The Window is Blurred
by Barack Obama
Rapid Learn 2-Minute Revision
Perfect for last-minute revision
2-Minute Revision Video
Video coming soon
This is an adapted speech by former US President Barack Obama, delivered at Stanford's Cyber Policy Center, on how our changed information ecosystem threatens democracy. Obama marvels at the internet, which has connected billions, put centuries of knowledge 'at our fingertips', made economies more efficient, accelerated medical advances and helped mobilise people for justice. But this progress has 'unintended consequences': the new information ecosystem is 'turbocharging some of humanity's worst impulses'. Search engines and social media have become our 'window into the internet', yet 'no one tells us that the window is blurred', subject to distortions and manipulation, a feed where facts flow alongside 'lies, conspiracy theories, junk science… racist tracts and misogynist screeds'. We lose the capacity to tell fact from fiction, and 'controversy, outrage and even hate' help content 'go viral'; AI will make disinformation worse. Obama argues we must address both the supply of toxic information (through platform accountability and democratic oversight) and the demand for it (by becoming better, critical consumers of news). 'Tools don't control us, we control them,' he insists, urging citizens to use these tools to protect 'a government of, by and for the people'.
Detailed Summary
Detailed Summary Video
Video coming soon
'The Window is Blurred' is an adapted speech by Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, delivered at Stanford's Cyber Policy Center. It warns that the way we now communicate and consume information is weakening democracy, and calls on us to become responsible, critical users of media.
The promise of the internet
Obama expresses amazement at the internet, which 'has connected billions of people', put 'the collective knowledge of centuries at our fingertips', made economies 'vastly more efficient', accelerated medical advances and let people with shared interests find one another. Social media has also been used 'to shine a light on injustice and mobilise people' on issues like climate change and inequality. This information revolution, he says, has been 'transformative', 'there is no turning back'.
The blurred window
But, like all technology, this progress has 'unintended consequences': the new information ecosystem is 'turbocharging some of humanity's worst impulses'. Search engines and social media have become our primary 'window into the internet', but 'no one tells us that the window is blurred, subject to unseen distortions and subtle manipulation'.
In the endless feed, 'useful, factual information… flows alongside lies, conspiracy theories, junk science, quackery… racist tracts and misogynist screeds'. Over time we 'lose our capacity to distinguish between fact, opinion and… fiction, or… just stop caring'. To 'go viral', one needs 'controversy, outrage and even hate', and with AI, 'disinformation will grow more sophisticated'.
Addressing supply and demand
Obama argues we must tackle both the 'supply' of toxic information and the 'demand' for it. On the supply side, tech platforms must accept their unique role and the 'accountability' and 'democratic oversight' that come with it. On the demand side, citizens 'have to take it upon ourselves to become better consumers of news', checking sources, 'thinking before we share', and teaching children to be 'critical thinkers who… separate opinion from fact'.
We control the tools
'TV is a tool. The internet is a tool. Social media is a tool,' Obama says, 'tools don't control us; we control them, and we can remake them.' It is up to each of us to decide what we value and use these tools to advance those values.
He ends with a call to use 'every tool at our disposal to secure our greatest gift, a government of, by and for the people, for generations to come', inviting his listeners to join in this work.