[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.34,0:00:12.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I first met Vitaly\Nin the spring of last year.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.27,0:00:15.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He spoke little English,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.39,0:00:16.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he was very charming.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.46,0:00:21.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On his left arm he had a tattoo\Nof the singer Marilyn Manson.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.94,0:00:25.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On his right leg,\Nhe had a tattoo of Winnie-the-Pooh.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.06,0:00:26.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.46,0:00:28.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was a rather strange experience.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.60,0:00:30.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was there to hear his story,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.75,0:00:34.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was a story that\NI would never have believed,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.45,0:00:39.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had I not myself spent eight months\Nin the year of 2014
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.08,0:00:43.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Ukraine covering the war\Nbetween Moscow and Kiev.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.74,0:00:48.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, at around the same time,\Nin August 2014,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.60,0:00:51.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Vitaly found himself\Nin St. Petersburg without a job.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.71,0:00:53.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Vitaly was a journalist.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.05,0:00:56.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the website he worked for\Nhad lost its funding.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.61,0:00:58.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So he sent out endless applications.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.40,0:01:00.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Heard nothing.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.42,0:01:01.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Eventually something came back.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.96,0:01:03.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He'd sent out so many,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.03,0:01:06.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he couldn't even remember\Nwhich job it had been for.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.74,0:01:09.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He went for an interview,\Nhe duly got the job.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.58,0:01:13.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was at - sorry -
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.90,0:01:15.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,OK - Let me just - Yeah -
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.95,0:01:19.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was at a nondescript building\Nin the centre of St. Petersburg,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.42,0:01:21.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,55 Savushkina Street.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.46,0:01:24.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when Vitaly started,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.48,0:01:27.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he realized it wasn't quite\Nyour every day media company.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.36,0:01:32.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was assigned to a project\Ncalled "Ukraine 2".
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.13,0:01:39.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His job was to essentially write\Narticles about Ukraine -
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.80,0:01:41.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was fair enough,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.20,0:01:43.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, it's a subject\Nof interest for Russians -
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.88,0:01:45.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with some slight differences.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.66,0:01:49.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His job was to write articles
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.37,0:01:52.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from websites ending in ".ua".
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.94,0:01:56.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is to say, websites\Nthat pretended to be Ukrainian.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.46,0:02:01.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So he would take for example a newspaper\Ncalled the Donetsk News,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.57,0:02:05.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an Eastern city in Ukraine\Noccupied by pro-Russian separatists.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.08,0:02:07.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he would write articles about it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.99,0:02:09.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It wasn't too bad.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.20,0:02:11.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He would stick to the basic facts.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.51,0:02:14.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But he wasn't allowed to use\Nthe word terrorist or separatist.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.57,0:02:15.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He had to call them militia.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.22,0:02:18.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Ukrainian army, on the other hand,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.68,0:02:22.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had to always be referred to\Nas volunteer battalions
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.62,0:02:23.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or national guards.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.44,0:02:27.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are battalions\Nthat still exist today,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.80,0:02:30.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that have well-deserved reputations
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.19,0:02:32.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for containing far-right\Nor thuggish elements.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.16,0:02:35.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, as time passed,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.30,0:02:37.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it became clear to Vitaly
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.05,0:02:40.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that he was working in what\Nlater would become known to the media
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.31,0:02:43.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a "troll factory" or a "troll farm".
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.21,0:02:47.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the farm had a very clear structure.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.31,0:02:51.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the first floor was Vitaly\Nwriting fake news websites,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.32,0:02:52.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and his colleagues.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.54,0:02:54.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second floor\Nwas a social media department.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.12,0:02:57.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here cartoons and memes were created
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.57,0:03:01.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to spread across all forms of platforms,\Nsocial media platforms,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.69,0:03:04.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,promulgating the Kremlin line on Ukraine.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.98,0:03:06.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the third floor were the bloggers.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.03,0:03:08.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, there were two types of bloggers.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.85,0:03:11.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first were the "Ukrainian" bloggers
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.77,0:03:15.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who would blog about how terrible\Nthe situation in Kiev was,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.23,0:03:17.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how parts of the city\Ndidn't have electricity,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.38,0:03:20.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how the kindergartens\Nwere running low on food.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.28,0:03:23.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second were the "American" bloggers.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.97,0:03:27.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They would write about how the whole\Nof America supported Putin's actions,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.88,0:03:29.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Ukrainians were fascists,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.30,0:03:31.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all sorts of things like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.51,0:03:37.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hilariously, or perhaps\Nbitterly hilariously, what would happen is
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.22,0:03:39.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the bloggers on the third floor,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.75,0:03:42.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their output would become sources
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.04,0:03:44.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the fake news articles\Non the first floor.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.92,0:03:47.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, it was a merry-go-round of lies.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.67,0:03:51.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, on the fourth floor\Nwere the big time, big time trolls.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.12,0:03:52.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These were the guys and women
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.67,0:03:55.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tasked with commenting\Non Facebook, Twitter,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.56,0:03:57.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and most of all, VKontakte,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.36,0:03:59.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is the Russian version of Facebook,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.37,0:04:02.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a very, very popular\Nsocial media platform
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.64,0:04:05.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the Kremlin\Nand the Russian government.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.40,0:04:08.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, after a month of working\Non the fake websites,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.34,0:04:11.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Vitaly was sent\Nto the social media section.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.99,0:04:14.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And his work began\Nto take a different turn.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.54,0:04:17.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, what he would have -
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.10,0:04:18.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When Vitaly was sent to this section,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.96,0:04:21.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he was first given\Na load of different SIM cards.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.100,0:04:25.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To register on VKontakte,\Nyou have to have a phone number.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.81,0:04:28.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the troll farm had\Nan inexhaustible supply.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.47,0:04:30.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And his job was just to spam
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.55,0:04:33.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every, but every, page\Nyou could think of with this -
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.00,0:04:39.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean often group pages\Nthat have nothing to do with politics.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.88,0:04:42.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One example, he spammed the site
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.54,0:04:45.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,devoted to couples meeting up for sex\Nin a small Russian town.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.05,0:04:47.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was no logic to it.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.82,0:04:50.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He always had to use female profiles,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.43,0:04:54.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as females were seen to be\Nmore trusted than male profiles.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.95,0:04:56.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second thing he had to do,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.86,0:05:01.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is central to the dissemination\Nof information in the social media age,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.77,0:05:04.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is it had to be visual.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.54,0:05:06.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is something I have learned
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.18,0:05:08.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the State Department\Nto the Israeli Defence Forces,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.92,0:05:10.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if you want information,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.70,0:05:14.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you want people\Nto look at what you have to say,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.03,0:05:15.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it has to be visual.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.70,0:05:17.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, in fact,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.08,0:05:20.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people, even when they look at your link,\Nthey probably won't click on it.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.98,0:05:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what you do, is you leave your message\Nin the meme, in the visuals.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.79,0:05:28.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here we have\Na tearful looking picture of Obama.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.48,0:05:32.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He's saying, "I want to start a war,\Nbut none of my friends will join me."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.11,0:05:39.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here we have\Na two-panel picture of Obama.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.13,0:05:43.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the first, he is looking very serious,\Nsaying: "We don't talk to terrorists."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.82,0:05:46.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second panel, he is shown smiling:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.50,0:05:48.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"We only sponsor them!"
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.75,0:05:50.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The goal was to attack
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.42,0:05:53.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people seen as hostile\Nto the Kremlin's war in Ukraine.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.76,0:05:58.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was Barack Obama, Angela Merkel\Nand leading Ukrainian politicians.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.04,0:06:01.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, after a while, this got to Vitaly.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.72,0:06:02.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He felt dirty,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.77,0:06:04.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he didn't like the work he was doing,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.74,0:06:07.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he was having problems with his nerves.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.12,0:06:08.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, in the end, he decided to quit.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.97,0:06:11.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His boss, Anna, asked him why,\Nand he told her the truth.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.65,0:06:13.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He said, "I don't believe in\Nwhat we're doing."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.86,0:06:14.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, he left.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.97,0:06:18.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But still he couldn't get\Nthe experience out of his mind.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.16,0:06:20.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He felt like he had to make amends.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.82,0:06:24.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, he decided to write\Nan article about his experiences.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.61,0:06:27.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He wrote it anonymously,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.88,0:06:30.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he presented it as if he were female.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.86,0:06:34.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because the majority of the\Ntrolls farms' [employees] were [females].
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.31,0:06:36.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It came out, and it did well.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.04,0:06:37.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It got a lot traction.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.44,0:06:41.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even [Alexei] Navalny,\Nthe Russian opposition leader, tweeted it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.54,0:06:45.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unfortunately, Vitaly's attempts\Nat anonymity had been less successful.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.00,0:06:47.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An hour after it came out,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.46,0:06:49.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he got a text from his boss Anna -
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.08,0:06:50.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or ex-boss -
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.40,0:06:52.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,telling him that he thought he was a hero
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.35,0:06:54.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he was, in fact,\Na little son-of-a-bitch,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.71,0:06:58.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who couldn't do anything for himself\Nbut could only spoil the work of others.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.68,0:07:00.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then the phone calls started.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.07,0:07:03.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.18,0:07:05.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a gruff male voice\Ncalled him up one night,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.70,0:07:09.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Don't you know people can get punched\Nin the face for this sort of thing?"
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.44,0:07:13.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For a while, Vitaly was afraid\Nto walk the streets alone.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.58,0:07:16.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now ...
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.06,0:07:18.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you are tempted -
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.71,0:07:19.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sorry, that's just Putin.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.93,0:07:22.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I never get over that picture,\Nit kills me every time.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.64,0:07:26.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you are tempted\Nto dismiss Vitaly's story
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.41,0:07:30.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as just a bunch of internet nerds\Nplaying around ... don't,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.55,0:07:32.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it is effective.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.54,0:07:35.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I saw it for myself on the ground,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.40,0:07:40.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Eastern Ukraine as I travelled\Nthrough the cities, the occupied cities,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.18,0:07:43.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that spring and summer of 2014,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.49,0:07:46.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as they fell almost daily\Nto pro-Russia separatists.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.19,0:07:50.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, Marshal McLuhan,\Nthe Canadian philosopher said:
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.28,0:07:55.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"All media are extensions of some\Nhuman faculty, psychic or physical."
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.33,0:07:58.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Travelling through\NEastern Ukraine in 2014,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.50,0:08:02.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was as if Putin's\Ncentral nervous system were on display.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.28,0:08:08.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The content that had come\Nfrom Vitaly's pen, directly,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.14,0:08:09.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was all around me.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.100,0:08:14.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The online world had seeped\Ninto the offline reality.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.79,0:08:17.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the ground in Eastern Ukraine,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.07,0:08:20.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,old men parroted geopolitical concepts,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.20,0:08:21.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like Novorossiya,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.70,0:08:25.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a Czarist term referring to part\Nof Eastern Ukraine as belonging to Russia,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.54,0:08:27.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they barely understood.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.61,0:08:29.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Teenagers, laughingly, showed me
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.49,0:08:32.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,racist memes of Barack Obama\Non their smartphone,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.15,0:08:34.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,knocked up in the troll factory.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.04,0:08:38.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The belief that Kiev was a fascist junta,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.46,0:08:42.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that it genuinely wanted to destroy\Nthe speaking of Russian in the East,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.31,0:08:44.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was sincerely held.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.21,0:08:46.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was not, I realized, mere propaganda,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.86,0:08:48.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it wasn't narratives;
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.93,0:08:51.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was the reinvention of reality.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.08,0:08:56.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, we have to ask:\NHow did we get here?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.67,0:09:02.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Putin's information age could only\Nbe possible in a post-truth age.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.59,0:09:05.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what has created this age\Nis social media.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.56,0:09:08.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, social media brings\Npeople together, we know this.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.36,0:09:09.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's transnational.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.72,0:09:13.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can speak to your friend\Nin India or... well, not China -
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.29,0:09:15.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,India or the UK or America or wherever.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.13,0:09:19.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it does something else\Nthat is less discussed:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.42,0:09:22.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it shatters unity, and it divides people.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.19,0:09:24.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It does this in two overarching ways.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.72,0:09:26.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first is obvious:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.54,0:09:29.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it facilitates direct confrontation.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.25,0:09:33.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you are a Hillary supporter\Nduring the election campaign,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.27,0:09:35.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can row with Trump supporters online.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.52,0:09:37.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've seen it happen over Brexit,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.43,0:09:41.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've seen friends unfriend\Neach other on Facebook over Brexit,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.25,0:09:43.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it facilitates direct confrontation.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.39,0:09:45.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it does something else more subtle:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.45,0:09:51.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it creates what was called homophily,\Nlove of the like-minded.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.08,0:09:54.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, when you are on Facebook,\Nyou have your friends -
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.32,0:09:56.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we understand "friends", OK? -
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.94,0:10:01.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and most of your friends are likely\Nto broadly share similar worldviews.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.85,0:10:04.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I am not saying\Nthat everyone votes your party,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.40,0:10:05.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there are left, there are right,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.94,0:10:08.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's unlikely\Nthat anyone in this audience
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.12,0:10:10.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is going to be friends\Nwith a bunch of Nazis ...
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.37,0:10:11.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would hope anyway.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.29,0:10:13.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, what happens is,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.71,0:10:16.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,first of all you are cocooned\Nwith like-minded individuals,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.77,0:10:19.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who post articles that tend\Nto slant to your point of view.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.61,0:10:23.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Second, even more insidious,\Nis the Facebook algorithm.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.68,0:10:27.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People think social media platforms\Nare these impartial mediums,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.60,0:10:28.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they are not.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.93,0:10:32.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are capitalist enterprises\Nand their product is us, their users.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.62,0:10:35.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The algorithm is designed
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.30,0:10:38.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to keep us on their platforms\Nfor as long as possible
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.26,0:10:41.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by feeding us content\Nthat we know we like.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:41.15,0:10:42.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, if you're a Hillary supporter
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.73,0:10:45.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you're clicking on pro-Hillary links\Nduring the campaign,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.60,0:10:48.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the algorithm is going to feed you\Nmore and more pro-Hillary content,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.92,0:10:50.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and vice versa.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.65,0:10:56.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thus are our prejudices reaffirmed\Nand hatred of the other exacerbated.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.96,0:10:59.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There he is
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.32,0:11:01.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in all his splendiferous stupidity!
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.63,0:11:03.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So how did we get here, part 2.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.05,0:11:10.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The rise of social media has coincided\Nwith a crisis of faith in the West
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.02,0:11:11.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and, critically, its institutions.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.31,0:11:14.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From the 2003 Iraq war,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.41,0:11:17.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which our politicians\Ntook us to war on a lie,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.26,0:11:20.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the 2008 global financial crisis,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.23,0:11:24.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which the bankers\Ntook us into the Great Recession,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.63,0:11:27.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the NSA Snowden spying revelations,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.41,0:11:30.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,combined with long-term declines\Nin media trust,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.69,0:11:35.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,means that the fundamental institutions\Nupon which the West is based
Dialogue: 0,0:11:35.96,0:11:37.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have been discredited.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:38.33,0:11:39.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As a result,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.69,0:11:42.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we see the rise of populist demagogues,\Nnationalist demagogues,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.97,0:11:44.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Geert Wilders in Holland,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.59,0:11:47.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nigel Farage with Brexit,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:47.09,0:11:49.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Marine Le Pen, recently\Nin the French elections,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.60,0:11:51.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and of course the apotheosis of it:
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.74,0:11:53.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mr. Trump.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:53.14,0:11:55.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sorry, there we go again.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.46,0:12:01.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, what is the end result of all this?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:01.53,0:12:05.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The end result of all this is\Nthat we now live in a post-truth age.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.23,0:12:06.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, this has been defined.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:07.05,0:12:10.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was Oxford Dictionaries'\Nword of the year 2016,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.79,0:12:13.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I am going to read out its definition
Dialogue: 0,0:12:13.57,0:12:16.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I think\Nit is worth thinking about.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:16.52,0:12:21.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was defined as an adjective\Nrelating to or denoting circumstances
Dialogue: 0,0:12:21.65,0:12:23.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which objective facts
Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.40,0:12:26.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are less influential\Nin shaping public opinion
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.08,0:12:28.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than appeals to emotion\Nand personal belief.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:28.95,0:12:32.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was supplemented by the president\Nof the Oxford Dictionaries,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.07,0:12:36.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who said: "It is not surprising\Nthat our choice reflects a year
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.01,0:12:40.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,dominated by highly charged\Npolitical and social discourse.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.89,0:12:44.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fuelled by the rise\Nof social media as a news source
Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.09,0:12:50.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a growing distrust\Nof facts offered up by the establishment,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.15,0:12:55.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,post-truth as a concept has been finding\Nits linguistic footing for some time."
Dialogue: 0,0:12:57.86,0:12:59.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, what are the problems?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:59.90,0:13:02.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The problems are that\Nin both Europe and the US,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.28,0:13:05.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,public broadcasters\Nhave to adhere to guidelines.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.33,0:13:11.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And these regard balance, impartiality,\Nprofessional journalists, etc, etc, etc.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.14,0:13:15.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No such regulation\Nexists for social media.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:15.48,0:13:17.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the cost is plain to see.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.07,0:13:19.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Facebook, which has been named
Dialogue: 0,0:13:19.90,0:13:23.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as the platform most conducive\Nto the spread of false stories,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.02,0:13:27.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has recently announced that is going to\Nstart using third-party fact-checkers,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:27.06,0:13:29.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people like Full Fact or Snopes.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.45,0:13:31.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's going to self-police,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:31.17,0:13:34.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's going to try in some way -\Nimperfectly, in my opinion -
Dialogue: 0,0:13:34.37,0:13:35.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to combat the phenomenon.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.78,0:13:38.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what are the results?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:38.83,0:13:42.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The results are,\Nand this is very dangerous,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.02,0:13:46.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the post-truth world\Nhas created the post-truth leader.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:46.66,0:13:50.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From Vladimir Putin, who reinvents\Nreality in Eastern Ukraine,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.70,0:13:52.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to Donald Trump,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:52.21,0:13:54.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose White House will tell you
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.09,0:13:56.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,his inauguration crowds\Nwere bigger than Obama's
Dialogue: 0,0:13:56.52,0:13:59.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you can see that they weren't.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:59.71,0:14:01.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, they are different, let's be fair.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:01.75,0:14:03.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One is a dictator in all but name;
Dialogue: 0,0:14:03.70,0:14:06.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the other leads the world's\Nmost powerful democracy.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:06.25,0:14:08.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, in each case, the goal is the same:
Dialogue: 0,0:14:09.09,0:14:14.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the more doubt you can sow\Nin people's minds about all information,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:14.18,0:14:18.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the more you will weaken their propensity\Nto recognize the truth when they see it.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:19.15,0:14:21.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The goal is not to twist the notion,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:21.48,0:14:22.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,twist the truth,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.74,0:14:24.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like the politicians of old:
Dialogue: 0,0:14:24.63,0:14:27.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I did not have sexual relations\Nwith that woman",
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.28,0:14:31.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but to subvert the very notion\Nthat an objective truth exists at all:
Dialogue: 0,0:14:31.50,0:14:34.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"My crowds were bigger!" -\N"That's just an alternative fact."
Dialogue: 0,0:14:35.93,0:14:37.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is all very cheerful.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:38.19,0:14:40.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I'd like to end\Non a slightly happier note.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.39,0:14:43.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What can we do to survive\Nin this post-truth age?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:43.75,0:14:46.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I believe, in the end,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:46.08,0:14:49.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,change is going to have to come\Nat the legislative level:
Dialogue: 0,0:14:49.93,0:14:52.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,governments are going\Nto have to intervene.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:52.28,0:14:55.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I have put together, in the interim,\Na post-truth survival kit
Dialogue: 0,0:14:56.34,0:14:58.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to surviving, negotiating,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:58.96,0:15:00.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and trying to make your way
Dialogue: 0,0:15:00.27,0:15:04.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through this sick information environment,\Nthis unhealthy information environment,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:04.20,0:15:05.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which we live.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:05.42,0:15:06.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:06.55,0:15:08.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Go out of your way\Nto friend or follow people
Dialogue: 0,0:15:08.68,0:15:11.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that don't necessarily\Nagree with your worldview.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:11.12,0:15:14.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Please, don't go out and friend\Na bunch of Golden Dawn supporters,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:14.24,0:15:17.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but generally try and broaden\Nyour circles a bit.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:17.34,0:15:18.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:18.45,0:15:22.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Go directly to the websites\Nof trusted news sources,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:22.18,0:15:24.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or, better still,\Nbuy the newspaper itself.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:24.80,0:15:26.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Read all of its reporting;
Dialogue: 0,0:15:26.66,0:15:31.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't cherry-pick articles with a slant\Nthat appeals to your preexisting belief.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:32.37,0:15:33.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Three.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:33.39,0:15:34.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Read articles form publications
Dialogue: 0,0:15:34.93,0:15:37.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose political views\Nyou don't agree with.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:37.74,0:15:39.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You will learn things.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:39.38,0:15:40.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Trust me.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:40.53,0:15:41.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Four.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:41.62,0:15:42.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Read books.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:42.76,0:15:44.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yes, they still exist.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:44.50,0:15:47.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, I would recommend\Nyou read one book in particular.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:47.67,0:15:50.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's called: "War in 140 Characters:
Dialogue: 0,0:15:50.13,0:15:54.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How Social Media Is [Reshaping] Conflict\N[in] the Twenty-First Century."
Dialogue: 0,0:15:54.75,0:15:57.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's available on Amazon,\Nby your humble servant.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:57.47,0:16:00.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well worth $30 of anybody's money.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:00.78,0:16:02.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Five.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:02.18,0:16:03.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Log off.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:03.74,0:16:07.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Get off Facebook, it will suck your life.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:07.30,0:16:08.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Leave the house.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:08.65,0:16:09.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Go and meet friends.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:10.01,0:16:11.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Have fun.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:11.12,0:16:12.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You will benefit.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:12.50,0:16:13.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much!
Dialogue: 0,0:16:13.75,0:16:16.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:16:16.80,0:16:18.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you! Thank you!
Dialogue: 0,0:16:18.44,0:16:20.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)