Lies That Kill: A Citizen's Guide to Disinformation

Disinformation made possible by rapid advances in cheap, digital technology, and promoted by organized networks, thrives in the toxic political environment that exists within the United States and around the world. In Lies that Kill, two noted experts take readers inside the world of disinformation campaigns to show concerned citizens how to recognize disinformation, understand it, and protect themselves and others. Using case studies of elections, climate change, public health, race, war, and governance, Elaine Kamarck and Darrell West demonstrate in plain language how our political, social, and economic environment makes disinformation believable to large numbers of people.

Karmarck and West argue that we are not doomed to live in an apocalyptic, post-truth world but instead can take actions that are consistent with long-held free speech values. Citizen education can go a long way towards making us more discerning consumers of online materials and we can reduce disinformation risks through digital literacy programs, regulation, legislation, and negotiation with other countries.

Elaine C. Kamarck is a senior fellow in Governance Studies and the director of the Center for Effective Public Managemant at Brookings. She is an expert on American electoral politics and government innovation and reform in the United States, OECD nations, and developing countries.

Darrell M. West is a senior fellow in the Center for Technology Innovation within the Governance Studies program and a co-editor-in-chief of TechTank. He is the author of numerous books including, most recently, Power Politics: Trump and the Assault on American Democracy (Brookings, 2022).