

• What are the text / images trying to say?

• What are the possible meanings?

• What do I already know and how does this relate to it?

• How does this relate to other sites? other sources?

Evaluating Information found on the Internet – Questions to ask

• What are the alternative / opposing views?• Where can I find out about alternatives?• How does this site help me construct an alternative

position?• What do I do with this site now?• Who can I talk to about this site?• Which voices are silent here?• What actions can / should / will I take?

Evaluating Information found on the Internet - Questions to ask

Evaluating Information found on the Internet - Questions to ask

• Are the facts and information presented accurate? • How are they documented?• Do they seem to be well researched? • Is the information current? • Is the information biased? • Can you tell who the author(s) is (are)? • Do they list their credentials? • What are their educational backgrounds? • Are they experienced in their field? • Are the authors cited by others?

• Are the facts and information presented accurate? • How are they documented?• Do they seem to be well researched? • Is the information current? • Is the information biased? • Can you tell who the author(s) is (are)? • Do they list their credentials? • What are their educational backgrounds? • Are they experienced in their field? • Are the authors cited by others?

Evaluating Information found on the Internet - Questions to ask

Evaluating Information found on the Internet - Questions to ask

•Are criteria listed for including information?• What are their institutional affiliations? • What is the scope of the site? • What is included as well as what is not included? • Are links provided to other sites? • How does the information compare with other sources that

are also available on the topic? • Is the information or site stable through time? • When was the information updated? http://www.lme.mankato.msus.edu/class/629/Cred.HTML

•Are criteria listed for including information?• What are their institutional affiliations? • What is the scope of the site? • What is included as well as what is not included? • Are links provided to other sites? • How does the information compare with other sources that

are also available on the topic? • Is the information or site stable through time? • When was the information updated? http://www.lme.mankato.msus.edu/class/629/Cred.HTML

The Moon or a Studio in the Nevada Desert?http://www.primeline-america.com/moon-ldg/The Moon or a Studio in the Nevada Desert?http://www.primeline-america.com/moon-ldg/

On-Screen Indicators of QualityOn-Screen Indicators of Quality• Factual information // influence opinion?• URLS: edu / gov // org / com / net ? • Clear who is sponsoring page?• Link to goals of organization?• Verify legitimacy of organization eg.

telephone?• Statement of endorsement of page by

organization?

• Factual information // influence opinion?• URLS: edu / gov // org / com / net ? • Clear who is sponsoring page?• Link to goals of organization?• Verify legitimacy of organization eg.

telephone?• Statement of endorsement of page by

organization?

On-Screen Indicators of QualityOn-Screen Indicators of Quality• Authority, responsibility and copyright?• Verification of facts eg. bibliography?• Free of grammatical and typographical

errors - Quality control indicators?• Biases of organization stated?• Advertising on page differentiated from

content?

• Authority, responsibility and copyright?• Verification of facts eg. bibliography?• Free of grammatical and typographical

errors - Quality control indicators?• Biases of organization stated?• Advertising on page differentiated from

content?

On-Screen Indicators of QualityOn-Screen Indicators of Quality• Dates written, placed, revised on web?• Sources of data in graphs / charts?• Page completed or under construction?• Print equivalent - extent of print coverage?• Scope of coverage matches purpose

statement?• Personal home page – indicated by

Tilde ~

• Dates written, placed, revised on web?• Sources of data in graphs / charts?• Page completed or under construction?• Print equivalent - extent of print coverage?• Scope of coverage matches purpose

statement?• Personal home page – indicated by

Tilde ~

Signs that may indicate Dis/Misinformation

Signs that may indicate Dis/Misinformation

• Requests / demands for money, especially credit card nos. Contradictions and internal inconsistencies

• Author credentials that do not match subject matter• Errors: spelling, punctuation, grammar, mathematical• Appeals to emotion: flattery, fear messages, language that

evokes guilt, sympathy• Opinion markers: words such as “could”, “might”, “would”,

“believe”, “assume”• Oversimplification• Pass messages: instructions to pass on to others• (Fitzgerald: Misinformation on the Internet)

• Requests / demands for money, especially credit card nos. Contradictions and internal inconsistencies

• Author credentials that do not match subject matter• Errors: spelling, punctuation, grammar, mathematical• Appeals to emotion: flattery, fear messages, language that

evokes guilt, sympathy• Opinion markers: words such as “could”, “might”, “would”,

“believe”, “assume”• Oversimplification• Pass messages: instructions to pass on to others• (Fitzgerald: Misinformation on the Internet)

Information QualityInformation Quality• Understand what constitutes quality information for each

topic being dealt with - eg. Bioethics, History• Choice of search engine• Assessing abstract - and comparing abstracts of one site as

it appears on different search engines• Recognising on-screen indicators of a quality, authoritative

document• Verifying legitimacy of sources• Workplace training experiences that facilitate quality

judgements• Working ethically with information sources

• Understand what constitutes quality information for each topic being dealt with - eg. Bioethics, History

• Choice of search engine• Assessing abstract - and comparing abstracts of one site as

it appears on different search engines• Recognising on-screen indicators of a quality, authoritative

document• Verifying legitimacy of sources• Workplace training experiences that facilitate quality

judgements• Working ethically with information sources

Truth, Lies and the InternetTruth, Lies and the Internet• http://coverage.cnet.com/Content/Features/Dlife/

Truth/• Evaluating the quality of the information on the

internet: groups that alert the public to Internet fraud, fanaticism and bad information

• http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blxatoz.htm

• http://coverage.cnet.com/Content/Features/Dlife/Truth/

• Evaluating the quality of the information on the internet: groups that alert the public to Internet fraud, fanaticism and bad information

• http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blxatoz.htm

http://www.scambusters.org/

http://www.scamwatch.com/

http://www.scambusters.org/

http://www.scamwatch.com/

http://www.nclnet.org/