The Californer - "Army of Liars" Exposes How Social Media Profits from Disinformation

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Author Warns That Section 230 Protects Tech Giants Even as They Destroy Civil Society

HUDSON, N.Y. - Californer -- [Hudson, NY] – A groundbreaking new book, Army of Liars: How Digital Media and Artificial Intelligence Are Corrupting and Endangering Humanity by Andrew V. Edwards, reveals the disturbing truth about how unregulated social media companies are profiting from targeted disinformation that is tearing society apart.

In Army of Liars, published by Rowman & Littlefield (now part of Bloomsbury Publishing) Edwards takes readers on a deep dive into how social media platforms, shielded by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, have become breeding grounds for AI-driven disinformation campaigns that manipulate public opinion, amplify divisive content, and threaten democratic processes. The book argues that while these tech giants rake in billions of dollars from user engagement, they remain largely unaccountable for the societal harm caused by the spread of false and misleading information.

"Social media companies are not neutral platforms—they are profit-driven entities that exploit algorithms to maximize engagement, often at the expense of truth and societal cohesion," says Edwards. "The immunity provided by Section 230 allows these companies to evade responsibility for the chaos they help create, and it's time for a critical examination of how we regulate these platforms."

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Army of Liars breaks down the mechanisms by which analytics and algorithms are weaponized to create targeted echo chambers, foster polarization, and undermine public trust. It raises urgent concerns about how AI-powered misinformation is leveraged to manipulate political outcomes, stir social conflict, and erode democratic institutions.

Key topics discussed in the book include:

- The role of algorithms in creating and reinforcing echo chambers that deepen societal divisions.
- How Section 230 shields social media companies from liability, enabling them to profit from harmful disinformation.
- The use of generative AI to amplify polarizing content and weaponize misinformation.
- The impact of unregulated tech on public discourse, trust in institutions, and national security.

By exposing the intersection of AI technology and the lack of social media regulation, Army of Liars offers a compelling call to action for policymakers, tech leaders, and the public to demand accountability from the tech giants profiting off disinformation and to rethink the regulatory framework that enables this exploitation.

Army of Liars is available in eBook and hardcopy formats.

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Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B0CSK2KLXR
Publisher: ‎ Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (September 3, 2024)
ISBN: 9781538194157
Publication date: ‎ September 3, 2024
Language: ‎ English
Sticky notes: ‎On Kindle Scribe
Print length: ‎236 pages

About the Author
Andrew V. Edwards is an author, technologist, and speaker residing in the Hudson Valley. He is the author of Digital is Destroying Everything (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015, 2018) which was translated into Chinese and Turkish. Andrew has also written dozens of articles about digital analytics for ClickZ, the world's largest online source of marketing advice and information.

In 2023 and 2024, he appeared on the radio and is currently on a public speaking tour about disinformation in social media. For more details, visit his website.

Website: https://www.andrewvedwards.com/
Contact: Luchy Edwards
luchy@andrewvedwards.com